Green Castle Aero Club Ltd.

The meeting was called to order by President Tim Scheer at 6:31 PM.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Don Nelson, Bob Dunn, Rick Treiber, Brett Lenz, and Randy Stannard

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Terry Koehn, Mark Elbert, Dave White, Kent Johnson, Jim Beeghly, Mike Mango, Steve Smith, Jim Curran, Ben and Marcy Wenberg, and Mark Eads

GUEST:  Walter Hewett (an original member, back to visit from Palm Bay, FL.)  Welcome back, Walt.

The Minutes of the April 24, 2013 Board of Directors meeting were read by Mark Eads.  Bob Dunn moved with second by Brett Lenz that the minutes be approved as read.  Vote taken; Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Treasurer’s Report:  Don said it’s okay; the money is all spent, bills are pretty well paid, but we are broke.

2. One new member has signed up:  Anna Sorey.  Welcome, Anna!

3. Airplanes:  The Citabria has a cracked cylinder and it is believed we can find a cheaper than new one to replace it.  If not, it will be expensive to fix.

Regarding the Ercoupe, Steve Smith brought up a question regarding the airspeed indicator.  It was replaced not too long ago due to an AD, but the indicated speed is incorrect.  A comment was made that when the plane is in the hangar, the speed shows 20 to 22 MPH!  Don said he’d contact Duke’s to see how a repair or replacement can be done.  Ben Wenberg asked about the progress towards getting the radio/intercom problems resolved.  Don said that different people have reported to him different stories, but it was a fact that in order to use any sort of intercom, the portable battery operated system had to be used.  Ben asked the Board members if we couldn’t stop spending any more time, and just get it fixed!  Mike Mango stated he’d contact a fellow he’d been trying to get out to look at it.  [Note:  Since the meeting, this fellow has checked the system, and found a blown fuse, and replaced it.  The intercom seems normal now, but no-one knows why the fuse blew in the first place.  Time will tell on that.]

Ben also asked the Board members if we could fix the problem with the strong gas smell in the cockpit on the Ercoupe.  It’s not getting any better; in fact, it’s getting worse all the time. Steve Smith said when he last flew the Ercoupe, he was actually wondering if the gas leak might result in a fire!  Ben commented that a couple days before, he and Marcy flew the Ercoupe for just over an hour, and their clothing stunk so badly they had to go home and wash the clothes and take showers!  Don suggested that maybe he should have Mike remove the cowling and inspect the entire fuel system to look for a leak somewhere.

4. Work day planned for Saturday:  It was determined weather is likely to be prohibitive for productivity, so it was decided to delay it until Sunday the 5th.  Much discussion focused on what is needed to be done.  Terry has a lengthy list so no one need worry about jobs to be done.  Mike Mango volunteered to provide food for the work day on Sunday.  Thanks, Mike!

5. Ground school update:  Both Marks report things are going pretty well.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Tim Scheer brought up putting up new hangers.  Discussion ensued.  Don says he is in favor of anything we wish to do.  Several ideas were discussed.  Rick suggested we solicit people who might want to hangar their aircraft here, and one way to help finance the project may be for them to possibly pay hangar rent in advance.

2. Rick Treiber reported that in the pursuit of possibly doing another concert, he had contacted Radislov Lorkovic, who was a very popular performer in an earlier concert, and got an immediate response that he would love to do it if his schedule allowed.  He is traveling internationally on a regular basis, so we need to find a date.  Perhaps in late August.  Also, Josh Russell (a past member and CFI who has his doctorate in piano performance and who has performed in past concerts as well) has agreed to perform again if his schedule allows.  Rick is working on possible details.

Bob moved with second by Brett to adjourn the meeting.  Vote taken; Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 7:12 PM.

THIS WEEK’S MEMBER PROFILE

DON NELSON

By Jim Curran

Patriarch of Green Castle FBO from July 1975 to 1990.  Started Green Castle Aero club in 1993.  Started flying in 1960.  Comm (ASMEL), Inst, CFI-ASEL/Instru; 20,000 hrs total; 10,000 dual given (since 1966) including aerobatics.  He has sent hundreds of students for licenses and ratings and done hundreds of flight reviews.

Don says Green Castle is a labor of love and a dream hobby after flying 18 yrs (1964-82) with IA highway patrol.  Some of his memories include teaching a student who later became an Air Force 2 pilot as well as making 4 forced landings, always back on a hard surface with no a/c damage.  Don frequently says that Green Castle is still an active airport due to all the effort by the club members.  And we all thank Don for the enormous effort he has put into the club.  Without Don, we would not have this club and a lot of us wouldn’t be the pilots that we are.

The meeting was called to order by President Tim Scheer at 6:30 PM.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Don Nelson, Bob Dunn, Brett Lenz, and Karo Stigler

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Em Norden, Terry Koehn, Dave White, Dewey Walker, Kent Johnson, Mark Elbert, Jim Beeghly, and Mark Eads

The Minutes of the April 10, 2013 Board of Directors meeting were read by Mark Eads.  (Because of heavy rains, no meeting was held April 17.)  Bob Dunn moved with second by Brett Lenz that the minutes be approved as read.  Vote taken; Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Treasurer’s Report:  Don said the “treasury is looking pretty good” as almost all our bills are paid; all-in-all, we’re in pretty good shape.  The weather’s been lousy for flying, but we’re holding up.  Don’s going to ask Dan Moen to run us a little report that covers the first four months of the year to see if we’re doing as well as he thinks we are.

