1. Officers sought. First off, I wanted to
let all of the members who live in either the South or West District that the
nominations for NFFS VPs are now open. As required in the bylaws, a nomination
committee has been appointed for each District, and if anyone is interested in
serving, he or she should contact one of the members. The requirements for
officership can be obtained from a membership committee member. For the Eastern
Region, the membership committee chairman is Paul Crowley (see announcement
elsewhere for details) The other committee members are: Bob Perkins and Chuck
Markos. For the Western District, the committee members are: Bob Beecroft, Terry
Thorkildsen and Fred Terzian. At the time of this writing, a chairman for the
West has not been appointed. For anyone interested in serving as a vice
president, the pertinent information is that you must be a current member of the
NFFS, be able to attend the annual meeting, and be able to communicate with
others, preferably using email.
2. Another Life Member. It gives me
great pleasure to welcome Life Member 35, Bob Klipp, to the fold. Bob has been
one of our Society's workers over the past 20 years, serving for many years as
the Plans Man. Thanks, Bob. Life Memberships in the Society can be yours for
$450 if you live in the USA, and $500 if you live outside the USA. Why not
become Life Member 36?
3. Donations Continue. We have received another
contribution to the Pete Sotich fund from the Chicago Aeronuts, and another and
final installment to the Joe Guylas Scholarship fund from Joan Guylas, widow of
the late Joe Guylas, who was Life Member #1. Thanks to both. If you are
interested in making a contribution to the NFFS, remember that we are a 501c-3
organization, and your donations are tax deductible.
4. AMA Museum.
The NFFS has been involved with assisting the AMA museum tell the story about
free flight. As I understand it, one section of the newly remodeled museum will
be set aside to tell the NFFS story. To that end, Jim Haught has just completed
a historical look at the NFFS from its inception in 1965 to 2000. This document,
entitled, The National Free Flight Society, 1965-2000, is being donated
to AMA along with a complete bound set of Digests from the same period. Also, we
will donate a complete set of Symposia. NFFS members, and interested
others, will be able to read this history, look at the old Digest copies and
review old Symposia when visiting the museum at Muncie. Additional copies of the
NFFS History publication have been printed and are available from NFFS
Publications for $6.00 each plus the usual postage costs.
5. Top Free Flighters Ever. Some months
ago, I asked the membership to nominate their top candidates for the top ten
free flighters ever. I received a rather paltry response, in fact, only four
people responded. Here is the list as it appears now (in alphabetical order):
Merrick "Pete" Andrews, Jim Clem, Carl Goldberg (4),
Frank Ehling, Dick Korda (2), Thomas Koster, Chet
Lanzo, Gil Morris, George Perryman, Jerry Ritz, Earl Stahl, Henry Struck,
Sal Taibi (2), Eugene Verbitsky (2).
The numbers in ( ) represent the number of times this person was
nominated.
That's the current listing.
6. Top
Free Flights Ever. Once again, I asked folks to send in nominations for the
best free flights ever, and I got 4 responses to this request as well. Here they
are (in alphabetical order): AMA Cub (Delta Dart), Brooklyn Dodger
by Taibi, Buzzard Bombshell by Konefes, Catwalker F1D by Jim
Richmond (2), Continental by Ritz, Dove
A-2 by Schieman, Excaliber F1C, Maverick by Hutchinson, New
Ruler by Struck, 1939 Korda Wakefield (2),
Playboy Senior by Cleveland, Sailplane by Goldberg, Starduster
by Taibi (2), Wakefields by Bob White,
Zipper by Goldberg (2). As with the Top Free
Flighters nominations, the numbers in ( ) following the name of the model
represent the number of times each was mentioned.
7. Final Chance. If you forget,
neglected or otherwise did not send in a nomination for either the top models or
the top free flighters, here is your final, final chance. The rules are simple:
Just write up to 5 model names and free flighter names on a post card or in a
letter and send to Bob Stalick, 5066 NW Picadilly Circle, Albany, OR 97321. I
will close off the nominations on July 15. Then it is time to vote for the tops
in each category.
8. Symposium
Patrons. By the time you read this article, you will have received a request
from Bill Vanderbeek for a donation to offset the cost of the 2001 NFFS Sympo.
Please make a donation ASAP. In doing so, you will get your name in the book and
you will be sent one of the first copies to come off the press. These
donations allow the Society to pay for the printing and editorial costs up
front. Thanks to all who help.
9. Barbara Stalick Update. For those who have inquired, my wife is doing well and still undergoing sessions of chemotherapy for her leukemia. She is in remission and our hopes are high. Thanks to all who have asked.
Bob Stalick, NFFS President.