Full version is on the website, www.eaa180.org.
 
Here is the text-only version:
 
March Meeting
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, March 22nd at 7:30 PM in McElmurry Hall.
 
Our program this month is a presentation of the film “Failure is Not an Option” about the Apollo missions.
 
 
Prez Sez
Hi Guys and Gals,
 
I received a summons from Sun ‘n Fun this week. It has been turned over to our attorney for response. I will give a brief review of the substance at our regular meting. For now, they are alleging that we had an “oral’ contract to split all the profits with them. They are not specifying any amount. Most attorneys realize that any contract involving money over $500 dollars must be in writing. Even if they could get some judge to allow them to go forward with this, which is highly doubtful, they would have to overcome their material breach. We had an informal agreement that if they would provide hangar space to us, and allow us to independently run our own operation (like any other vendor) we would make a donation to Sun ‘n Fun. On the first day of operations Sun ‘n Fun took over all financial aspects of our operation. Specifically, they refused to let us pay the vendors under the written contract we had with them. They demanded all responsibility for the money collected and disbursed. At that point they created a material breach. In simple language, a material breach means that the contract is void.
 
The Lumberton Fly-In is coming up soon. I think the dates are May 19 through the 21. We are thinking about taking over the responsibility of handling parking and tie downs. However, in order to do that we would have to spend $1,000 for the tie downs and give a firm commitment to the Lumberton Fly-In people for volunteers. Blaise will give us the complete run down at the meeting on Wednesday. Please make an extra effort to attend this month’s meeting.
 
We seem to be making some progress on the Class C Airspace issue. I will be meeting with Bob Mattingly sometime next week for an update. If it is before the meeting I will give a complete report.
 
The program this month will be “Failure is not an option”. It is the story of the race to the moon. We had numerous technical difficulties the last time we tried to run this. It is in installments. This installment will be about 45 minutes.
 
I hope to see all of you, with your name badges on, at 7:30 PM, March 22, at the Dan McClure room, McElmurray Building at the Sarasota Bradenton Airport.
 
Your Humble Servant
 
Minutes of the February Meeting
 
Vice President Chip Miller opened the meeting at 7:31pm with the 'Pledge to the Flag'. 37 members and guests were present.
 
Our guests were introduced followed by an introduction of chapter officers.
 
Builder reports: Frank Hurlburt has the landing gear and hydraulics working on his Lancair IV-P. He is starting to 'get the avionics together'. Jim Ellis is putting tips on the wings of his RV-9A. Mike Weed has the panel wired on his RV-6A (started, lots to go. (Ed.)). Earle Swan is working on his RV-8 cowling. Brad Smith's RV-6A is ready to test fit the wings. Vance Noles is 'still plugging along' on his RV-7A. Dick Wilke visited Rob Brooke's Tiger Moth project and reports it is 'gorgeous'. Richard Cheeks Taylor Craft rebuild is waiting on parts. Robert Mueller is building a Sonex. Dave Bothe is finding his RV-8A plans 'challenging'.
 
Secretary's Report: The minutes of the January meeting were accepted as printed in the newsletter.
 
Treasurer's Report: Frank Hurlburt reported a balance of $14,883.16.
 
Membership Committee: Chip Miller is trying to get the membership dues cleared up by March.
 
Young Eagles: Scott Becker reported good weather and lots of fun at the February event. 8 or 9 kids were given flights. Chip reported last month a reporter from the Pelican Press did a nice article on the Young Eagle flights.
 
Unfinished Business: Dave said as of the time of the meeting, he had heard nothing from Sun 'n Fun. On the matter of returning Sarasota's Class C airspace to local control, an assistant to Fred Picolo has produced a form to log bad experiences with Tampa's control of SRQ airspace.
New Business: A discussion was held on members going to the Lumberton, NC Mid-Atlantic Fly-in. The event will take place the 3rd weekend in May.
 
Dave asked for a volunteer to bring refreshments to the meetings each month.
 
The evening's speaker, introduced by Dick Wilke, was Burton Henry a former Corsair pilot. Burton flew with the Marine's VMF 218 in the South Pacific during WWII. He was born in 1921 in Shelby, Michigan and took his first ride in a Ford Tri-motor. The detailed account of his flight training and experiences in Corsair's was very entertaining and well received by the chapter.
 
Dave Bothe closed the meeting at 8:55pm.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Rolf Bostrom, Secretary.
 
 
Yearly Dues
 
Last chance! If you haven’t already, please send your dues to:
 
Frank Hurlburt,
3630 Beneva Oaks Dr.,
Sarasota, FL 34238.
 
Or pay at this month’s meeting.
I’m still showing a lot of “regulars” as being unpaid.
The dues this year are $25.00.