EAA Chapter 430 Membership Gathering Minutes Apr 26, 2025

Chapter President Ray Ballantyne called the Membership Gathering to order at 1004, hangar #15 at Sequim Valley Airport.

Ray led The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag with 43 members and 2 guests attending. Ray led thank-you’s and applause for our hospitality directors - Charlene and Kevin Tracy and our other volunteers, including Joan Miller and Norm Nelson.

Welcome guest(s): Maj. Eric Wahl, Ari Skov (Ari is close taking to his Private Pilot checkride) March Gathering Minutes were approved as written.

Correspondence - EAA HQ has once again awarded Gold Chapter status [for 2024] to EAA Chapter 430. Ray noted ongoing clubhouse/hangar discussions with Sequim Valley Airport and some new things with the Port of Port Angeles/Fairchild Airport management. Also, some arrangements for an August aviation equipment swap meet have been discussed with several EAA chapters, including Bremerton, Harvey and Chehalis.

• John Meyers took a moment to share the sad news that friend and chapter member Bob Nagy has passed.

Old Business

Treasury Tracy Halsted - Our financial picture reflects funds of approximately $3476 for scholarship, $183,868 for building fund and $3000 in the operating accounts. Harry Cook conducted a financial audit and produced a report that found no issues and offered a couple of constructive suggestions.

Membership Tracy Halsted - Paid membership now stands at 102.

Fly-out Barry Halsted - April’s flyout to Arlington (KAWO) impressively drew 11 airplanes and 18 people for a great time and a beautiful day of flying. Our May destination is anticipated to be Harvey Field (S43), Snohomish WA.

• 2 ultralight projects, donated by Chapter VP Rick Vaux - Ernie Hansen has taken on the selling of the Kitfox Lite and Dream Classic machines, including engines and reports that the Kitfox was sold for $10,000. The Dream Classic is still available and has been moved to a new storage site at Diamond Point.
• Ray demonstrated our appreciation to Ernie with a Tedesco’s $100 gift certificate
• Build and Fly Richard Howell - An LT-40 R/C model kit, that we had on-hand, just like the one the kids built in our first workshop (2023), was sold for $300. The funds will be used for a quicker-building model kit, as a replacement, that requires significantly less time commitment for attendees and volunteers. Plans for our next Build and Fly workshop effort - to be announced.

Scholarship Dave Miller - Jazmin Stamper’s Ray Foundation Scholarship application has been submitted. News that our last year’s Ray Scholar - Gunner Rogers - has very recently achieved his Instrument Rating, was met with cheers and applause.

Young Eagles Bud Davies - The June 14th event is scheduled at Sequim Valley Airport (W28). Pilots are needed!! Registrations are steadily coming in and we need enough pilots and planes to have successful event. Pilots - please contact Bud or any chapter board member to sign up for this rewarding opportunity.

VMC/IMC Club Harry Cook - we’re reminded that there’s no meeting in May, because our Pledge Dinner is scheduled on that Wednesday evening.

Flying Start Harry Cook - Harry is hosting our event at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 17 at Fairchild Airport Terminal Conference Room. Eagle Pilots are needed. Also, a few volunteers to help with onsite registration and other tasks will be welcomed. Please contact Harry or any board member to volunteer. Look for event pilot/volunteer sign up info in your email inbox.

New Business

Building Committee (Barry Halsted, Ernie Hansen, Norm Nelson and Ray Ballantyne)

• Ray shared that a change of venue for the location of a chapter clubhouse is [now] quite possibly the best way to move forward with our long standing desire and need for a permanent facility - and home - for EAA Chapter 430.
• The building committee has been in contact with Fairchild airport management and in preliminary discussions with a seller of a large hangar (pair) that appears to be quite attractive and suitable to our mission.
• Photos and a 3D graphic rendering of the site was presented. Ray conveyed enthusiasm and apparent willingness of Fairchild airport management to address access, parking and other considerations.
• Ray reviewed the suitability of existing electrical and plumbing and what we might need to do, to finish out the hangar. The cost of the structure purchase and anticipated upgrades will likely be [substantially] less than the new construction that’s been under negotiation and planning at Sequim Valley Airport for quite some time. Challenges with the success of that effort have led to looking at this attractive opportunity.
• A motion to allow the building committee to move forward with negotiations and authority to purchase the Port Angeles hangar building units, on leased airport property, was made by Ken Brown. A second of the motion was put forward by Keith Kretschmer. Ray led vigorous member discussion of topics related to the proposal. With a quorum of 43 members present, a show-of-hands vote was taken. 31 were counted as yes, 3 were counted as no. The motion carried.

Aviation Swap Meet - Ray has been working with folks at Harvey, Bremerton and Chehalis to organize an event on Saturday, August 9th. Richard Howell will be a local point of contact for information about the event, as things unfold.

Pledge Dinner - Pledge/Invitation RSVP cards were distributed (at this meeting). There is a signup sheet here today, or please RSVP to Kevin Tracy if you’d like to attend.

Projects

• Harry Cook - Sonex Waiex B, Canopy area.
• Rick Stoffell (James) - RV-10, Fiberglass rollover structure.
• Doug Medena - RV-10, Also working on the top fiberglass of his project.
• Colette Miller - RV-4, Throttle quadrant.
• Linda Priddle - Thanks to James Russell and Norm Nelson for their wonderful spirit and helpfulness with airplane repairs and getting Cenk’s C-150 off to its new home.

Business portion of the gathering was adjourned at 1133.

Presentation - Maj. Erik Wahl, 62nd Airlift Wing Flight Safety, JBLM - Mid Air Collision Avoidance (MACA)

A terrific selection of Westside Pizza was served for lunch.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard Howell, EAA 430 Secretary Next Gathering - Sat May 31st 2025 @ 10am Sequim Valley Airport, Hangar #15 Next VMC/IMC Club - Wed June 11th 2025 @ 7pm Mariner Cafe Next BOD Meeting - Fri May 23rd 2025 @ 9am Mariner Cafe