Chapter Leaders Awarded for Outstanding Achievements

July 28, 2018 - Nine EAA chapter leaders were recognized for their significant contributions to the promotion of general aviation in their home communities at the EAA Chapter Leaders Breakfast on Saturday morning.

“Chapters bring out the best in EAA and aviation,” said EAA Chapters Manager John Egan, who added that EAA chapters provide a welcoming home for pilots and aviation enthusiasts across the country.

The Chapter Newsletter Editor Awards for excellence in creating newsletters and dispersing chapter news to members were given to Pam Zepp EAA 1160955, of Chapter 2 in Fort Wayne, Indiana; Alan Kurth, EAA 462959, of Chapter 93 in Madison, Wisconsin; and Tom Hilborn, EAA 1065179, of Chapter 690 in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

The Chapter Web Editor Awards are given based on a chapter website’s ease of navigation, locating contact information, and sharing of current chapter events and news. Two chapter web editors, Robert Carter, EAA 1048567, of Chapter 595 in La Feria, Texas, and Meira Leonard, EAA 1264161, of Chapter 932 in Wonder Lake, Illinois, were recognized for their websites, which help draw in new chapter members.

Three chapter members were awarded with the Chapter Major Achievement Award, which is presented to those who have long records of outstanding service to their EAA chapter and local aviation community.

Donna Sommer, EAA 658694, of Chapter 430 in Sequim, Washington, has been an EAA member since 1972. She joined Chapter 430 in 1998 and with her second husband opened up their hangar to Chapter 430 in 2004. She served as vice president from 2003-2005 and organized the chapter’s first Young Eagles rally and summer potluck.

Jim Casper, EAA Lifetime 56712, of Chapter 252 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is an active chapter member, previously served as chapter president, and oversaw the restoration of Steve Wittman’s Bonzo race plane for the EAA Aviation Museum. He is now overseeing a reproduction project of Wittman’s Buster airplane and manages aircraft parking at Chapter 252’s pancake breakfasts.

Doug Kelly, 139375, of Chapter 524 in Frederick, Maryland, is an active participant in Young Eagles and for years has served as an EAA technical counselor, helping many chapter members complete their homebuilt projects. He also hosts EAA SportAir Workshops and puts on many presentations for his chapter about homebuilding and safe flying.

This year, a special Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented in honor of Charles “Ted” Lemen of Lakewood, Colorado, who died in April 2018. Ted was a stand-up leader of EAA Chapter 301 and was said to be the “heart and soul” of the chapter, holding many executive positions over the years and hosting the annual chapter picnic at his hangar. He was an EAA technical counselor and flight advisor and completed many first flights in other chapter members’ homebuilts and he served in every position for Chapter 301’s Young Eagles activities. Ted was an EAA member since 1966.

“Ted was a skilled engineer, a proud father and grandfather, and an extremely talented aviator,” John said. “He loved all aspects of aviation.”

Wrapping up the awards ceremony, EAA Chapter 38 of Warner Robins, Georgia, was recognized as the Outstanding Chapter at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018 for managing the activities at the new Camp Scholler Chapters Pavilion.