Sonoma Wings Meeting Minutes

 

May  24, 2001

 

Before the meeting we saw pictures Todd and Charley took on their backpacking trip on Snow Mountain the previous weekend.

 

President Albert Branson called the meeting to order at 7:50 p.m.  In attendance were Rich and Linda Sauer, Albert Branson and Donna Matthias, Ernie Camacho, Duane Taylor, John Blacet, Charley Warren, Jon James, Sterling Carter, Leo Jones Greg Sugg, and Paul Hougart.

 

Old Business:

 

Fort Funston:

It was noted that Leo had some correspondence with Tim West of the Fort Funston Fellow Feathers club.  Tim is the Fellow Feathers Safety Officer and also the same guy who destroyed his glider and had to deploy his parachute at Hull Mountain last year while attempting to dive 3,000 feet to fly with a buddy.  Figure that out.  Their correspondence was regarding the USHGA’s one year down grading of Mark Lillidahl’s H-4 rating to H-2 for various inappropriate antics at Fort Funston.  Tim West felt that the USHGA acted improperly and that Mark got a raw deal.  It was generally agreed by those club members who have flown at Fort Funston over the years that the Fellow Feathers club has not done an adequate job of  controlling inappropriate flying behavior at the Fort and that the USHGA action was long over due.

 

Pacific Coast Air Museum Air Show:

            The air show will be held at the Sonoma County Airport August 18th and 19th.  Various club members would like the club to have a presence at the show.  Albert will contact the organizers and maybe Dan Buchanan too to find out about hosting a booth with hang gliders, a simulator, and hang gliding information.   We will also contact the USHGA for things to give out.

 

St. John T-shirt Designs:

            June 15th is the deadline for T-shirt design submissions for the St. John Fly-In.

 

Jane Campbell Flight:

            Vince Endter has volunteered to take Jane Campbell up in his Cessna Cardinal for a flight over her property and the Mt. St. Helena area.  This is in appreciation for her generosity in allowing Sonoma Wings to land on her property and hold our now annual Cinco de Mayo Fly-in there.  Albert or Leo will call her to make the arrangements for the flight.

 

New Business:

 

New Member:

 

Paul Hougart is a paraglider pilot with a P-4 rating who has been flying paragliders for six years.  He is new to the area, and has spent time in Australia, Canada, and England.  He recently flew out at Goat Rock and then found out after flying that he needed to have signed waivers on file and in his possession.  He joined the club and now has all the proper paper work on file.  He was given Justin’s name as a source of PG information regarding flying sites and the like.  Welcome to Sonoma Wings Paul.

 

Rich’s Adventures in Florida and the upcoming World Air Games / World HG Competition:

            Rich Sauer told about his adventures at the two recent Florida meets and his excellent showings at them.  He learned a great deal and had lots of good stories.  As a result of his great flying,  he and Linda will be going to the up coming World Air Games and World Hang Gliding Competition in Spain as part of the United States Team.  Linda will be the United States Flex Wing Team leader.  Among other things she will attend the meet organizers’ meetings, report meet details back to the team pilots, drive retrieval, and do what else is necessary to help the team pilots be able to perform well in a hectic and taxing competition.

            Rich and Linda estimate that the trip will cost them more that $7,000 out of pocket.  The USHGA is offering practically no support at all except for about half of the entry fee (about $250).  Anybody is welcome and encouraged to contribute money to help them with this very large expense.  Please contact Rich and Linda directly.  For information about the World Air Games go to the web site:  wag2001.org.

            By the way Sonoma Wings is very proud to have TWO of the top ten ranked pilots in the United States:  Chris Arai, seventh, and Rich Sauer, tenth.  Not bad for a small club!!  Congratulations Chris and Rich!

 

St. John Fly-In:

            This year the St. John Fly-In will be held on August 25th and 26.  Make plans.  Also, Leo and some other SW pilots and officers will be meeting with Jessie Rosenquest of the Forest Service and a Forest Service biologist in Stonyford on Friday June 8th.  They will go up to the St. John launch ramp to discuss details of the ramp improvement and maintenance of the other launches.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:27p.m.

 

Greg Sugg, Secretary