Vol. 10, No. 5 - May 23, 2008

Welcome to the May edition of EAA Chapter E-Gram. If you've recently visited our new Calendar of Events, you'll see an increasing number of things listed. The flying season is definitely upon us, so now would be a great time to think about…bylaws.

That's right, bylaws. On the list of fun things to do this summer, reviewing your Chapter's bylaws does not appear on the radar. But in all seriousness, it should be. Your bylaws are the governing principles of your chapter. They should be used and reviewed periodically. Why? When things don't go as planned, a strong set of bylaws can serve as a flight plan for your chapter.

For example, a chapter recently voted in favor of making a significant donation from its treasury to a local organization. Those voting for the donation had gathered proxy votes from a number of members. The chapter president, when given the proxy votes, looked to the bylaws for guidance. Unfortunately, the bylaws were out of date and simply stated that proxy votes were acceptable, but they didn't spell out how the proxies were to be handled. Because the bylaws were unclear, the chapter ended up prolonging the issue, causing more tension and strife within its membership. Eventually the issue was resolved, but it was a painful lesson.

We have a set of sample bylaws available that you can use if needed to update your chapter's bylaws. Even if you've recently updated them, as a chapter leader take a few minutes to make sure your Chapter is still operating within your bylaws. It won't take long and it can provide some peace of mind for everyone.

Still not sure where to start? Form a bylaws committee. Grab a pot of coffee on a rainy day and review the rules of your Chapter. It beats cleaning the gutters.

Upcoming Chapter Academy sessions are scheduled September 12-14 and October 10 -12, with additional sessions planned for early 2009. If you are interested in attending, please let us know at Chapters@EAA.org.

Our online calendar of events continues to grow. There are currently more than 1,300 events available to view and there's literally infinite room for more. Feel free to add any of your chapter's upcoming events to the calendar at www.EAA.org/calendar/.

And for your chapter websites, you can link directly to the calendar. Banner links are now available in a variety of sizes at www.EAA.org/calendar/banners.asp.

In each issue of EAA Chapter E-Gram, we'll share an article that you can reprint in your chapter's newsletter. All you need to do is credit the original source if you include it in your newsletter.

This month: Everyone is looking for ways to save money. EAA Chapter 168's George Kilishek, EAA #514794, wrote a how-to piece for the chapter newsletter, Hangar Echos, describing his innovative oil filter cutter.
Word | PDF

For the list of other articles, click here.

Incredibly, IYED 2008 is nearly here. This is the 15th year EAA members worldwide have set aside one day to focus on Young Eagles. Although flights take place throughout the year, the second Saturday in June is our traditional day to encourage all EAA members and chapters to participate in the world’s most successful youth aviation initiative, which since 1994 has provided nearly 1.3 million kids with their first general aviation flight.

If you are planning to conduct IYED rallies, please make sure to report back to us on your events by sending an e-mail to Chapters@eaa.org. We’d love to see your photos, too!

Here are a few helpful links to help your Chapter prepare:
Order Supplies on line
Flight Rally Planner
IYED News Release Template
Pilot Guidelines
Certificate Printing Program
Young Eagles Rally Notice Form

The EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) is now available - both in printed booklets and as a download from the AirVenture website. Booklets are being mailed to all Chapters, but additional copies can be ordered here, or simply download the PDF copy here.

The NOTAM contains the Special Flight Procedures in effect for Wittman Regional Airport and alternate airports from 6 a.m. CDT on Friday, July 25, to 11:59 p.m. CDT Sunday, August 3, 2008. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh runs from July 28-August 3. For additional EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008 information, including advance ticket purchasing, visit www.airventure.org.

In addition to the NOTAM, you should also check out the list of FBOs that offer discounts for pilots flying to and from the event. Also, ff you have an extra seat in your airplane or are looking to share a ride to Oshkosh, check out EAA RideShare on the website.

On Friday during AirVenture, August 1, an attempt to create the largest gathering of female pilots ever will take place at AeroShell Square. This is part of a joint effort by EAA and Women in Aviation International (WAI) called WomenVenture, which aims to attract women as new pilots through the presentation of programs, seminars, speakers and events during the week.

Also participating will be the Ninety-Nines, whose president, Pat Prentiss, states, "Promoting, mentoring and supporting women pilots since 1929, the International Organization of Women Pilots, known for nearly a century as The Ninety-Nines, is delighted to join with the efforts of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and Women in Aviation International to showcase the unlimited aviation opportunities for women in all pursuits of aviation and aerospace."

Women who plan to be in Oshkosh this year should visit the AirVenture website for more information about WomenVenture.

J.W. French, EAA 226844, has a mission this summer … something on his "bucket list" he's started but hasn't finished. That is to complete his re-creation of the late Sam Burgess' 1974 flight around the lower 48 states in an open-cockpit Acro Sport.

J.W. became friends with Sam in the mid 1970s after reading his book, The Jungmeister Junket, which tells the story of his flights to all 50 states in 1970 in a Bücker Jungmeister. In 2005, J.W. attempted to re-create Sam's flight. He covered 38 states, flying a Bakeng Deuce, but a head cold and a 108 hp engine kept him from making it through Mullen Pass in Montana, so he ended his flight and returned home to Fort Myers, Florida.

This summer he plans to finish re-creating Sam's 1974 flight. J.W. says Sam loved flying open cockpit with a whiskey compass and charts. So, that's how J.W. plans to fly, too. He'll leave from Fort Myers on about July 1 and fly from Florida to Arizona, where he'll pick up his first new state, then fly on to Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and on to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2008. After AirVenture, J.W. will fly to the Antique Airplane Association fly-in in Blakesburg, Iowa, where Sam Burgess will be inducted into its Hall of Memories.

J.W. is a member of EAA Chapter 66; along the way, he's hoping to visit other EAA chapters. If you'd like him to stop at your airport, you can e-mail him at jwf11228@msn.com. If you can help him out with a hangar for a night or other overnight needs, he'd be delighted.

You can read more about J.W's trip in the June issue of EAA Sport Aviation.

It's easy to test for the presence of alcohol in your fuel. EAA's reference paper is available on the subject, and you might want to re-print it in your chapter's newsletter, or make the link available to your members for their reference.