District II Report - 2009/10
Plattsburgh Aero Modelers (PAM)
We have many outstanding clubs in this district that put on events for the benefit of charities and their communities. These clubs realize that this type of community involvement pays big dividends later on when they need the community and political influence to help save a flying field. The Plattsburgh Aero Modelers (PAM) have donated thousands of dollars from their Hospice Fun Fly event held each June. This year I joined Tom Bickford, associate vice president for the Adirondack region, and together we presented longtime member Chris Brown with a District II Service Award for his service to his club, community, and hospice.
The PAM club invited its local television station to the event, and the news reporter became a student pilot and buddy-boxed on Leonard Smart’s turbine trainer—yes, a turbine trainer. It was filmed and aired throughout the North Country. The Plattsburgh Aero Modelers can take pride in the club’s accomplishments and deserved recognition in this column!
Thundervolts Radio Control Club
The Thundervolts Radio Control Club in the Albany, New York area held its first annual Pig Fun Fly. John Ryan gave up flying that day and started slow-cooking a pig in his special cooker at 2 a.m. Everyone who attended had John to thank for cooking up a great 4 p.m. meal—not the usual hot dogs and hamburgers. The day was bright and the flying plentiful, with 30 pilots and more than 50 aircraft taking flight.
Garden State Circle Burners (GSCB)
On May 24, I had the opportunity to introduce District II associate vice president (AVP) and Sport Aviator editor Frank Granelli to the Garden State Circle Burners (GSCB) at the GSCB All-Profile meet. Not only did we see great flying, we also saw our youth competing! CD Reuben MacBride put on another good event for contestants from New York City, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Till next month — keep 'em three in the green.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
