EAA Chapter 563 News
January 2016
It's Back
After an absence of several months, the chapter newsletter is back in production. Your intrepid reporter is simply the chapter secretary. Publication will be roughly every other month, depending on the material available, but no less than quarterly. Please submit material for the newsletter via the chapter e-mail.
Chapter e-mail
An e-mail account for the chapter has been set up at gmail.com, google's e-mail service. All the officers have access to this account, and the secretary will monitor the account and forward e-mail to the private e-mail account of the appropriate officer or director. The new account is:
Please don't try EAA.563@gmail.com. That account is something of a zombie, and your message will bounce back as not deliverable.
Google accounts include file storage for documents as well as the ability to create charts and spreadsheets, both private and public. This service might be used to make presentations to the membership.
If you'd like a reminder of each month's regular meeting (2nd Thursday of the month), let me know and I'll add you to the mailing list.
Web site
The chapter is now using EAA's chapter web site service. The format for these sites is fairly rigid, but the appearance is tidy. The on-line site management tools are reasonably easy to use; the sites are backed up automatically; and best of all, it's free. The new address is:
http://563.EAAchapter.org/
The old chapter web site, at EAA563.org, will remain up for the rest of this year, with a link on the main page to the new site. Thanks to Jerry Pilon for maintaining the old site all these years.
These EAA sites include a footer ad back to the national site. National also suggests we try to sell ad space on the chapter sites, and we'll try to find a sponsor or two this year.
There are two formats for the site; your browser type determines which is presented. The mobile version includes small ads posted by the hosting service, which is webs.com. While the regular site presentation is fairly attractive, the mobile site's presentation is a bit bland; it's free.
A few pages on the new site may require a member password be entered. The current password will be posted on the bulletin board in the hangar.
Please note: One of the pages requiring a password is a Directory of the current members. Every member's name is listed, and by default so is the phone number and e-mail we have on file for you. If you want to change or remove either the phone or the e-mail listed on the Directory, contact me via the chapter e-mail. It's hoped the directory will encourage members to keep in touch between meetings and events. It's been suggested a small photo of each member would be useful as well. Send me a photo, and I'll size it down and add it to the page.
Also, if you are building or have built an aircraft, send along a photo, and it will be added the site's Projects page.
The new web site has a separate page with links to the minutes from both the regular and the board meetings. In previous newsletters, the minutes were included verbatim, but in future newsletters only a summary will be given. Hence:
Recent meetings and events
Fly-in
In September, the chapter put on its first fly-in for Experimental aircraft. Sonex aircraft put up a display of their airplanes and VW based engines. Presentations were made in the FBO hangar on topics including Sonex construction, turbocharging, changes in the aero-medical rules, ADS-B, and aircraft financing.
The weather was poor the first half of the day, but improved later; attendance was affected by this. A food truck served good meals through the day, and a few people even camped on the field that night. The regional Navion group arrived in numbers, and a few experimentals made it as well.
The board has begun planning for our 2nd annual fly-in. This year it will likely be scheduled the same date as the 3MY Open House to be put on by the Airport Authority. There's a chance an EAA Tri-Motor may attend, which would fix the date to 6/11 or 6/25. Since this June is the 40th anniversary of the Chapter's founding, we are hoping to have an evening banquet in our hangar, attended by those charter members still in the area.
Ideas for activities are solicited. Join us at one of the club activities and let us know.
Fly-out
It's been proposed we try to organize fly-outs to the meets of other area EAA chapters. Please contact us if you're interested.
Youth Outreach
Our charter for the local aviation Explorers Post was renewed late last year. So far 5 kids from area high schools have joined. In mid January, both Post and chapter members toured the tower at PIA, visiting both the radar room and the control tower.
This past year's group volunteered to help set up at OSH last July.
In October, about 8 kids were flown as part of the Young Eagles program. A "thank you" to the pilots who volunteered.
Scholarship funds this year for students pursuing careers in aviation at local community colleges have not been set up as yet. Donations are welcome.
Christmas party
The annual party was held 12/12/2015 at Bernardi's on the north end of town.
Board
Most of the chapter Board continued on this year, but there is a new director and a new secretary. The officers are Don Wolcott (president), Everett Brandt (VP), Morrie Caudill (treasurer), and Karl Kleimenhagen (secretary). The directors are Dewey Fitch, Dan Gilbert, Greg LePine, Jeff Meyer, and Rob Meyer.
Committee assignments: Dan has Youth Outreach, Morrie has Membership, Rob has Investments, Everett has Public Relations, Karl has Publications (website and newsletter), Jeff has Special Events (fly-in), and Greg has Donations and Hangar.
Treasury
The treasurer reports 2015 was nearly in balance. A new budget has been prepared for 2016 and will be presented for vote at the next regular meeting, on February 11. A major expense, the hangar rental, remains the same this year. There is a snag in the wording of the new leases; Don is handling this. Rising utility rates may require a small increase in hangar rental space.
Over the years, the chapter has built up some savings, mostly via donations. These have been invested in CDs and the like, which have had a poor return recently. There was some discussion late last year about possibly moving more of the savings to longer term investments, but the recent market "corrections" have put a damper on that for now.
Airport Authority
WiFi
There's some hope the FBO's WiFi signal might reach our end of the field. Greg has been working with the Airport Authority on this. An external antenna will be tried at the FBO hangar, but it's not likely the signal will be usable inside our (metal) hangar.
C.A.F.
The C.A.F. is considering bringing the B-29 FiFi to PIA the first week of August but will need volunteers from the Chapter to help.
Fuel Pumps
The AA is looking into adding a digital display of gallons of fuel dispensed, instead of just dollars.
Dues
So far about 27 members are paid up for the new year. There were 54 members in 2015. Dues remain $30 for individuals and $35 for families. Please mail dues to the chapter's address:
EAA Chapter 563 Treasurer
1320 W. Bird Blvd.
Peoria, IL 61615
or better yet, bring them with you to the next breakfast or general meeting.
Members
Steve Jones, a Caterpillar employee, has joined the chapter and is awaiting delivery of his RV-14 kit from Van's.
Charter member Ken Rhoads passed away in January.
Upcoming events
2/11 7:00 is the next chapter general meeting.
2/18 6:00 is the next chapter board meeting.
3/19 6:00 LifeLine Pilots is holding a fund raising dinner in celebration of their 35th anniversary, at a private hangar at PIA. Visit their site for more information at LifeLinePilots.org. Reservations are required; donation is $75. It's likely the C.A.F. will have an airplane or two there.
4/16 TBM Avenger gathering at Peru, IL (VYS). So far, 9 TBMs have agreed to attend.
Please don't try EAA.563@gmail.com. That account is something of a zombie, and your message will bounce back as not deliverable.
Google accounts include file storage for documents as well as the ability to create charts and spreadsheets, both private and public. This service might be used to make presentations to the membership.
If you'd like a reminder of each month's regular meeting (2nd Thursday of the month), let me know and I'll add you to the mailing list.
The weather was poor the first half of the day, but improved later; attendance was affected by this. A food truck served good meals through the day, and a few people even camped on the field that night. The regional Navion group arrived in numbers, and a few experimentals made it as well.
The board has begun planning for our 2nd annual fly-in. This year it will likely be scheduled the same date as the 3MY Open House to be put on by the Airport Authority. There's a chance an EAA Tri-Motor may attend, which would fix the date to 6/11 or 6/25. Since this June is the 40th anniversary of the Chapter's founding, we are hoping to have an evening banquet in our hangar, attended by those charter members still in the area.
Ideas for activities are solicited. Join us at one of the club activities and let us know.