Cheeseland Chapter 431 Year in review
While building and flying airplanes, we have accomplished many items on our work day lists to maintain our facilities as well as add Beverage machines to provide soft drinks and water during our flying season.
We continue to improve the Chapter Hangar with ceiling insulation making it brighter and warmer for chapter activities. We have added an overhang to the Chapter Hangar entrance to help prevent ice forming at the south entrance. A marker board arrived with an additional lunch menu sized marker board during a Private Pilot Ground School held at the Chapter Hangar. The Chapter Hangar Kitchen received some container management from members of the food committee and the Bulletin Board received a fresh windshield for better viewing of items for sale and Fly-In Flyers. WiFi has also been added to provide internet connections to our Chapter Hangar for additional programming and internet access during Fly-In’s.
We have received preliminary location approval to erect a renovated US Air Mail Beacon Tower as a Memorial to Chapter and Airport members that have flown west. This project has also been approved as an Eagle Scout project for a local Eagle Scout Candidate. Renovation has begun with a team to assist in assuring a successful Eagle Scout project with the Memorial US Air Mail Beacon Tower Projects renovation, financing, memorial, and erection of the tower.
We submitted an application to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requesting non-profit, tax exempt status to operate as a 501C3 Tax Exempt Charitable Organization. This will further our opportunities for education, continued pursuit of our mission, and opportunity for both donor and recipient to benefit.
Our Tree Management Plan was slightly altered this year due to the drought and storms that required some tree cleanup. We also started an Aviation Magazine donation program to provide used (4 mos. or less) Aviation related magazines to the Monroe Clinic Hospital for distribution to their facilities and recycling of the magazines too. We held a successful Private Pilot Ground School, graduating 15 attendees, some of whom have since completed their private pilot rating.
For the second year, the Brodhead High School has had a fundraising event by providing the Pork Chop Dinner during the MAAC Fly-In. This year’s group at the High School was the Year Book Committee. To further our youth outreach, we also approved sponsoring a Learning for Life Aviation Explorer Post to encourage area youth to pursue a career in an aviation related profession or industry. We held an Aviation Merit Badge training and Young Eagle Flight Plan sessions to further introduce area youth to Aviation and Explorer Post opportunities.
Our Aircraft Familiarization & Rescue Training for the Brodhead Ambulance and Fire Districts has laid the foundation to expand our programming outreach to area Ambulance and Fire Districts with more scheduling flexibility to provide this training during a Districts allocated training schedule. Safety is a priority and this education prepares area districts.
What does your $15.00 membership provide? Opportunities for Volunteerism, Leadership, Involvement, Education, Food, and Fellowship as we build and fly airplanes! Your membership key provides you with 24x7x365 facility access and equipment check in/out too. Work days, Fly-ins, forums, seminars, and manufacturing & museum tours provide aviation related education opportunities and involvement locally to improve your aviation building and flying knowledge. Joining/renewing your chapter membership provides you with the opportunity to organize, interact, and manage aviation related activities and events that provide you with education, involvement, relationships, and leadership opportunities to grow your aviation experience.
Wow!, $15.00 to provide you Volunteerism, Fellowship, Participation, Education, and Leadership opportunity with Airplanes and Aviation related businesses. And a free shirt at a work day!
