President Jim is unusually quiet this month and has offered no pearls of wisdom for us to savour. However I am sure that he joins the executive in their hope to see you all at the next Southern Flyers meeting to be held on March 08, 2004 at 7:00 pm at the Staples Community Centre. Word has it that the flying field has already been found suitable for flying but the lot is too wet to park your cars. It won't be long before opening day and that date may be set at this meeting.

FEBRUARY. 9, 2004

The meeting was called to order at 19:10 hrs. by President Jim Jewell. The minutes of the Jan. 12, 2004 meeting were read by Secretary Bill Bell. A motion to accept the minutes as read was made by Ed Gresik and seconded by Norm Long. Motion carried.

Treasurer's Report:

The Treasurer's report was presented by Treasurer Barry Fegarty. There are 23 paid members to date. Motion to accept the report as read was made by Jack Pepin and seconded by Jeff Kuzniak. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS:

Jim Jewell thanked all volunteers for their work at the school field trips / plane building programs. More planes are needed and will be ordered.

John MacIntosh volunteered to organize the combat flying program at the field. The idea is to keep it cheap, simple, safe and fun.

Ray Gould gave the Safety Committee Report on future activity and shows. Norm Long offered to provide a P.A. and to become the club "voice" on the microphone.

The dates of the Cottam Horse Show and the Heritage Village Show etc. are to be confirmed so that they can be sanctioned by MAAC.

It was again announced that meetings would be automatically cancelled if the weather was stormy or "iffy".

A motion to close the meeting was made by Ray Gould and was seconded by John MacIntosh. Motion carried. The meeting was closed by Jim Jewell at 19:40 hrs.

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:

Bill Bell, Mike Dewar, Jim Helkie, Roy Long, Kyle Tiessen, Norm Long, Jim Jewell, Ron Edwards, Ed Gresik, Bert Litke, Jack Pepin, Bob Myers, Robin Paulton, Ray Gould, Herb Thrun, Jeff Kuzniak, John MacIntosh, Barry Fegarty, Joe Schooley, Andrew Haggert, Ken Connick, Greg Bushey.

Following the close of the business meeting the members enjoyed refreshments as well as a swap meet. Members swapped equipment and stories. A 50 /50 draw was won by Herb Thrun.

Secretary Bill Bell.

President JJ sent the following schedule of classroom building dates.

President Jim and his instructors can use lots of help so if you can assist them give Jim a call at 839-5453

As I look back over the years I see how the hobby has changed from one of building and competition, to one of sport flying. Over the last ten years the people coming into the hobby are not primarily modelers but sport flyers. Some have disagreed with me and say that is more like 15 years. The manufacturers are not helping with the ARFs coming on the market. Today you buy a kit, shake the box, and out pops a plane! The same applies to contests. Up to the early 1960's, you could attend a contest in Ontario, Michigan, or Ohio every Sunday from April to October. I think of the big contests such as the Texaco meets sponsored by Texaco Oil, and the Payload contest sponsored by Pan American Airways. Then the really big one, the "Mirror Meet" in New York put on by the New York Daily Mirror - the biggest contest in the world. It attracted about one thousand modelers and three or four times that in spectators. The contest started early in the morning and ran until evening. The prizes started with kits and engines then advanced to a motorcycle, then a car. The grand winner received a full scale Aircoupe. The Plymouth Nationals ran for seven years put on by the Plymouth Motor division of Chrysler Corp. It was a whole week of flying. The contestants were billeted at the Fort Shelby Hotel in Detroit. Free flight flying was at Selfridge Air Force Base, Monday to Wednesday. U-control was at Belle Isle, Thursday to Saturday. On Sunday everyone boarded the Boblo boat and sailed down to Boblo Island for a trophy presentation banguet. One of the last big contests was the Michigan Exchange Meet, the largest one-day contests in Michigan. It was held at the Ford Motor test track in Dearborn. It continued for almost 20 years. Nothing like those old contests exists today. The closest example would be the SAM or Old Timer contests. Over the summer you can attend 30-35 contests in Michigan, Ohio, or Wisconsin if you want to fly the circuit. At a few of our meetings I have talked about Carl Goldberg and how he was a master builder. I found this photo of his VALKYRIE built in 1937. The fuselage is planked with 1/8x1/4. Note the bridgework in the ribs, wing, stab and rudder. He brought the Valkyrie to the 37 Nationals in Detroit and on his one and only launch, he lost the plane on an out-of-sight flight somewhere over Essex County. (never recovered) This brings me to the end of the articles that Ron asked me to submit to the newsletter. I hope that you have enjoyed reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them. Chuck.

Click to Enlarge Image Click to Enlarge Image Carl Goldberg holding his Valkyrie 1937. Click to Enlarge Image

Chuck's (Joe Schooley) enjoyment in writing these articles is only exceeded by my delight in receiving them. THANKS so much Joe, your efforts are sincerely appreciated.

Joe has provided the newsletter with many more pictures, clippings and items that we will include in future bulletins, as time and space allow. Thanks again Joe.

Children in an elementary school were asked questions about the Old and New Testaments. The following statements have not been altered in any way.

"Noah's wife was called Joan of Ark. Noah built the ark which all the animals came on in pears."

"Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night."

"The Jews were a proud people and throughout history they had trouble with the unsympathetic genitals."

"Samson slayed the Philistines with the axe of the apostles."

"The Egyptians were all drowned in the desert. Afterwards Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten amendments."

"The first commandment was when Eve told Adam to eat the apple. The seventh commandment is thou shall not admit adultery."

"When Mary heard she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta."

"Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption."

"Jesus enunciated the golden rule, which says to do one to others before they do one to you."

"The people who followed the Lord were called the decibels."

"Christians have only one spouse. This is called monotony."

I hope this humour helps get you though until flying weather.

Ron.