WINTER HAVEN PILOTS
ASSOCIATION NEWS
JULY 2010

 

MEETING NOTES: The following thirty nine members showed up for our June meeting; Gene & Peggy Abston, Carol Alexander, John Amundsen, Jamie Beckett, Gene Berlien, Roland Bernier, Bob Biggs, Jim Buchanan, Kelley Clark, Peter Davis, Walter Dix, Maury Fisher, Jack Doke, Ron & Linda Ferraiuolo, Maury Fisher, Ken Harrell, Chuck Hendricks, Dick Jason, Jim Johnson, Joe Leonard, Mike Mahler, Mickey Matison, Jim & Donna Newman, Mel Peck, Earle Richardson, Jack Sellet, Mason Sexton, Mal Shepherd, Bill Smith, Bob & Sharon Stebbins, John Swarthout, Bernice Williams, Bob Williams, Paul Wright and, new member, Charles Wulff.------

Bernice reported a fund balance of 38 stamps.-------------------------

Bernice also found 14 newer members that were in the computer but not in the files, so she hopes she has taken care of that.  As a result some members received their E Mail Newsletter twice.  She doesn’t want these people to think she has slipped a cog or something.---------------

The good donuts were paid for by the coffee fund.-----------------

We have a new yard swing that is very popular in the picnic area.  This was contributed by Tony Lewis and set up with the help of Ron Ferraiuolo and Jim Newman.--------------------

The Assoc. will pay for the chicken and furnish eating utensils for out July 3rd picnic.  It is suggested you bring your own beverage or enjoy the bottled water  available.-------------

Richard has lowered the self serve fuel price to $3.89.-----------------

Jamie Beckett has contacted the new City of Winter Haven Economic Development Director, Dave Dickey, and shown him around the airport. Dave would like to meet with us and may show up at our July picnic.  If not we could have him come to one of our meetings.-----------------------

The meeting was over in 8 minutes, leaving plenty of time to fly out.

 

THE NEXT MEETING OF THE WINTER HAVEN PILOTS ASSOCIATION WILL BE HELD JULY 31, 2010 at 10 A.M. AT THE TAILWHEELS ETC. FLIGHT SCHOOL.
Fly out to Sebring after the meeting

 

NEW MEMBERS:  Charles Wulff is from Lake Wales.  He has been a private pilot since 1986.  He owns Dick Green’s 1972 Grumman Yankee AA-1A.  Charles is also a model airplane fanatic, so he and Roland Bernier had a lot to talk about.  We hope to see him at our gatherings.---------

Don & Nancy Lovern live in Miami but manage to get up our way often enough to want to join us on some of our trips.  They got to Venice (Sharkey’s) along with the Madden’s so they know what they are in for.  We look forward to seeing more of them.

 

ACTIVITY:
June 16th Gene & Peggy Abston, Ron & Linda Ferraiuolo, Jim Thompson/Bernice Williams, Palmer Gehring, Tony Lewis/Bob Gerber, Jack & Elaine Sellet flew to Venice for lunch at the Honoluana.  While there we had a brief visit with members Stan & Susan Segalla. We flew to Venice that day so that Jack & Elaine could look at some puppies they were interested in.  The food and service was good at the restaurant and the weather was smooth flying and the Sellets bought a new puppy, so it was a good day for everyone.---------------------------------------

June 19th Gene & Peggy Abston and Gene & Ralph Gagliardi flew to Valkaria for breakfast. Valkaria added bacon and eggs to their menu and our members said breakfast was excellent. Bernice was sorry she had to miss the trip.----------------------------------

That same day the “RV Rebels” flew to Okeechobee for breakfast.  Ken Harrell/Sal , Jim Newman/Bob Park Dick Jason/Peter Davis, Jim Johnson (not an RV but a Rebel) and Maury Fisher made the trip. -----------------------------------

More rebels, Jack Sellet/John Bernache and Palmer Gehring flew to breakfast at Cedar Knoll.----

June 20th Fathers Day four RV’s flew to Lakeland for breakfast.  Jim Newman/Bob Park, Dick & Suzette Jason, Ken Harrell/Wanda Cherry, Ev & Betty Williston enjoyed the good food available on the restaurant week end buffet.--------------------------------------------

June 23rd Gene Abston, Ron & Linda Ferraiuolo, Jack Sellet/John Bernache, Jim Thompson/Bernice Williams, Jim Newman/Bob Park, Palmer Gehring/Bob Gerber flew to Albert Whitted for lunch.  It was a beautiful day to fly.  This is the first Bernice has seen the new terminal.  WOW.  They have a Wed. special hamburger for $5.  We all ordered it and Bernice & Jack Sellet had to take half home. It is huge.---------------------------------

June 26th after the meeting, Gene & Peggy Abston, Ron & Linda Ferraiuolo and Palmer Gehring/Jack Sellet flew to Sebring for lunch. It is a good thing the crowd was small because when they got there a group of about 40 were there for breakfast. (This was the Angel Flight breakfast) It looks like maybe there ARE other groups out there like ours!--------------------------------

That same day Jim Johnson, Dick Jason/Bob Park, Maury & Joni Fisher flew to Albert Whitted for lunch for what was supposed to be an RV Fly In.  Either the fly in was a bust, or the wrong information got to Bernice because they wound up being the “fly in”.  Unlike the Wed. Hamburger Special food is pretty expensive.-------------------

June 30th iffy weather turned back Ron & Linda Ferraiuolo from going to Crystal River.  Undaunted Gene & Peggy Abston, Palmer Gehring and Jim Thompson made the trip and found the weather was fine both ways.  Clouds at 3000. They also enjoyed a good lunch.-----------------

