District XI
Salmon Arm Float-Fly (Sandy Point)
Every year I receive requests for information about the Salmon Arm, British Columbia Float-Fly. This event is the first full weekend in September. The location is Sandy Point Beach Campground, 2100 Sandy Point Rd., Salmon Arm, B.C., Canada.
The largest float-fly event in the Pacific Northwest, hosted by the Shuswap Lake Aero Modelers (SLAM), takes place on the calm and picturesque waters of Shuswap Lake at Sandy Point Resort, 5 kilometers west of Salmon Arm.
Registration begins on September 6 and flying continues throughout the week until Sunday, September 11, when awards and raffle prizes will be presented. A retrieval boat will be provided and a frequency board will be set up for the duration of the event.
Other features include:
- Pilots' draws
- Bonfires
- Pie sale
- 50/50 drawings
- Free corn roast
- On-site camping and concessions
The splash-down fee for the week is $15. More than 90 pilots "flew their floats off" in 2010, so don't miss out on the action this year. For information, contact CD Robert Reading at [email protected].
I'll share a few of my pictures from last year's event. To see more, visit www.teamtracon.com. The spring event is always the first full weekend of June.
Club events and outreach
This past spring our club had two events, much like an open house. We do this a couple of times a year and provide breakfast for all. These events are fun for the whole family and attract guests from other clubs.
Too often clubs do not interact with other clubs, and this is a huge mistake. I recall a case where a club lost its field but was invited to fly with another club until they could get back on their feet. This resulted in much goodwill and some members joining the other club as well.
Sometimes we forget that we are all in the same boat. I have seen clubs do fundraisers for other clubs and turn out to repair fields that have been damaged by storms. Next time you plan a fun day, invite other area fliers — I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the outcome.
Public relations
Invite your neighbors — the non-fliers — to your field for a day. Get to know them; put them and their families on a buddy box and show them what the hobby is all about. I have seen this work wonders for all concerned.
Years ago we had an AMA Air Show Team. We flew at a sod farm as part of a town festival. Years later we lost our field but were invited to use a portion of the sod farm until we could get relocated.
So what part of public relations don't you understand? Without it, you might be up the creek!
Keep flying and keep smiling.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
