will be held on

Here it is the end of March and Winter's still with us. C'mon already! This cabin fever stuff is becoming epidemic. If it's not snowing, it's too cold. If sure curtails my kind of flying. (Open cockpit.) There are some signs of relief though. The taxi-ways all seem to be free of ice and snow, the ice wedge in front of my hangar is getting smaller and the temperature is averaging higher numbers. (Although still below average for this time of year). I think I did see some airplanes from Chapter 54 doing Young Eagle rides last Monday. That's got to be an encouraging sign. I was able to get some flying in with Cap'n Eddy in one of his 182's this week. That was helpful therapy for a cabin fever condition. First time I had flown a 182 in quite a few years. Really felt good and got the old juices flowing, in spite of a little rustiness. I'm pretty anxious to get started flying on a regular basis again.

One other encouraging sign of a coming warmer season is the fact that I received a letter from EAA headquarters the other day inviting our Chapter to fill out an application for a Weekend Workparty event. I gave the application to Jerry Sarracco and he is in the process of organizing that very program. If you're interested in making the trip, please get in touch with Jerry. He is presently in Florida on a celebratory trip with his wife to note his recent second, and her first, retirement. (That is spelled celeBRATory, not celiBATory.) To those of you that are new to the Chapter, what a Weekend Workparty is, is a trip by a group of volunteers from Chapter 54 to the Oshkosh Mecca on the first weekend in May to help spruce up the site in preparation for the 2001 Airventure event. This is a very worthwhile, fun gathering of friends and fellow Chapter members, which is free, except for your transportation to and from Oshkosh. There is a bunkhouse available that will accommodate everyone and five meals will be provided for the group at the volunteer kitchen. It begins with breakfast on Saturday and ends with lunch on Sunday There will be a guided Museum tour for the group, either through the main Museum or through the facilities at Pioneer Airport. This alone is worth the trip!

Chapter 54 has a history of making the trip that goes back to the early 70's. Our Chapter traditionally is the group that starts the workparty season off every year. After all, we are hardy Minnesotans and we all own chainsaws. We have had some real fun trips, including the one where we chartered a bus that broke down, and we were trapped on the bus outside Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the better part of the night. If you would like to be a part of this tradition, simply contact Jerry Sarracco and sign up. Hopefully we will have a sign up sheet to pass around at the April meeting. The dates for the Weekend Workparty trip are from Friday, the 4th of May through Sunday, the 6th. For Transportation, there will probably be a couple of guys with vans or mini-vans who will be willing to share their space. What has happened in the past, most of the guys (these are old retired guys) like to leave on Friday. They generally meet for breakfast somewhere and head for Oshkosh right after, with a stop at the Norske-Nook for pie. (Incidentally, gals are welcome too.) Some of the working stiffs, who can't get Friday off, head out early Saturday morning. One other possibility is, if you have an airplane, you can fly there. They have an airport too. Some members of our Chapter have done that in the past and that, too, is a fun time. All in all, it's a great trip. I encourage everyone to check his or her calendar and try to slip this trip into your schedule. You will not regret it!

There will be a board meeting on Wednesday, April 4th at 7:00PM. The location is at Dennis Hoffman's hangar on Fairchild lane. The agenda has to do with our building situation. This is an important meeting, please try to attend. The general membership meeting will take place on Monday, April 9th. The time of the meeting is at 7:30 PM. The location is the Christ Lutheran Church of Lake Elmo. The last time I spoke with Nick Stolley, he still didn't have a speaker firmed up. His intention is to have Darryl Bolduc for the program. If he does, don't miss it. Darryl always does a good and interesting presentation as well as a very informative one.

There will also be a sign-up sheet for the annual banquet at the meeting. Banquet will take place at Mancini's Char House on May 14, check your schedules and try to make it. Norm Petersen, from headquarters, is the featured speaker, he always has an interesting presentation. Be prepared to sign the sheet and also bring your checkbook, we would like everyone to pay in advance. Tim Reberg, the Programs Chair, will be making announcements as the time grows closer. The cost of the banquet is $20.00 per person and the choices are, I think, steak, chicken or fish.

Building Fund $2,767.45

Operations $8,104.15

Cash $ 25.00

=====================

Total $10,896.60

Not much activity this month, four renewals.

When flying to Flemming field, if you are going to enter an UPWIND for runway 34, enter the pattern SOUTH of the REFINERY. This will help keep you out of harm’s way.

Chapter 54 flew 233 Young Eagles last year. Thanks guys.

