EAA Chapter 430 Gathering Meeting Minutes: September

Date: Sep 28, 2024

• Meeting social and sign-in 0930.
• Chapter President Ray Ballantyne called the Membership Gathering to order at 1005 at Sequim Valley Airport, hangar #15.
• Ray led The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag with 45 members and 4(+) guests attending.
• Ray led thank you’s and applause to our hospitality directors - Charlene and Kevin Tracy.
• Guest(s): Arie Sko (completed Sporty’s ground school toward PPL), Derek and Wyatt Miller (interested in learning to fly), Tom Welner (Bremerton, C-172) and others.
• August Gathering Minutes were approved as written. Reports and Status:
• Scholarship update - Gunner Rogers has made the UND Flying Team!
• Our financial picture shows funds of approximately $6k for scholarship, $150k for building and $3.5k for operating.
• Fly-out - Barry Halsted shared that the September Orcas Island happening was nicely attended with 11 aircraft and 17 people, with picnic lunch for some and/or walk to town for others.
• Membership - Erik Petersen reported that paid chapter membership at 109.
• Building Committee - Barry Halsted reported that a lease proposal is undergoing rounds of review and revision by Sequim Valley Airport and EAA 430.
• Young Eagles - Tracy Halsted reported that our 3 events - June, July and September - flew 131 kids, owing to the generous donations by 12 pilots of their time and aircraft. New Business:
• More scholarship news -
• In addition to current recipients Noah and Henry, we are pleased to add Aidan Lara as our latest recipient for the 2024-25 school year. Aiden is attending Peninsula College to accomplish prerequisites and is expecting to attend UW for their Aerospace Engineering Program.
• EAA Air Academy - we are pleased to be sponsoring Nathan Nelson and Jazmin Stamper for the 2025 season at Oshkosh, next July.
• Chili Feed & Bingo Night fundraiser - we are looking forward to having fun while supporting our scholarship obligations. Wm. R. Fairchild airport terminal and conference room, Saturday October 19th, 5:00pm.
• Please see Charlie Tracy to help. She has food item sign up sheets.
• Dave Miller reminds us that our IRA required minimum distributions (RMD) can easily be contributed to EAA Chapter 430 - 501(c)(3) charitable organization - tax free, by means of a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Please consider doing this for the 2024 tax year.
• Build and Fly - Richard Howell mentioned that volunteers from EAA 430 and Olympic Silent Flyers are organizing an event with the Sequim Boys and Girls Club, in October. This we expect to be followed by 1 or 2 EAA Build and Fly workshops in November and December.
• W28 Tetrahedron - Ray showed us the large vinyl graphic EAA 430 logo that chapter member Linda Priddle has donated, to be placed on the back of the vane. A work party is scheduled for Wednesday to apply the graphic.
• Rick Vaux encouraged members to be sure to contribute a bit more (to the collection jars) to help cover the monthly coffee and food expenses of our gatherings.
• VMC/IMC Club - Harry Cook reminded us that the club meets at 7:00pm on the second Wednesday of each month at Mariner’s, in Sequim. The October 9 meeting will discuss emergencies and a bit about the recent FAA “Moss Interpretation” regarding maintenance supervision. Projects:
• Harry Cook - Sonex Waiex, the wings are on!
• James Russell - “Customer Parts”, helping other chapter members with their projects as he continues work on his own Cozy Mk IV project.
• Erik Petersen - Cozy Mk IV, work continuing on an improved canard for his plane.
• Norm Kuntz - Quickie, (Todd Taylor) reports that an engine run milestone has been accomplished.
• Rick Stoffel - Van’s RV-10, (James) has been helping with work on the composite cabin top section.
• Dave Gardner - Kitfox III rejuvenation, Dave reports he’ll soon be ready to fly.
• Ernie Hansen - Super Cub, Ernie has acquired a new Catto 86” non-planar propeller he’ll be fitting soon. Announcements:
• Jay Pearlman has padded sawhorses (for supporting wings) and also an engine stand to give away.
• Ernie Hansen, see Ernie about a Dynon D10A that needs a GPS-251 Receiver/Antenna Module (Puck”).
• PSA - Ray will take part in a RAF work party at Moose Creek USFS (1U1), next weekend (Oct 4 - 7) to support rebuilding of facilities destroyed by recent winds and fire.
• Bryan Nelson, requests thoughts and advice from [airline] pilots about his possibly making a midlife career change to commercial aviation.
• Business portion of the gathering was adjourned at 1055.
• Dave Boerighter - Erik and Ray teamed up to share about Dave’s flying history and to present Dave with his FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award to commemorate 50 years of safe piloting.
• Presentation - George Steed recounted the good experience that he and Mike Friend - both of EAA 406, Bremeton - had with their hands-on rebuilding of Mike’s IO-360 engine at the Aero Sport Power facility in Kamloops, BC.
• Our hospitality directors - Kevin and Charlene - delivered another great Burger Bash and other treats, with a little help from their friends! Respectfully submitted, Richard Howell, EAA 430 Secretary