District V Report - 2003/03

166
THIS TIME of the year—November,
December, and January—Florida comes
alive. Balmy temperatures, everything
green. Some of the fliers have dual homes,
one in the North where it is cold, and one in
Florida where it is warm and sunny.
There are so many fine clubs in Florida,
it’s easy to choose one and feature it in this
issue of the magazine. Two clubs this month
are our District V Club of the Month winners.
I spent the day with the Ridge Barnstormers
of Lake Wales during the club’s Big Bird
Fly-In at the George Breen Field. John
Greskowitz was Contest Director (CD).
Pictured above are some of the important
club officials and members who were
running the fly-in blast. They include
Ralph Schaberg; Chas Bates; John
Greskowitz, CD; Dave Bowerman, who
has just been elected new club president
for 2003; George Breen, who was a
founder of the Ridge Barnstormers Club;
and Rich Fergeson, member.
In this snap above are Chris Morehead,
club editor; Dave Bowerman, newly
elected club president; and Corbett
Watson, retiring club president. These
three gentlemen are holding first-aid kits I
gave them. It was their idea to hold the
first-aid kits, not mine.
Another snap of outgoing president
Corbett Watson with his beautiful family,
Cassie and Shelby Watson. They are in
front of their camper.
This 52-member club conducted a nice
fun-fly where everybody had fun and
everybody went home happy.
This shot above is a perfect example of
what I’m trying to say. Fliers gathered
around, listening to Ron Duran explaining
his YAK-11, some drinking Cokes, talk,
talk, talk, everybody having a good time.
Included here are Lou Zackman, Bill
Gilmore, Jerry Sprafka, Ron and Tom
Pletcher, and Jim Heider. I scurried
around to get all the names after I took the
picture, but I missed a few.
The Ridge Barnstormers is a Club of the
Month this month.
Our other Club of the Month for this month
is the RC World Flyers in Orlando, Florida.
I attended and stayed all day at the club’s
Fall Flying Festival XVIII. Allen Sorenson
was the CD and Harry Lockwood is the club
president. This day the Fall Festival bash
had some distinguished visitors. Fliers came
from all over and visitors numbered in the
hundreds.
This snap above are Charlie Bauer, AMA
District VI Vice President, drifted down
from Norridge, Illinois, to fly; Al Sorenson,
club editor and CD; Harry Lockwood, club
president; Norm Holland, the club’s vice
president; and Sal Battaglia. Harry told me
he’s been club president as far back as he
can remember. The club’s been going
more than 20 years. He’s president
because everybody likes him, likes his
style, and they don’t want to change.
Meet Don Lowe, involved club member
and former AMA president. Don is looking
at his 42% Ultimate airplane, maybe
wondering what to do next. Don is the
chair of the AMA Safety Committee.
Spectators all got their money’s worth
watching the fantastically real-looking
models in the air. A huge variety of scale
airplanes covered the flying field and filled
the air.
Pictured aboveis a prime example. Arnold
Marcus is showing you his twin engine
Grumman F-7-F Tiger Cat he is about to
fly. A magnificent airplane up close and in
the air.
Both clubs are District V Club of the
Month winners for this month. AMA has
created some nice cloth patches for club
members to wear if they want to. The Lake
Wales club received 60 patches, and 100
were mailed to the RC World Flyers
signifying the clubs’ District V award.
Joe Piccolo with the Tampa RC Club
contacted me and said he wants his “five
minutes of fame” when he gets his picture
in the magazine. (Joe is on the right.)
Okay Joe, here you are.
District V Report
Frequency Coordinator, Jim McNeill
Associate Vice Presidents
James Alvis, Jackson MS (601) 956-4978
Sherwin Arculis, Huntsville AL (256) 883-9838
Malcolm Boartfield, Marietta GA (770) 977-4126
Ron Chidgey, Pensacola FL (850) 476-8639
Rod Gier, Cocoa FL (321) 636-2148
Michael Gregory, Greenville SC (864) 244-8660
Louise Izzo, Wintersprings FL (407) 699-4929
Richard Jackson, Charleston SC (843) 744-4575
Bob Laine, Goldmine GA (770) 466-5336
Richard MacEntee, Palmetto FL (941) 729-1524
Joseph Micalizzi, Fajardo PR (787) 863-9163
Fred Mulholland, Tampa FL (813) 962-7020
George Perryman, Smyrna GA (770) 436-6001
Nancy Riley, Lake Placid FL (863) 699-1215
Melvin Sires, Aiken SC (803) 649-4073
Jim Stewart, Gardendale AL (205) 631-6968
Ward Van Duzer, Gainesville GA (770) 718-0122
Lee Webster, Manchester TN (615) 728-3283
Bud Williams, Gray TN (423) 477-0772
Alabama / Florida / Georgia /
Mississippi / Puerto Rico /
South Carolina / Tennessee
Jim McNeill
Vice President
617 South 20 Avenue,
Birmingham AL 35205
Tel.: (205) 322-2127
Fax: (205) 252-2654
E-mail: [email protected]
Web page:
http://www.modelair.org/
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