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The
Prez Sez
Folks,
I’ve been asked to
update the club members on the status of the runway, City support of that
action, and coming club changes. As you may know, for the past four years
it has been my number one task, as requested by the club membership, to
get Bollin Field runway paved. Most of you have come to me or voiced publicly
that your aircraft are taking a beating from the sand and grit at the field.
Even one of our most renowned members (whose initials are Chip Hyde) has
many times said that "he would rather drive on dirt, but fly off of pavement".
Therefore, some four
years ago, the club officers and supporting members went to the City of
Sierra Vista and requested that a budget item be added to the budget for
paving the runway. This action was to have been executed during the
2000-2001 timeframe, but as you know, that's when the City (as many other
cities around our nation) found themselves in a serious budget krisis,
and we found ourselves with a task that had no resources associated with
it. Folks, let me tell you, as a trained MBA, that's a formula for not
getting anything accomplished. Therefore, one of our members (his initials
are Ray Kervahn), asked if he could be the interface with the City, and
lobby on behalf of the club to get not only the runway paved, but improved
facilities at Bollin Field. Ray started late in 2001, met with everyone
from the department heads up to the mayor - no one agreed to fund the projects.
Ray was repeatedly
told to seek outside support and funding. (You may recall that Mayor Hessler
told us the same thing when he visited the field). Based on the barriers
we had encountered, we (the club officers and several interested members)
decided to switch tactics. We decided to invite several current and
campaigning council members out to the field, and we would ask several
of our members to put on an air show for the public and the council.
The response was so
outstanding, that we actually did it twice. Mr. Gallegos, Mr. Johnson,
Mrs. Dockter, and Ms. Huisking indicated their solid support for Mesquite
Modelers and Bollin Field. If Mesquite Modelers would partner with the
City to accomplish the upgrades, and not just whine that they weren't being
accomplished. We have been asked to present a proposal to the City on the
8th of April outlining our objectives and goals for Bollin Field, the approximate
costs, and where those funds are to come from. As I believe was mentioned
during the March club meeting, we propose raising the club annual dues,
charging an initiation fee to new members, and even selling a number of
Life Memberships (we already have a line forming at $1,000 per membership).
We also propose leasing Bollin Field from the City, and assuming full operational
control, to include access and daily use fees for those who are not members
of Mesquite Modelers. I see a fee schedule, which closely mirrors that
of other clubs in similar positions of maintaining and operating a flying
field; and please remember that once the initial runway fee is raised,
maintenance takes over. The cost of progress is significant, but this is
what most of you had asked for. Or did you think it would be free? There
is no free lunch. Please plan to attend the club meetings, and let us hear
your opinions.
Bill
Club Meeting
The next meeting of
the MMRCC is scheduled for April 3, 2003 at 7:00 P.M. The meeting will
be held at the TRW facility (Highway 90 Bypass). Personnel are required
to sign-in and sign out for security purposes.
FROM THE EDITOR’S
DESK
Not much from this end
of the computer keyboard. Continue to fly safe, hope the weather continues
to warm up, and that as the winter visitors start their annual trek back
to the north country they all have a safe journey and take all the wind
with them. We will see them next year.
See you at the meeting
and the field.
Will |
