District VII—Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Hello again! As you might suspect, FAA issues remain a central focus for AMA Headquarters and the Executive Council. At our summer meeting, much time and energy was devoted to this issue.
One item of note is that we were successful in our appeal to extend the FAA’s original 30-day public comment period on the FAA’s interpretive rule to a full 90 days. Thank you to everyone who took the time to voice your concerns. As of this writing, there’s been no decision on the ruling because the comment period is still open. Many efforts are being made in the background to keep aeromodeling and our hobby intact as we know it. Let’s keep up the good work.
Green Bay Model Airplane Club — Flying Site Improvement Grant
Marc “Doc” Shelstrom reports:
In May, I had the pleasure of traveling to the Green Bay Model Airplane Club to present the members with a Flying Site Improvement Grant. Sixty-eight club members enjoy their new field and clubhouse. An informal group began meeting in the 1930s and became an organized club in 1946. Two of the original members, Bob Mongin and Howard Schmidt, have seen many changes and moves.
A few years ago, the club had the opportunity to expand from its original 2 acres to 10 acres adjacent to a wildlife refuge. Using AMA guidelines, they planned the new site, which includes:
- Two 600-foot runways (one east–west and one north–south)
- Room for a heliport
- An area for control-line (CL) flying
Jeff LaViolette, a volunteer engineer, helped the club obtain the necessary DNR permits to build a road and install a culvert through the designated wildlife preserve in order to reach the field, which is leased from a local farmer.
In the fall of 2012, they cut down the tree line that separated their original field from the proposed new field. In the summer of 2013, they hauled in 48 truckloads of dirt to level the area and sowed grass seed. During one of the worst winters on record, they built a four-season clubhouse. The roof measures 36 x 36 feet. The clubhouse has six windows, a cement floor, a pellet stove, and a storage attic accessed by pull-down stairs. They hope to add a big-screen TV and a grill so members can tailgate during Packer games and enjoy their “man cave.”
The club hosts numerous sanctioned Combat events. Members also serve as trainers during local Discovery Days and provide flight instruction in CL and RC flying at KidVenture during EAA’s AirVenture. Through their efforts, many young people have been exposed to a safe model airplane flying experience.
A major club fundraiser is an annual air show and corn roast in August. A newer fundraiser is the sale of Kwik Trip scrip cards; through these cards, the company donates 10% of the money that club members spend at Kwik Trip.
Club members and volunteers
Former officers and volunteers who were instrumental in getting the project off the ground include:
- Dick VandeVelden
- Paul Meyers
- Artie Van Miller
- Craig Jubin
- Gary Jubin
- Tim Peterson
- Suzie Peterson
- Terry Van Laanen
Current officers continue to plan for future improvements.
To find out more about this active, progressive club, visit www.gbmac.com.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