2. Aircraft:  Don reported the 180 hasn’t flown since the new starter was installed, but when it was tested, it started right up.  The shimmy’s been fixed on both 19Q and the Ercoupe.  The electrical’s been fixed on 157.  The Citabria’s still at Duke’s for annual, and when it returns, 478 will go down.  The radios seem to be clear on the Ercoupe; however, the intercom still doesn’t work.  It will just have to go to Waterloo to have it checked out.

3. Ground School:  Mark Eads said the class this week went pretty well.  Tim Scheer thinks there’s a “vast improvement” over the last session we had.  The students are quite engaged.

4. Tim got in touch with CR’s EAA chapter and invited them to our flour drop/spot landing contest that’s scheduled for Saturday, May 18.  As mentioned before, the spot landing contest will be at 11:00, pot luck lunch (Green Castle will supply the meat) will be at noon, and the flour drop contest will be at 1:00.

5. Regarding our spring clean-up day (May 4), Terry said his list of work needing to be done is about two pages long now.  We want to remind those who come out to help to bring brooms, shovels, chain saws, hammers, nails, and band aids.

6. We want to remind everyone that the front “page” of our website on the right side lists scheduled events.  If someone can’t remember what’s happening or when, just check the website that Jim Beeghly keeps current.

NEW BUSINESS:

1. Jim Curran is starting a “get-to-know-other-members” “blurb” for the weekly minutes.  Jim will send an email to members (who have an email address listed on our website) asking them to respond with a little information about themselves (e.g., name, where they live, where they work or what type of them they do (or, if retired, where they worked or what type of work they did before retiring), what pilot ratings they have, interests other than flying, etc.), and will share it at the meetings which will then be an item in the week’s minutes.  Good idea, Jim.  Thanks.

2. Thanks, Mark Elbert, for getting the runway sign repainted.  Looks great!

3. CFII Terry Koehn said the Super Sport (owned and built by Jim Beeghly, Rick Treiber, and Terry Koehn) made it up to 12,500 today and that the hours have been flown off.  Yea!

4. Dewey Walker passed his written.  Way to go, Dewey!

Bob moved with second by Brett to adjourn the meeting.  Vote taken; Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 7:02 PM.

The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Randy Stannard at 6:31 PM.
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Don Nelson, Bob Dunn, Brett Lenz, Calvin Colony, and Karo Stigler
MEMBERS PRESENT:  Em Norden, Ben and Marcy Wenberg, Mark Elbert, new CFI Ryan Story, new private pilot Shelby Clair, Scott Clair, Mike Mango, Terry Koehn, Jim Beeghly, and Mark Eads
The Minutes of the April 3, 2013 Board of Directors meeting were read by Calvin.  Bob Dunn moved with second by Brett Lenz that the minutes be approved as corrected.  Vote taken; Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Treasurer’s Report:  Don said the “treasury is getting healthier all the time”; practically all our bills are paid, including the unused fuel.
2. Aircraft:  Don said the front strut on the 180 has been fixed and the starter will be installed tomorrow; 157 has been repaired and is ready to go; the fella who was going to check out the radios in the Ercoupe hasn’t had a chance to look at it yet but should some time this week.  If not, we’ll take it to Waterloo.  Don said we have a “major problem trying to keep our planes clean, especially during the winter.”  For the last several years, Mike Burns has come down many times at 3:00 in the morning to wash our planes; however, since he’s working so much overtime at his paying job, he just doesn’t have time to do it right now.  Don would like several members to come down so Mike can show them the best way to clean the oil off the bellies, etc.  We’ll send an email out to all members as soon as Don gets a good date and time from Mike.  Mike Mango, Mark Eads, and a couple of other members in attendance tonight spoke right up and said they’ll volunteer.  19Q’s shimmy will be fixed as soon as we get the part.
3. Ground School:  When asked how ground school was going, Mark Eads jokingly said, “It’s not that interesting; it’s ground school.”  Tim Scheer, Mark Elbert, Ryan Story, and Gary Lust were in attendance and assisted in the night’s proceedings.  Mark said scholarship applicant Mitchell did well on the quiz.
4. Well, the weather finally allowed scholarship recipient Shelby Clair to go for her checkride, and SHE PASSED!  CONGRATULATIONS, new private pilot SHELBY CLAIR!
5. Ryan Story got his CFI!  We understand FSDO commented that Ryan made it easier being so well prepared and complimented CFII Terry Koehn on his preparation.  CONGRATULATIONS, Ryan!  Don moved with second by Bob that we add Ryan to the roster of CFIs.  Vote taken; Motion carried.  Terry will add him to the scheduler as an authorized Green Castle instructor.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Robert Broulik of Lisbon is a new member.  Robert has been attending our ground school this session and is a student pilot.  We understand Robert’s a very enthusiastic student.  Welcome, Robert!
2. Terry Koehn said the grass runway has been rolled twice and we’ll roll it again when it dries out a little.  Anyone who wants to go down and clear some trees at the end of 33, go right ahead.
3. Ben Wenberg said a lot of credit goes to Dean Teslik who’s done a lot of work on our mower.  Thanks, Dean!  Ben said he, Don, Dean, and Al Schmidt have all worked on the mower to get it going for the season.  After three days of labor, Mike Mango offered a diesel-powered mower that provides a 72-inch cut like the one we already have.  Thanks, Mike!  Mike said it’s at Dean’s shop as it needs a little work.
4. On a sad note, we have been informed that Rick Treiber’s mom, Adeline, passed away April 7.  Our condolences are extended to Rick and his family.
5. On the whiteboard in the meeting room were Calvin’s words of wisdom for ground school attendees:  “Pitch is airspeed; power is altitude; anything you look at on the dash is only a CRUTCH!”
Bob moved with second by Brett to adjourn the meeting.  Vote taken; Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned at 7:05 PM.