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Ive been asked by my chapter president to consider a postion on the board of my chapter. In doing so I am curious as to what you guys do during your chapter meetings, and what is it about your chapter that you really like? What is it focused on? What is it that you guys do?

John

As far as meetings go, we typically have a 50 minute "business" meeting, ten minute or so break, then a one hour presentation. We have chapter members give presentations on their projects, engines, or what they are flying. We also have special visits from people in aviation. Last meeting we had Sonex come down from Oshkosh to tell us all about their line of kits (VERY cool, BTW). We've had experts in metal fatigue talk to us, crop duster pilots, insurance talk from Jim Pappas, etc...

We also do breakfast every Saturday morning in the hanger.

We do fly-ins a couple times a year, and fly-outs several times a year.

The thing I think I like best about my chapter is the number of builders we have. At last count, I think there are some 25 projects underway...and 9 are RV's! We have numerous flying experimentals, four of which are RV's.

We don't have a "board" so to speak, just officers that have some responsibilities. I am our chapter's Secretary, and last year I did that and Newsletter Editor.

I'd say go for it!!

John -

I just joined my local EAA chapter - but have been monitoring other chapters. Here's one that seems to have a lot of energy & talent.
Check out their newsletter link. Lotsa good info.

http://www.eaahighriver.org/

I agree with CJ... go for it!

Lorin D
RV-9A (Flaps)
N194LD reserved

Hi John,

The biggest problem with most EAA Chapters is getting guys to talk to each
other. We have adopted the theme of "The Friendliest EAA Chapter In The
State!" as our montra. It's on our website, it's mentioned in our
newsletter, it's proclaimed at our monthly meetings. It a good start to get
the idea into people's heads.

Also, we start of each monthly meeting and ask visitors to either stand or
raise there hands so the other members can see them. Then, after making the
usual announcements about business and upcoming events, we have everyone
stand up and move amongst each themselves for 15-20 minutes just to shoot
the bull. We tell everyone to find at least three people they don't know
(or they think they don't know) and introduce themselves. Then we call
everybody back to sit down for the monthly presentation or talk.

I know I'm harping on this, but you can't get any other activities going if
you don't break the ice first. Now, after only a few meetings, we have
trouble getting everybody to shut up and sit back down. That's a good
thing. Our enrollment is up significantly. We just topped out last week at
165 members.

In addition to our set Monthly meetings, we have Chapter sponsored Fly-outs
every third Saturday for lunch somewhere, scheduled by our fly-out
coordinator, which is covered by EAA insurance. We also have an web-based
online roster database which contains the names, phone numbers and email
addresses of all the members and we incourage members to put together their
own outings and contact each other for these impromptu flights for
breakfasts and lunches (which are not covered by EAA insurance).

For a quick look at the goings on, go to:
http://www.eaa1246.org


Original Message:
-----------------
From: RB Lists - The Hangar support@rivetbangers.com
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2007 16:06:28 -0400
To: hangar@rivetbangers.com
Subject: What do you like about your EAA chapter?


Ive been asked by my chapter president to consider a postion on the board
of my chapter. In doing so I am curious as to what you guys do during your
chapter meetings, and what is it about your chapter that you really like?
What is it focused on? What is it that you guys do?

John
--
http://www.rivetbangers.com - Now integrating web and mail!
N202PJ - Lindy
bound
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Submitted via email

I enjoy the comradery. Our chapter meetings are just mostly a place for the older guys to go. Many of them aren't building planes any more but have a wealth of info and OPINIONS on flying. Our chapter have made many improvements to our airport over the past couple of years. New hangar, new concrete ramp, airport days with the community, young eagle flights, community college courses. Unfortunately, we have a chapter where 10% of the people do 90% of the work. I've been webmaster for 4 years because no one else is interested. Same goes for the other board positions. I think you'd have a lot to offer to any EAA chapter.

My chapter (535, Menominee MI) is one that is rising out of the ashes so to speak. A few years ago, we had a president who was just plain old burning out and sort of took the whole chapter with him. Meetings were few and far between with maybe 3-5 guys showing up.

Then I got railroaded....er....elected president and I was determined to ferret out all the pilots in my area who had given up on the chapter and to get them back in the fold. One of the ways I did it was to have cookouts at my hangar in the summer months. If there is anything that I learned as president, if there is food, they will come!

So things got rolling and we made it our goal to improve our airport, and man oh man, did it need improvement. Right down to getting certian members of the airport commission removed from their posts, and even getting rid of the entrenched airport manager. I have come to the conclusion that I do not want any of these guys in the chapter to get pissed off at me, or else nasty things might happen to me!!

Seriously tho, the things that our chapter has done at our airport include:

1) improving the visibility of our windsock (which by the way the airport manager said we really didn't need anyway, since we have an AWOS on field. Never mind that half the time is is inop and the other times it is dead wrong!)

2) Cleared out an old baggage handling area in the terminal and converted it into a meeting room, not only for our chapter, but for the CAP, as well as any other organization in the area which needs its use.

3) Pushing and succeeding in getting a self-serve fuel pump (which when the subject was suggested to our airport manager, his stock response was "not while I'M airport manager!!!" Guess what....he ain't da manager no mo!

4) Having a keycode lock installed on the terminal door so that pilots can let themselves in after hours, especially in the cold weather months. Again something that was opposed by our manager. I believe his words that time were something like, "over my dead body." No, an untimely, unexplained death was not utilized for that one.....

5) Installed tiedowns for 40 airplanes in the tarmac by the terminal

6) Sponsored/hosted the Classic Air Race done by the 99's last year. Menominee served as the race's terminus. Chapter members served as timers, helped with airplane refueling, transportation to and from area hotels for race participants.

7) Host T-34 trainer aircraft the weekend prior and week of Airventure. They use our airport as a practice area prior to doing fly-overs for the warbird shows at OSH (Got a ride in one two years ago while in formation....way cool)

Sponsor Young Eagle Days every year.

9) Hold at least one meeting a month, sometimes two when things are busy. Second Sat. morning of each month we have a pancake breakfast meeting in the terminal and then those who wish fly out somewhere for lunch.


Best part of it all??? All of it.

When we as a chapter step back and see the progress we have made at our airport, it becomes clear that we are making a difference and having a heck of a bunch of fun in the process.

BTW....I am one of two homebuilders in my whole chapter. We have about 35 members total.

Holy cow, Jeff, that is an amazing story. Congratulations on proving once again that grass-roots activism WORKS!

Jeff: Send in the chapter information to Oshkosh so 535 gets listed in the chapter directory online.

It was, and continues to be a hard road to follow, but welll worth it. Any time you are dealing with a government entity, even at the local level, you can run up against some real boneheads who are more interested in getting re-elected and puffing out their chests rather than doing what is right,

I am no longer the president of the chapter, but I will get that info to EAA. I was under the assumption that we already were listed.

Good thread guys

Jeff, great write up. Very cool that you and the chapter have truely made a difference at MNM.