by Gerry Molidor, IAC 14825
Represented
This past week was board meeting week up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Always a busy time for officers, directors, and staff, this year’s meeting was no exception. Your volunteer representatives work hard on your behalf to set the policy that they feel will propel the organization along a positive path. Many members who take the time and effort to sit through one of these meetings are pleasantly surprised at how exhaustively our board members debate the issues. Very few board members do not come to the same conclusion on an issue after hearing the debate that preceded it. I would like to commend David and Martha Martin, Doug McConnell, Don Peterson, Jean Taylor, and Buck Weaver for caring enough to sit through a very long agenda.
The board completed a final review of the Aerobatic Rally Handbook, and we are in the final phases of launching this program. The Rally concept should prove to be a great new tool for our Chapters to serve members that are interested in learning about aerobatics without the competition overtone. My personal hope is that this program will reach out to a much broader general aviation member in a more social way. I’ve always thought the IAC was the best-kept secret in aviation, and the Rally program will go a long way in making aerobatics reachable for all pilots.
In just a few hours, your U.S. delegation to CIVA and I will be departing for the CIVA meeting in Germany. My job at this meeting is to deliver a presentation on our progress as the host country for the 2003 World Aerobatic Championship. Your club leadership has been working quietly behind the scenes on this project, and the excitement of it all is building rapidly. At the helm of the project is former U.S. Unlimited team member, U.S. National Aerobatic Champion, and Fond du Lac IAC Champion Phil Knight. Phil brings a wealth of experience to the job and understands how to host our friends from around the world. Second in command on Phil’s team is U.S. Advanced team member Bob Stark, who has held a number of management positions with past U.S. teams.
Their mission objective is simple: to run an efficient operation and to have our guests from around the world return home with warm feelings for our country and us. Aside from establishing the world champion and the pecking order below, the world championship is a time to get to know our brothers and sisters with whom we share the globe. It’s always amazing to me how much we have in common, especially when it comes to family. I invite all IAC members to come to Lakeland, Florida, next summer to be a part of this experience.
Special thanks are owed to our staff: Executive Director Lisa Popp, Jan Hetzer, and Sue Christensen. They have worked very hard the past four months on a number of important projects, and we appreciate their continued dedication to this club. Also, special thanks go to Sport Aerobatics Editor David Kujawa and Art Director Pierre Kotze for their hard work on our magazine. They are backed by the entire EAA editorial staff led by Scott Spangler. I think our magazine is first rate and sets the standard for division publications. We use member-contributed articles, so if you enjoy writing, go ahead and pen an article of interest over the long winter months ahead.
I am very pleased with the direction the club is now going in. We have a defined course that is aligned with our passions. As we close out this year, I want to thank all of you who have stayed the course in some turbulent times, and I believe better weather is forecasted ahead. From all of us at the IAC office and from my family to yours, have a great holiday season and fly safely!
