174 MODEL AVIATION
GREETINGS from Kansas City!
Before I begin this month’s column, I
want to clarify that we have two Contest
Coordinators. Judy Gerken takes care of the
sanctioning paperwork for all RC-related
events and Mike Tallman handles the non-
RC events in the district. If you are a firsttime
CD, to sanction an event you need to
send the paperwork to either Judy or Mike.
It seems as though my weekends are nearly
booked for the summer with travels to
various events in District IX! I am blown
away with the warm reception I receive
from modelers across the six-state region.
Thanks!
One of the largest events in District IX is
right here in Kansas. Wings Over Wilson
(WOW) has been evolving for several years
and is one great time! Last year was my first
time to try my hand at slope soaring and if
you haven’t tried it, you gotta! It’s a blast!
Everything you’ve learned about flying
RC is 100% opposite when you go to the
slopes. For example, wind is good! Weight
makes you go fast! Throw it with no power
source and it goes up!
But one thing that’s not different is the
camaraderie of fellow modelers. Take a
good look at my new friend Loren Blinde
from Lincoln, Nebraska. Loren is a fine
person who used to CD this event, an avid
modeler, and a pretty good pool shark!
Last year associate vice president Jerry
Tuttle traveled with flying buddy Mark
Dennis (yep, he’s the person I featured with
the Slo Stick with the camera a couple of
months ago) to WOW with me. Jerry
couldn’t make it this year so another flying
buddy, Jim Maxey, joined us.
Jim thought he would try his hand at
slope soaring as he had no idea what to
expect. Just take a look at the expression on
his face!
The three of us arrived at Lake Wilson
on Thursday morning, June 8, and the
beauty just takes your breath away.
One of the neat things about this great
hobby of ours is how those little airplanes
get into our blood. Well, here are three
generations of slope fliers: Grandpa Alden
Shipp, his son, and grandson! Alden lives
near Lake Wilson and is usually willing to
meet you at the slopes if you are traveling
through the area.
I guarantee that you will not go hungry at
WOW. On Thursday and Friday evenings,
Jack Cooper fired up his grill and fed us
burgers and dogs on the house! Thanks
again, Jack!
Saturday evening is the WOW awards
banquet and auction. Prime rib was
abundant and outstanding!
I took this opportunity to present Ark
Valley club president John Riley with the
Leader Club award. If you have been
reading my column the last 1½ years, you
know how much I appreciate our Leader
Clubs and this venue presented the perfect
time to recognize John and his club for their
hard work.
That’s all the room I have. Next month I
want to tell you about my trip to Nebraska
for my first Profile Brotherhood event.
These people are a bunch of young,
energetic, fun-filled modelers who kept me
laughing all weekend. We had a ball!
Until next month, have fun and keep in
touch! Mark
District IX
Mark Smith, District IX Vice President; [email protected]
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
Mark Smith
Vice President
14632 W. 50th St.,
Shawnee KS 66216
Tel.: (913) 568-4347
www.amadistrict-ix.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Max Hansen, Huron SD;
[email protected]
H. Michael Harrington, Ft.
Collins CO; wdal@
lamar.colostate.edu
Fred Hildebrand, Casper WY;
[email protected]
Troy Lapp, Bismarck ND;
[email protected]
Travis McGinnis, Arvada CO;
[email protected]
Brenda Schuette, Auburn KS;
[email protected]
Jerry Tuttle, Olathe KS;
[email protected]
John Van Brocklin, Hastings NE;
[email protected]
Webmaster: Jim Shaw,
[email protected]
Contest Coordinators:
Mike Tallman, Wichita KS; miketallman@
webtv.net
Judy Gerken, Denver CO;
[email protected]
Frequency Coordinator: Steve
Mangles, Denver CO;
[email protected]
District IX Volunteers
Edition: Model Aviation - 2006/10
Page Numbers: 174