Mention that I am looking for a partner in my 1955 PA-22/20 150. holmes@qec.com, (651)653-9365,

106 Dylan Court, Mahtomedi, MN 55115

The following message was posted to the mn.aviation newsgroup. Please forward it to any Minnesota pilots you may know.
***************************************

I am looking for input and advice from pilots in Minnesota. As far as I am aware there is no Minnesota pilots organization. In light of such activities as the impending closure (April 1) of two public airports, the proposed Class B airspace expansion at MSP, and the proliferation of broadcast towers it may be time to consider organizing a state pilots' organization.

I would not propose that such an organization try to duplicate efforts of such organizations as the AOPA and EAA but rather supplement the activities of these and similar organizations to provide a more effective representation of aviation issues on the state and local level. I believe we need a statewide organization of pilots and local pilots groups to network and share information on issues that affect all of us in this state.

The national organizations do an excellent job at the federal level and are helpful on some local issues when and if they are notified in time. However, a state organization through its membership should be able to better track local actions and mobilize its membership to lend public support where needed. As an organization, Minnesota pilots could help educate opinion leaders, exchange ideas on strengthening local airports in their community, rally support to defend local airports against possible negative action, as well as track legislation on the state level and advocate on behalf of the interests of Minnesota pilots.

All pilots need to remember that a loss of any airport anywhere in the state, let alone the nation, diminishes the utility of flying. Every pilot should realize that we all belong to a national and state system of airports. Even those pilots who only use a handful of airports have a strong interest in maintaining the current system of airports in the state and on the national level. As the utility of general aviation diminishes along with the public perception of its usefulness, the tougher time local pilots will have making a case for their local airport should the need ever arise. I realize this may sound a bit melodramatic, but as a very small segment of the population, pilots need to be proactive in promoting the interest of aviation. We need to continue to advocate the positive social and economic impact that aviation has on the local, state, and national level and help dispel the mistaken view that general aviation is nothing more than a hobby for rich people who use the locally supported airport as their private playground at no benefit to the community

I for one would like to see the creation of an organization of Minnesota pilots to represent the nearly 16,000 pilots in the state and to provide guidance and leadership to individual pilots and local pilots groups. I look forward to any comments or input you may wish to offer.

Dan Hoehn
dan.hoehn@senate.leg.state.mn.us

Hello EAA Chapter 54,
I was just wondering if you would let your EAA chapter know of our fly-in. We extend a special invitation to fellow EAAer's. Thanks.

June 24, 2001
Aitkin Municipal Airport Steve Kurtz Field (AIT)
Aitkin, Minnesota
Annual Fly-in / Drive-in
8am - 3pm
airplanes, helicopters, warbirds, classic car show,
antique tractors, flea market, Breakfast & lunch
Contact info: Heather McNevin at
mcnevinflygirl@yahoo.com or Aitkin Aviation at
218-927-4104 or visit www.aitkinaviation.com/flyin

We also hope to have a wings seminar during the
festivities. For up to date information, don't hesitate to contact us!

Thanks again.
Heather McNevin
VP Aitkin Flyers Club EAA Chapter 965

EAA Chapter 54 NEWS Published monthly by Chapter 54 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) for the use, education and enjoyment of chapter members and others to whom it is provided. No claim is made for the accuracy of the materials presented. Editorial content is the opinion of the contributor and does not necessarily reflect the policies of Chapter 54 nor the EAA.

or emailed to: rjwaldron@mmmpcc.org

Permission for other EAA Chapters to use portions of this publication is granted, as long as credit is acknowledged.
Chapter 54 gathers at 7:30pm, on the Second Monday of each month, at an announced location (we lost our Chapter House during the storm).

Officers

Dan Parker 651-430-1532
Vice President - ParkerDc@quixnet.net

Wayne Asp 651-436-6868
Secretary - Wayne_Asp@HP.com

Bob Waldron 651-430-9178
Treasurer - rjWaldron@mmmpcc.org

Directors Class II
Jim Lund 651-645-1408
Publicity and Promo Lund@isd.net

Tim Reberg 651-730-8574
Events Tim2485@Juno.com

Nick Stolley 651-702-9331
Programs AirplaneIT@aol.com

Directors Class III
Art Edhlund 651-439-5912
Education aEdhlund@HotMail.com

Ed Peiffer 651-462-2517
Housing Peiffer21D@Prodigy.net

Scott Hutchinson 651-777-1872
Membership sHutch@lrData.com

Young Eagles Coordinator
Al Kupferschmidt 651-777-9257
RaeAndAl@usWest.net

Flight Advisors:
Bill Schanks 651-645-2420
Dale Rupp 651-653-1054

Tech Counselor
Bill Schanks 651-645-2420

Newsletter Editor:

Bob Waldron 651-430-9178 rjwaldron@mmmpcc.org

Visit our WEB site at www.eaa54.org