Gathering Minutes: April 2024

Date: April 27, 2024

• Meeting social and sign-in 0930.
• Chapter President Ray Ballantyne called the Membership Gathering to order at 1014 at Sequim Valley Airport, hangar #15.
• Ray led The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag with 38 members and 1 guest attending.
• Guest(s): Doug Medema.
• March Gathering Minutes were approved as written.
• Correspondence:
• Dave Miller reported that our Ray Scholarship application has been approved for $6,600 and that $4,400 has been allocated to Rite Bros.
• Richard Howell reported his email exchange with EAA’s Dave Lieting to explore the possibility of loosening some EAA Young Eagle constraints, with regard to registration, parental participation/presence, event co-sponsorship with community youth organizations - turns out to be flatly not allowed, according to EAA policy. We will find a way for EAA Chapter 430 members to participate in and support “Build and Fly-like” workshops, sponsored by Boys and Girls Club, YMCA and CAP, as well as a few of our own.
• Aidan Lara completed his first solo in March. He’ll be taking his written exam next week and is anticipating being ready for his check-ride in June.
• Old Business:
• Treasury - (Ray) Scholarship $6,000, Building fund $130,000, General $4,000
• Ray also reported that the building fund had, just this morning, received a $10,000 donation check from a patron that has requested to remain anonymous.
• Scholarship Chair Dave Miller - appealed to the membership that we keep our scholarship funding active and not allow building funding to detract from contributions to our ongoing scholarship program.
• Membership - (Tracy and Ray) reported that our EAA chapter has approximately 100 paid members.
• Flyouts - Barry Halsted reported the April flyout to Arlington was attended by 19 folks.
• Ray briefly reviewed some of the PowerPoint presentation he made at last month’s gathering. And reported that the Sequim Valley Airport board has received our written request and proposal for a property lease to accommodate the new clubhouse. No funds have been committed yet.
• Ray presented an overhead, perspective drawing of what our clubhouse might look like, situated at Sequim Valley Airport, just about where the current office/trailer is now. (Thanks to EAA Chapter 430 member Melissa Laird.)
• Ray led a discussion about possibilities for the clubhouse and related matters.
• New Business:
• Tetrahedron project at Sequim Valley Airport (W28) - Barry, reported that the old tetrahedron has been taken down and carted away. The new unit will be metal. Design, fabrication and assembly are in progress. The size will be approximately 14ft. long and 6ft. wide (at the back).
• Sequim Valley Airport - a reminder that 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.
• Flying Start - (Ray) Saturday afternoon, May 18, 1:00pm event, will be hosted by Dave Woodcock at Fairchild Airport in Port Angeles. Pilots are needed. Please contact Ray or Dave and support the effort with your time, piloting skill and airplane.
• Young Eagles - First event will be June 1 at Sequim Valley Airport. Please contact Bud Davies and volunteer to be a pilot and support this important program.
• Project Reports.
• Harry Cook - Sonex Waiex B, just about to start looking like an airplane (after joining of the main fuselage sections).
• James Russell has a Cozy Mk IV project in his workshop. He and Erik Petersen will soon begin work on an improved canard for Erik’s Cozy.
• Doug Medema is 3.5 years into building his RV-10. Doug has also built and flies an RV-6A.
• Our next Chapter Gathering will be May 25th, here at Sequim Valley Airport.
• VMC/IMC Club will have its next meeting on Wednesday, May 8th, 7:00 pm at Mariner Cafe.
• The business portion of the gathering was adjourned.
• Our featured presenter was Dave Woodcock, with lots of history and photos about the role of Piper L-4 aircraft during WWII, along with specific details of his L-4, that rolled out of the factory and into service 80 years ago this month. A birthday celebration - with cake! - was enjoyed by all.
• Our first Burger Bash of the summer season was brilliantly presented by Kevin and Charlie Tracy and the generous volunteers who made wonderful treats and cooked for us. Thank you all!!! Respectfully submitted, Richard Howell, EAA 430 Secretary