Secretary minutes – Accepted as is.
Treasurer’s report – Starting balance Nov. 1 was $1901.18. Ending balance Jan. 31 was $2137.50. Anticipated expenses in February: newsletter and EAA dues/insurance. Balance is somewhat reduced from this time last year, mainly due to trailer and memorial expenses plus lack of a Yard Sale. Report accepted by membership.
Upcoming speakers – Possibly someone from Mayocraft, a firm that has constructed a tribute Boeing P-26 Peashooter. Bob Hanlon suggested an author-historian that he interviewed for Wayland cable access.
Membership report – 8 new members or renewals since last report. Membership down from last year.
Young Eagles report – 4 scheduled for Saturday but unlikely to fly. Plan now for June’s International Young Eagles Day.
Newsletter report – Next issue out in March. Expect articles from Maurizio Izzi, Ken Sherman, and Jim Noone. Future authors: Richard Dupée (May), John Weigel (July). Board member/officer authors not yet scheduled include Dudley Darling, Rich Olsen and Bob Cooper (not present).
Professional pilot series – No report.
New members/guests – None.
Mail-in Information: The Aviation Safety Group of Massachusetts (ASGM) is looking for nominations for their awards banquet. Ten potential categories, deadline is March 1st. Go http://www.airsafety.org
AOPA Air Safety Seminar coming to Newton on April 1: Top 5 Mistakes Pilots Make. See AOPA website for details.
News Around 9B1: A/FD entry on 9B1 has a new inclusion: no low approaches (below 500’); Erick Brown has a new baby boy!; Ben McGovern and Lisa are newly engaged! Richard Dupée’s second grandchild, Maddie, was born last week. We urge all chapter members to support Stephen LeDuc’s bills on behalf of general aviation in Massachusetts. Contact your representatives and let them know you’re in favor of House Bills 3556, 3557, 3558, and 3559.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick wants to repeal a sales tax exemption that has spurred aviation growth in the state, but AOPA is urging the governor to reconsider his plan. Since 2002, aircraft and aircraft parts sold in Massachusetts have been exempt from the state's 5% sales tax, a move that has made aircraft, maintenance, and flight instruction more affordable. Since the exemption was enacted, the number of based aircraft has increased by 40 percent, while the multiengine fleet and the number of business-owned aircraft have doubled. The governor's proposed budget, which would rescind the tax exemption, is in the hands of the state legislature. AOPA is pressing the governor and lawmakers to oppose repealing the tax exemption, pointing out the economic benefits it has brought by supporting aviation growth in the state. Chapter members are encouraged to contact Gov. Patrick and their state representatives to oppose the repeal of the sales tax exemption.
I Learned About Flying From That: Richard Dupée mentioned an acquaintance who flew a Challenger non-stop from Hanscom to Berlin, Germany. Compare this performance to WWII fighters that couldn’t escort bombers all the way from London to Berlin and back. Our world is getting smaller all the time. There was a fatal accident in Augusta, Maine, recently. An instrument-rated pilot planned to depart in the late afternoon in her Learjet. She did not get de-iced although icing conditions were present. Prior to departure, she taxied off the runway, then taxied to the wrong runway. She also failed to turn on the runway lights – airport personnel had to assist. Upon departure, she reported a problem with the attitude indicator. The aircraft rolled inverted, crashed and burned. The pilot and her 10-year-old son were killed. This should be a lesson to never underestimate the weather (not to mention being IFR proficient before launching into IMC). Also, if a lot of things are going wrong before you get off the ground, maybe you should stop and wait until another time.
Old Business: None.
New Business: Rich Olsen announced the next performance by the Sudbury Savoyards. They will be performing the Gilbert & Sullivan play “The Yeomen of the Guard” with a cast of about 45 and a full orchestra of ~30. Performances are scheduled between February 22nd and March 1st. The Sudbury Savoyards is a non-profit organization and all profits from their performances go toward hunger relief. They have raised about $100,000 in the past 12 years. More information is online at www.sudburysavoyards.org. Deb Cahill wants people to start thinking about the upcoming elections and direction of the chapter. Chapter membership has been decreasing. We vote for new officers at the end of 2008. Neither Beverly nor Deb is planning to run again. The members should start conversing now about who is willing and eager to step up and take on these roles. We must either motivate and encourage our members, and recruit new members, or continue to shrink.
50/50 Raffle ($4.50) won by Shirlee Purcell.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.