============================== April 2004 =================================

The next club meeting will be at the Jack-in-the Box in Moscow at 7pm on Tuesday, April 6 (contact club president Dave Walker for information (208) 882-9180 or e-mail dwalker@uidaho.edu).

• Planning for club events: Picnics, etc.
• Bring any new or interesting planes, engines or radio components, or tip/techniques that you’d like to share.

Dave Walker (President) presided at the meeting. Colleen Bumgarner (Secretary/Treasurer) read the minutes from the last meeting. Minutes were accepted as read.

Dave Walker, Joe Bolden, and Bruce and Colleen Bumgarner attended the February meeting for review of the park playfield layout. The flying field is still in the plan. While Dave emphasized the good will that has been generated by the club working with Moscow Parks and Recreation in the planning for a flying field at the new park, there are some issues to be worked out to make this a viable club field. John Sandell noted that plantings to stabilize the river banks are very close to the proposed location of the runway. There are also noise issues to work out - electric power may be the only viable option.

Jeff Nelson has identified a possible flying field near the Elks golf course in Moscow. Jeff says it is an exellent location, facing north with no obstructions. Its proximity to the golf course is likely to raise noise control issues. A parking lot would be needed.

Bertle Spence did a great job (as usual) coordinating the mall show with the Palouse Mall management. We had about 20 tables and filled them all with over 30 models of all types - everything from park flyer electrics to giant scale power and glider models; lots of sport models of all descriptions too!

At the last meeting it was voted to have only three Best of Show categories to keep things simple. Winners will be decided by votes from the public. 

Two flight simulators were set up, RealFlight and FMS. The RealFlight simulator attracted the most attention, but FMS offers good performance at a good price - FREE! Both simulators were busy all weekend.

Colleen Bumgarner provided the following report on the voting for best of show:

 Tom Sandell suggested that we have classified ads on the club web site and/or newsletter. A great idea - please get information to Don Hart (phone 397-2808 or email dhart@colfax.com) at least one week before the next club meeting.

The old frequency board finally died from being out in the weather/sprinklers. A committee consisting of Dennis Heitmann (chair), John and Tom Sandell, and Byron Stevenson will build a new one. It was suggested that a flyer put AMA card on the frequency used - this also insures that only AMA members are flying (a copy of your current AMA card will do).

Just a reminder that club dues are due. Also, to fly at John Sawyer's field you need to be an active AMA member for insurance coverage. Make sure Colleen has your AMA number - bcbum@aol.com.

Colleen says the club bank account has $2912.74.

Dennis Heitmann, the new webmaster, has updated the club web site with the new club name and a nice Palouse region graphic - the URL (link) stays the same. The old club name lives on as the title of the club newsletter, the Palouse Ridge Runner. Colleen says the club was first chartered in 1967. The current pictures a bit stale - send Dennis some pictures of recent club and flying activities.

Upcoming Events:

Palouse Region R/C Flyers Annual Spring Picnic and Fun Fly - late June.

Go to Northwest Region Events to see the Boeing Hawks web site for the schedule of AMA sanctioned events in the Northwest.