EAA Chapter 430 Membership Gathering Minutes

Sep 27, 2025 Chapter President Ray Ballantyne called the Membership Gathering to order at 1015, hangar #15 at Sequim Valley Airport.

• Ray led The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag with 40 members and 4 guests attending.
• July Gathering Minutes were approved as written. (There was no Gathering in August - Air Affaire weekend.)
• Correspondence - none mentioned.
• Welcome Guests - Nicolena Hutchins and her daughter Evangeline, Dennis Warth, Nathan Miller
• Chapter member Genna Nickel has earned her Private Pilot Certificate!
• Treasury Tracy Halsted - (Ray) Our chapter funds are reflecting $5622 for scholarship, $7154 operating and over $200,000 in our building fund.
• Membership Tracy Halsted - Paid membership is now at 112.
• Build and Fly Richard Howell - Richard has emailed a group of parents who’ve continued to show interest in a workshop. A specific date, location and program will be offered very soon.
• Young Eagles Bud Davies - (Tracy Halsted) 41 kids were flown by 5 pilots at our last rally.
• Fly-out Barry Halsted - Our trip to Chehalis was fun. 19 people attended, including 12 from EAA 430 Olympic Peninsula, 3 from EAA 406 Bremerton and even 4 from EAA 609 Chehalis.
• Our Poker Run fundraiser has attracted 18 contestants.
• Building Committee - (Ray) ○ The committee is paused, for the moment, with no signing of the Sequim Valley Airport lease agreement.
• EAA Chapter 430, Vice President Rick Vaux, took a moment to express thanks and appreciation to folks who have tried to help him continue to be active in aviation, and that he’s coming to terms with not being physically able to - as he would like (and suggesting that perhaps we shouldn’t concern ourselves with trying to involve him anymore? Ok-. Hmmmmm. We’ll see how well we do with that!)
• Hospitality Charlene and Kevin Tracy - Charlie asked - for volunteers (food prep and other tasks) to please make themselves known through the signup sheet. Our next month’s membership gathering will feature breakfast at the Fairchild Airport Terminal Conference Room in Port Angeles.
• VMC/IMC Club Harry Cook - Last club meeting had 27 attendees - a record! We share good piloting knowledge and a bit of fun. Air Affaire Emily Westcott - Thank you to all those who attended and participated
• Olympic School - A request for a fundraising prize donation - an airplane flight.
• Chili Bingo Night - Our scholarship fundraising effort will feature Bingo and Ray’s excellent repertoire of Dad Jokes. And – the plan is to have a chili cook-off. Please see Kevin and Charlie, to enter your chili. October 23 at Fairchild Airport Terminal in Port Angeles.
• New Aviators Update
• Sid Vandiver - logged 15 hours of flying experience, so far
• Genna Nickel - achieved Private Pilot Certificate, August 22. Considering pursuing scholarship and other funding toward an instrument rating.
• Jazmin Stamper - completed first solo flight. Preparing for cross-country flight, written exam. Jazmin shared a bit about her experience at this year’s EAA Air Academy in Oshkosh, including a couple days of AirVenture.
• Nathan Nelson - Father Norm reported that Nathan also attended EAA Air Academy.

He’s currently engaged in the programs at Port Townsend Aero Museum and has logged about 10 hours of flight time. He recently was able to fly in a Cessna 162 SkyCatcher and also enjoyed a flight in a Bell 47 helicopter.

• Aiden Lara shared that he (and Emily Westcott) flew to all 15 of the Poker Run airports.
• Chapter member Cenk Özer briefly shared some stories about himself and his flying history.
• Projects
• Harry Cook - Sonex Waiex B, AeroVee engine assembly.
• The Business portion of the gathering was adjourned at 11:16
• Poker Run Fundraiser - Tracy Halsted, assisted by Dr. Scott Brooksby, masterfully MC’d two rounds of intense poker playing.
• The 1st round, 1st place prize - generously donated by Seven Cedars, was a complete Stay and Play package at their hotel and golf course properties, was won by Ray Ballantyne.
• The 1st round, 2nd place prize - a $100 gift certificate, very generously provided by Tedesco’s, was won by Kevin Tracy
• The 2nd round, 1st place prize was also won by Kevin Tracy - a $100 gift certificate donated by Dupuis’ Restaurant in Port Angeles.
• The 2nd round, 2nd place prize was won by Barry Halsted - two $25 gift cards from AutoZone.
• Aiden and Emily received a special prize - a $25 gift card from Swain’s General Store
• for their achievement of collecting passport stamps at all 15 of the qualifying poker run airports.
• We enjoyed our final burger feast for the summer season! Kevin and Charlie were joined by David and Joan Miller, and others, to deliver great food and a wonderful time. Thank you all! Respectfully submitted, Richard Howell, EAA 430 Secretary