Hear Ye!

April, 2003
No. 431

FROM THE PREZ
by Bob Sudermann

As I sit down to write this month's ramblings, the United States has begun
military action in Iraq. It does not matter which side of the discussion
you are on. I believe we all need to pray for the safe and quick return of
our soldiers as they perform their duties.

It is amazing how grown adults can behave when confronted with something
they have a passion for. In this hobby it can be sport, scale, biplanes, WW
I, WW II, jets, aerobatics or even rubber-powered indoor. There were more
Ooh's and Aah's and clapping at the March meeting than at any other in
recent memory, as Joe Krush displayed and flew some amazing flying machines.
As you all know, Joe is an avid indoor flyer and long time Signal Seeker.
He graced us with his expertise and experiences as he amazed everyone the
flying ability of some of his creations.

We also had some interesting items for Show and Tell, one of which was the
turbine powered helicopter of Mel Jones's (one of our premier "Rotor
Heads"). As of the meeting, it had not been flown, but that should take
place soon after he completes an AMA-required course on turbines. We all
look forward to see this helicopter in action.

Some general items:

At the April General Membership Meeting, Eric Henderson will discuss
"Aerobatics and Sound." Eric writes articles for "Pattern Flyers" for the
AMA Magazine. We look forward to his informative presentation.
The BOG has set June 21st (June 22nd rain date) and September 13th
(September 14th rain date) for our two Fun Fly events. Mike Estock has
volunteered to coordinate these events.

Please remember, all new or reconfigured (different prop, engine, or
muffler) aircraft must be sound checked before they will be allowed to
operate. A number of Field Marshals have the sound meters and will be happy
to perform the test.

New students - Make sure you get the student handout from Carl Sutton when
you join, and fill out the attached student information sheet and send it to
me. I cannot assign you an instructor unless you are on my list.

As the new season begins, please go over your planes one more time. You don
't want to be surprised by something you missed from last season.

See you all at the field.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

APRIL RAFFLE by Joe Yalove

The following items are in the April raffle:
1. Package of 12-minute epoxy
2. Hanger 9 expanded scale voltmeter
3. Hanger 9 peak charger
4. Drill Doctor - will sharpen twist drills up to ? inch
5. Top Flight sealing iron

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VFSS BOG MEETING
by Steve Kolet, Secretary

March 4, 2003
Members present: 10.
Meeting was opened at 7:00 PM by President Bob Sudermann.

OLD BUSINESS

Item 1: Tom Burns queried whether we could approach the Park Superintendent
about the club getting a load of "quarry dust" placed on the drive at no
cost to the park, and the club could spread and roll it when we roll the
field. Bob Sudermann will consult with the Park Superintendent.

Item 2: Bob Sudermann asked the officers if they would be willing to have
and use a phone pyramid to remind BOG members of meetings. All concurred.
Bob will divide up BOG among the officers and we will try it in May.

NEW BUSINESS

Item 1: The board discussed several dates for the early Fun Fly and
selected June 21st, with a rain date of June 22nd. This date will be
checked against any local model events or air shows in the local area. If
there is a conflict, the following weekend, June 28th & 29th is the
alternate, pending check for conflicts. The end-of-summer fun fly date
selected was September 13th, with a rain date of September 14th. The BOG is
looking for lunchtime entertainment with several ideas forwarded. Among the
ideas being researched are an IMAC 3D demo, Alpha Squadron demo such as a
jet helicopter, or gas turbine of some type.

Item 2: Rolling the field was discussed. Carl Sutton volunteered to
co-ordinate the effort. Rudy Forst, Harold Peyton and Al Marcucci
volunteered to assist. Carl is hopeful the field will be dried out enough
that it can be accomplished in early to mid April.

Item 3: The club charter is at Warren Barrick's. President Sudermann and
Treasurer Carl Sutton will complete and return it to AMA in the coming
weeks. Rudy Forst will send membership roster/numbers in June/July when the
membership roster stabilizes. The club demo instructors will be polled as
to whether they wish to be continued. The list will be updated as required
and submitted to AMA.

Item 4: Speaker topics for general meetings were discussed. The March
meeting will feature Joe Krush talking and demonstrating indoor flying.
Other topics being considered and researched for later meetings are
programming computer transmitters, IMAC/IMAA pattern and sound requirements,
aircraft balance and flight trimming, model finishing with paints and films,
discussion of NiMH and NiCd batteries - charging, discharge characteristics,
etc.

Item 5: Carl Sutton reviewed the current financial state/budget of VFSS.
The February 11th awards dinner went under budget, as we only had two
entrees, rather than three as projected. The dinner for next year is going
to remain fully budgeted as costs are expected to be higher next year.

All business was concluded. Meeting was adjourned,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CLUB CALENDAR

Tuesday, April 1st -
There is no BOG Meeting this month.

Tuesday, April 8th -
General Membership Meeting at the church at 8:00 PM. Guest speaker Eric
Henderson, who writes "Pattern Flyers" articles in the AMA magazine, will
discuss "Aerobatics and Sound."

Tuesday, May 6th -
BOG Meeting at the church, 7:00 PM, room 207.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Feedback or comments to: Marilyn Ayres , HearYe editor
Michael Myers, Webmaster

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