District VII
Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Happy holidays to all of the District VII members. Thanksgiving and Christmas have passed and when you read this, New Year’s will be upon us.
If many of you are like me, you forgot that winter was coming during that warm stretch of weather, but as they say, you cannot fool Mother Nature! Winter is truly here.
As you have read in my past columns, I have enjoyed having the opportunity to visit with members throughout the district. I have visited many RC clubs, but on this occasion, I had the opportunity to visit the Circle Masters Flying Club of Milwaukee, a Control Line (CL) model aircraft club. Circle Masters is highly active, not only in the Milwaukee area but throughout Wisconsin, including participation at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Wisconsin, working with youth and introducing them to model aviation.
I had the privilege of spending time with the club and some of its members at an event in which they were participating: Maker Faire Milwaukee. Keeping with their intense work with youth, this is a prime event for this club. On display was a wide variety of aircraft, including pulse-jet Speed, Aerobatic, Sport, Scale, and electric power. The club even had a display of one of its members building a wooden kit.
Needless to say, there was much interest by
the youth in attendance. To add to the excitement, the club had flight demonstrations outside, although the day I visited, the wind was quite challenging. I had the opportunity to sit with the members and learn more about CL flying and all the work they do with youth.
To say I was impressed is putting it mildly. Fantastic job, Circle Masters, and I will take you up on some training time. I warn you, I might
be a difficult student, but we will give it a go! Don’t laugh too hard at me!
Another club I was able to visit and truly share the passion of model aviation with was the Rock River Aero Modelers in Beloit, Wisconsin. It was my honor to attend the presentation of the Carl & Beth Goldberg Vital People Award to Larry Nitz. This award is presented annually to “vital people in the background of the modeling movement whose efforts enhance the enjoyment of the hobby and whose accomplishments are seldom formally acknowledged.”
Thank you, Larry, for all that you have done, not only for the benefit of the club but also for the benefit of the hobby.
As I close out this column and we begin a new year, all of us from District VII have gone through much. Life has slowly returned to more normalcy. Flying events have returned, camaraderie has been restored, and I thank all of those whom I had the opportunity to meet and for the hospitality shown to me.
Let us bring 2023 in strong. Get building and repairs done during the cold of winter to be ready for the first warm days of spring. Of course, those who can fly indoors, enjoy!
One last thing that I ask of members of District VII—and this is a true passion of mine—is to remember that there were children who woke up on Christmas morning without anything under the tree. We are fortunate to enjoy modeling; let us try to share the joy it brings to us with others.
Work with groups such as Toys for Tots or the Salvation Army and, if your club participates in fundraising, please email me pictures and write-ups to be included in future columns.
Until next month, share the passion.
Randy Gibson
Vice President
rgibson@mmrca.org
503 Mall Ct. # 289, Lansing MI 48912
(317) 688-4346
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Bruce Baier, Oshkosh WI; (920) 233-1127; buzssr@gmail.com
Lee Frederickson, Ada MI; L1520@comcast.net
David George, Riverview MI; (734) 284-9017; indiancity5129@yahoo.com
Bud Gorman, Knife River MN; (218) 834-5797; bgorman@frontiernet.net
Bob Johnson, Fond du Lac WI; (920) 922-6705; bobj54935@yahoo.com
Mark Rhobotti, Lindstrom MN; (651) 257-6792; mgrobotti@frontier.com
Dell Shannon, Osceola IA (641) 342-4278; dell.t.shannon@gmail.com
Len Todd, Baldwin MI; (907) 903-3569; lentodd@att.net
Peter G. Van Heusden, Bloomfield Hills MI; (248) 515-1071; petervh@malibutech.com
Kent Woods, Ames IA; (515) 232-8180; woods229@msn.com
EVENT SANCTION COORDINATORS
Michael J. Haller (RC), Fond du Lac WI; (920) 979-9452; mike.haller60@gmail.com
Marc Warwashana (CL), Whitmore Lake MI; (734) 449-7355; whellieman@gmail.com
AMA Headquarters (FF), (800) 435-9262; competition@modelaircraft.org
FREQUENCY COORDINATORS
Al Schwartz, Roseville MN; (651) 633-2286; alberto@comcast.net
Pete Waters, Northville MI; (248) 924-0223; petewaters@charter.net