July 1st Ron Ferraiuolo & Bernice played pick up sticks in the picnic area. Ron won ‘cause he picked up the most.  July 2nd Walt Dix mowed the picnic area.  It hasn’t looked this good for months.  July 3rd Mother Nature DID smile on us and it didn’t rain until 1500. Only 62 members and guests showed up to enjoy the day.  Charles Wulff flew in from Lake Wales.  He said the ceiling was above 1000 so no problem.  Even with a relatively small crowd there was plenty of food.  A great variety and all good.  Some unusual dishes that we hear were extra good.  It would be nice to be able to sample everything. No one complained, they all had a great time and thanked Mother for being nice.  Sat. morning Mickey Matison got the ice and that was the last we saw of him.  Even when he couldn’t stay he did his part to help.  Marilyn Carr was there with her son who just got his MD license and will be moving to Florida.  She is one happy mom.  She gathered up the rubber bands. We do this for two reasons.  One we can reuse them  and the other they are not on the ground where a bird can pick them up and get them on their beak.  Sounds far fetched but has been known to happen.  Ron Ferraiuolo gathered up the rubbish and Jack Sellet trucked it over to the trash bin.  Dee Phillips makes every event more festive by decorating her beverage table.  We are thankful for her contribution of Tea and Lemonade. She also brings food and clean up supplies. Since we didn’t cover the tables set up and clean up was easy.-------

July 7th was a beautiful day after 4 days of rain, so 18 of our members were ready to fly to Okeechobee for lunch.  Ron Ferraiuolo/Gene Berlien, Jack & Sandy Madden, Jim Newman/Bill Park, Ev & Betty Williston, Jim Thompson/Bob Park, Palmer Gehring, Ken Harrell/Wanda Cherry, Linn Walters (it was his Birthday but he still had to pay his own way)  Tony Lewis, Warren & Diane Adams, and Jack Sellet enjoyed the trip.-------------

July 10th Jim Johnson, Maury Fisher, Palmer Gehring, Ron & Linda Ferraiuolo, Warren & Diane Adams, Tony Lewis, Marvin Herrera, Jack & Sandy Madden, Don & Nancy Lovern, Earle Richardson, Dick & Suzette Jason, Ken Harrell/Wanda Cherry flew to Venice for lunch at Sharkey’s.  The trip, food and company was good and a new experience for some of our members.  It is good that they have transportation to Sharkey’s again.-------------------

Wed. July 14th  Warren & Diane Adams, Ron & Linda Ferraiuolo, Jack & Sandy Madden, Jim Newman, Palmer Gehring, Bernice Williams, Bill & Devon Maynard, Tony Lewis, Bill & Diane Lloyd flew to Sebring for Breakfast and lunch. It wasn’t busy so think they were glad to see us.  This was a test for Bernice to see if her oil problem had improved.  It hadn’t so she had an escort (Palmer & Warren) on the way home.  What a good bunch.  Jack & Sandy gave Bernice a pad for when she does an oil change, and Jack did an oil check and added a quart then hung around to see if she had pressure when she was ready to take off. With members like this, who needs Guardian Angels?  No wind made for smooth landings.--------------------

July 17th Ron & Linda Ferraiuolo, Palmer Gehring, Tony Lewis flew to River Ranch  for lunch.  Good flying and they only had to get one cart which made it easy.---------------

AVIATION DAY at GIF was pretty good.  Debbie Murphy the new city airport manager (we hope she takes the job for good) spent the entire day there with us.  Working and getting to know us better. She is a pistol.  We also got to see Mary Johnson.  She was there with her grandson.  He and his many new friends had a great time in the Bounce House until later in the day when it got too hot for them.  Airplane rides were $20 a trip so they were not as busy as the last time when John Amundsen put on an event.  There were many food stands so it was hard to choose a place to eat.  It didn’t look like any of them made any money.  Twelve planes flew in but didn’t stay more than a couple of hours.  This was more for the public than pilots.  You could have spent the day playing Bingo and winning prizes.  Games were free.  Gary Francis (the instigator) was happy with the public turn out and may want to do this more often.

 

COMING EVENTS IN AUGUST

 

7TH DUNN AIRPARK BREAKFAST
       KEYSTONE HEIGHTS 42J BREAKFAST

 

21ST VALKARIA BREAKFAST
         CEDAR KNOLL BREAKFAST.

 

IN MEMORY
Steve Megill died of an apparent heart attack June 27th while driving his motorcycle down Havendale Blvd. He was able to park his bike by the side of the road before collapsing on the grass.  Steve was the kind of person that even in distress, would have the presence of mind to do the right thing, by making sure he did no harm to anyone else. On his way to the airport, Ron Ferraiuolo spotted Steve’s  bike.  Ron stopped and removed  Steve’s helmet but he was unresponsive. Ron was there until the EMC showed up. Steve has been a member for the past six years and took an active part in our activity here at the airport.  Because of his bad hearing he did not fly.  He will be missed by all that knew him in our Pilots Assoc. and the EAA.

 

COMMENT
It is hard to think that anyone on the airport is so hard up they have to cut the Lava Soap Bar in the hangar rest room in half and steal half a bar of soap.  Palmer Gehring and Walt Dix have been keeping the rest room clean and supplied. They could use a little more cooperation from the people that use it.  If you splash the walls with dirt, how about wiping them down afterwards?   
It kinda makes one wonder how these people live.  I hope none of our members are guilty.  If you are mend your ways.  If you know the guilty parties give them the word.

Thanks,
Bernice