TALESPINNERS - March, 2003

EAA Chapter 174
Chartered since 1966

TALESPINNERS
Mike Franzago & Mike Griffith, editors

March, 2003

From the President

It’s working.  We are getting people to step forward and offer their services.  We are also getting more involvement of members in aircraft building projects.  Naturally, there is more to do and we need to build on this good start.

Elizabeth Szoke has stepped forward to become Treasurer after Dave Roberson resigned the position in February.  We all owe Elizabeth a word of thanks because her experience as a CPA will help us work through the new accounting requirements and practices that are necessary, in part, to meet the expectations of a 501(c)3 organization.  In addition to her work as our Treasurer Elizabeth is busy with Chapter 974 and nightly building on her Velocity XL.  Check out the very nice website devoted to the Velocity project at www.velocityxl.com.

I received an invitation from Mark Neubauer to help him rivet the wings of his GlaStar.  As some of you may remember, I wrote an article for the January 2001 newsletter that featured Mark’s project. [Click here to read it again! - Web Ed.]  I’m very excited to see how much progress he’s made in the last two years, but I’m even more excited about being asked to help work on the plane.  If any of you are building, I encourage bringing other members into your workshops and encouraging them to participate in the building process.

The February meeting was canceled because of snowy weather.  The cancellation was noted in a timely manner on the web site.  Thanks very much to Norm and Tom for tending to the details while I was at church.  An impromptu “meeting” was held the following Saturday in lieu of the rained-out flyout at Watson Brothers across the street from the Blue Ash Airport.  Those two occasions brought to the surface the need to have a formal alert system for notifying chapter members of fast changing information in a timely manner.  I’ve had experience with phone trees in the past and it is my experience that they are not always too effective or efficient.  With that in mind I have asked Norm Beaudette to develop an email alert system in conjunction with the Chapter 174 website.  Both the email alert list and the web site will be the formal means through which time sensitive information will be disseminated to the membership.  We will have to make phone calls to fill in the gaps for those who do not have email access.  For that I suggest those without email access “partner up” with someone who does to make sure you stay informed.

Tim Fry, Chapter President

Minutes From the Feb. Chapter Meeting

No meeting was held due to snow and ice.  As this weather pattern continues and we have to adjust our schedules, please check the web site for any up-dates or details about fly-outs or meetings that could be re-scheduled for another time or place.

Minutes From the Feb. Board Meeting

In the absence of President Tim Fry, the February board meeting of EAA Chapter 174 was called to order by Vice President Tom Jenkins at 6:42 PM.

Tom discussed the Young Builders program and his discussion with Plane & Pilot Magazine editor Lyn Freeman.  Lyn would like another name rather than Young Builders.  Tim Fry has donated a Glassair rudder kit to the program.  Lyn Freeman would like to have some publicity photos.

Membership chairman Scott Hersha will distribute chapter rosters at the next chapter meeting.  We were reminded that every chapter member must be a member of EAA national.

Young Eagles coordinator Phil Cady announced that the $1,000,000. insurance coverage is considered adequate by most chapters and insurance people.  Phil will check into the possible need for coverage for individual board members.

Tim questioned whether or not our meeting program should be presented before the actual business meeting to keep members from leaving before the program is begun.  The consensus of the board was "No".

Tim has asked for suggestions for a picnic "champion".  We will ask for volunteers.  Art West will coach the person as to what needs to be done in preparation for the picnic.

Mike Griffith reported that he has reservations for 7 people for the April 26-27 fabric seminar.

Fund raising was discussed with the possibility of hosting a war bird visit to the area.

The board worked out the April calendar to avoid having the chapter meeting on Easter Sunday.

Art West made his recommendations for a new accounting system to be used by the treasurer.  Dave Robertson resigned as treasurer.

Attendees at the meeting included Tom Jenkins, Dave Robertson, Norm Beaudette, Art West, Mike Franzago, Mike Griffith, Scott Hersha, and Lee Jewell.  President Tim Fry was ill.

Lee Jewell, Secretary