EAA Chapter 430 Membership Gathering Minutes

Date: Jan 27, 2024

• Meeting breakfast social and sign-in 0930.
• Chapter President Ray Ballantyne called the Membership Gathering to order at 1009 at Wm. R. Fairchild Airport, terminal conference room. Ray led a round of cheers and thanks to Kevin and Charlene Tracy for putting up such a fine Breakfast Feast for us this morning! Thanks to Bud Davies and everyone else who chipped in to make it happen.
• Ray led The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag with 41 members and 1 guest attending.
• Guest(s): Mark Zeitlin via Zoom - our presenter today.
• November Gathering Minutes were approved as written. There were no minutes from December as the Holiday Party socal substituted for our regular gathering.
• Correspondence:
• Ray was able to convey our interest in learning about Frances Lyon, who recently left the chapter a generous bequest of $100,000, related to our Young Eagles efforts. He read a letter we received from the executor of Mrs. Lyon’s estate that shared some welcome details about her life. Member Dave Boerigter suggested that we send a card to the Lyon family, signed by chapter members.
• Old Business
• Ray reported that many on the board of directors were feeling that more money is needed in the building fund before pursuing building/hangar options. There are some developments pending at Sequim Valley Airport (W28). Stay tuned for more, as negotiations and explorations unfold.
• Ray reported the treasury has total funds of $112,000, including $8,300 for scholarship, $100,700 in the building fund and $3,000 in the operating fund.
• Membership - reminder that annual dues are payable. VP Rick Vaux is on duty at the door today, to accept payments by cash or check.
• Fly Out Director Barry Halsted reported that weather has been an issue, so January ended up as a well attended Drive-out with 19 people, representing what would have been about 9 aircraft. No flyout destination for February has been decided upon.
• Our ground school discussion group has been meeting regularly and having fun mastering weather report decoding and other particulars of aeronautical knowledge. Our Ray Scholarship candidate Gunner Rogers has been flying and is reportedly near solo.
• New Business:
• Ray reminded us that EAA national is sponsoring a Leadership Boot Camp at Harvey Field, on Saturday March 9, 2024. He says it’s fun and worthwhile and encourages any and all who might be interested to take advantage of the opportunity, especially with such easy local access.
• There were several quick mentions of some “Extra Stuff” that folks have and would like to offer to chapter members. Ray Ballantyne freed an Apollo GX-60 GPS/COM unit from his panel. Jay Pearlman has a sand-blast cabinet and related equipment looking for a new home – and it looks like Todd Taylor has already stepped in to snap it up, with cash proceeds going to the chapter.
• Sequim Valley Airport - Air Affaire - will be on August 24, a week earlier than it has traditionally been. That leaves the following weekend open for a regular EAA 430 Chapter Gathering, also in August.
• The chapter is planning three Young Eagles rallies this year, starting with Sequim Valley (W28) in June, Port Angeles (CLM) in July and Port Townsend (0S9) in August.
• Project Reports.
• Harry Cook - Sonex Waiex B, making good progress on the fuselage.
• Kevin Widdowson - Bristell Classic, Kevin worked over the summer at the Bristell factory in Czech Republic to do the primary building of the wings and fuselage of his project, all bits of which have now been conveyed to his workshop at his home in Yorkshire, England (UK).
• Kevin Tracy - Aircoup, with the help of Harry Cook has been able to complete the annual inspection of the venerable machine and will be looking to take to the air very soon.
• James Russell has been busy on several projects - a Cozy Mk IV has managed to find its way into his workshop. He’s been helping Erik Petersen plan some upgrades for his Cozy Mk IV. And, James has been organizing the logs and assisting with the annual inspection and TLC of the C172 that Erik is a partner in.
• Ray Ballantyne - organized a brand new Garmin GNC 355 WAAS GPS/COM unit into the panel of his nifty GlaStar.
• No Chapter Gathering for February, the weekend yielding its time to the NW Aviation Conference & Trade Show, in Puyallup.
• The business portion of the gathering was adjourned at 1050.
• Erik Petersen introduced Mark Zeitlin to give us Soup to Nuts on the Cozy Mk IV and other plans-built Dick Rutan-designed aircraft. Respectfully submitted, Richard Howell, EAA 430 Secretary