From the Left Seat

Happy Holidays! We’re finally in the season, and it started in fine fashion at the annual EAA430 Holiday party. Almost 50 people dressed up in festive and sparkling attire and enjoyed a great meal along with revisiting the history of our chapter. It took some time to recount all the aircraft built, Young Eagles flown, and activities done in half of a century. Our chapter has been and continues to be a beacon for general aviation on the Olympic Peninsula. We deserve to be proud to carry on this aviation advocacy.

There were many people recognized at the party for their efforts all year long to keep the chapter vibrant and to keep you informed. All of the officers received recognition from HQ, but not all of the directors were acknowledged. So I would like to personally thank Erik Petersen for taking on Membership, Dave Miller for his many years with Scholarship, Scott Fitzgerald doing Communications, and Andy Sallee for Web Editor. Also thanks to Rick Stoffel for housing our Tool Crib. A special thanks to Mary “Skip” Brown for being the newsletter editor and she was awarded the MVP award for 2022. I sure hope someone will be willing to keep publishing the newsletters this coming year.

And speaking of the coming year, we’re all excited about the prospects. We hope to get the Build and Fly project off the ground, have a Light/ultralight breakfast event, hold three Young Eagles rally’s, conduct a “Flying Start” program, do monthly flyouts and also a poker run, have some tech counselor parties, and maybe a summer picnic. It should be a fun and busy year, so come and participate.

How could you not want to be a part of this active group? Remember it’s time to show your loyalty to the Chapter by renewing your dues of $20 individual, or $25 for the family. In the past, it has taken up to four months for everyone to renew which is a real bother to the treasurer. Please just make out the check or go to PayPal and take care of that soon.

I’d like to thank the Board of Directors again for their continued efforts. We have changed the terms of the offices to two years (which is why we didn’t have an election this year).

I look forward to what the new year has in store for us! Ray