Minutes from 1998 are available courtesy of S. Boyle, while 1997 minutes are courtesy of T. Eareckson. If time permits (and an enthusiastic volunteer can be found), we'll try to add more minutes for '98/'99. But don't hold your breath! :)

CHGP Homepage

NEW FACES (AND PEOPLE WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN AWHILE)

ALLAN SPARKS IS IN THE AREA FROM FLORIDA. HE'S A SELF-TAUGHT PILOT WHO LEARNED TO FLY IN 1976 AND HAS FLOWN IN NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA.

DAVID INOUYE IS A PARAGLIDING PILOT

A HEARTY WELCOME TO GREG TARTISEL - A CHGA MEMBER WHO NOW LIVES IN ALASKA

AWARDS

AWARDS WERE PRESENTED AT THE AND THE OBSERVER OF THE YEAR WAS VOTED ON BY 1997 HANG 2'S. JUDY MCCARTY WON A CASE OF SAM ADAMS - CONGRATULATIONS! HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO ALL THE OBSERVERS!

SITE PROTOCOL/INFORMATION

TAYLOR HILL - THE LANDOWNERS THANKED THE CLUB FOR THE CHRISTMAS WREATH

HIGH ROCK - FIRST TIME FLYERS MUST PRESENT THEIR USHGA CARD TO EMMA JANE AND SIGN IN. DON'T DRIVE IN LZ AND ALSO PLEASE BE CAREFUL OF NEW TREES AND PLANTS THAT EMMA JANE HAS PLANTED NEAR HER HOUSE - WATCH WHERE YOU PARK YOUR VEHICLE!

FISHER ROAD LZ - MAKE SURE TO TELL LANDOWNER BEFORE FLYING. NEW SITE PROTOCOL IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING WRITTEN AND WE NEED TO BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS AT THIS SITE BECAUSE NEW COLTS ARE BEING RAISED. MATTHEW IS INVESTIGATING MOVING THE POWERLINES IN THE SECONDARY FISHER ROAD LZ AND HOPES TO HAVE INFORMATION BY THE APRIL MEETING.

SKYLINE SITES - SKYLINE DRIVE APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MEETINGS AND SITE PROTOCOL IS IN THE SITE GUIDE. IF YOU PLAN TO FLY THESE SITES PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR SKILLS MATCH THE SITES (CHRISTY CAN YOU HELP REWORD THAT?)

BILL'S HILL - MIRIAM'S (BILL'S HILL LZ OWNER) HUSBAND PASSED AWAY IN AUGUST.

PULPIT - DONATIONS FOR THE RAMP WERE $2361 - AND THE FINAL COST WAS $4041

NEW SITE - THE LOCAL CLUBS ARE LOOKING AT SITE ACQUISITION. GEORGE, JOE GREGOR AND STEVE KINSLEY ARE SPEARHEADING AN EFFORT TO FIND NEW SITES

MHGA CLUB

THE MHGA CLUB HAS A NEW BOARD - BRIAN VANT-HULL IS PRESIDENT, LEWIS TRUITT IS TREASURER AND MARVIN PRESLEY IS THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR

REGION 9 XC CONTEST

JOIN THE CONTEST! REGION 9 XC CONTEST APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MEETING AND SHOULD BE SENT TO PETE LEHMANN.

WEB SITE

MARK CAVANAUGH BEGGED, PLEADED AND BRIBED FOR NEW PICTURES FOR THE WEB SITE - NO MORE PICTURES OF MATTHEW ARE ALLOWED! (JUST KIDDING)

DUES AND ROSTERS

PAY YOUR DUES!!! (SEND TO MATTHEW). ALSO ROSTERS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MEETINGS - PLEASE SUBMIT ANY CHANGES TO MATTHEW/KAREN

FIRST AID COURSE

IF YOU WANT TO SIGN UP SEE MATTHEW. WE ARE DESPERATELY SEARCHING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO ORGANIZE - SHOW YOUR CLUB SPIRIT! PLEASE SEE MATTHEW TO ENTHUSIASTICALLY SIGN UP FOR THE COURSE AND VOLUNTEER - WE'D LIKE TO DO IT IN MARCH/APRIL.

HOOK-IN

MARK CAVANAUGH IS WORKING ON THE HOOK-IN LISTS AND THEY ARE ALMOST DONE - THEY'LL BE DISTRIBUTABLE BY THE MARCH MEETING.

MISCELLANEOUS

T-SHIRTS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY - KELLY IS WORKING ON THEM. FOR ALL THOSE IN SEARCH OF CALENDARS - THE CHGA CLUB IS SOLD OUT.

TWO NEW HANG 3'S WERE ACKNOWLEDGED - MATTHEW AND SHEILA

HANGOLA

STEVE PADGETT - FIRST HIGH FLIGHT OFF OF BILL'S HILL. CONGRATULATIONS STEVE!

BRIAN VANT-HULL - 2 FLIGHTS AT HIGH ROCK - 20 MINUTES EACH.

JOHN DULLAHAN - 2/21/98 WOODSTOCK TO HARRISONBURG - WAY TO GO!

BACIL DICKERT - 2/8/98 - 2 SLEDS AT SACRAMENTO; 2/15/98 - SLED AT BILL'S; 2/21/98 - 3 HOURS AT WOODSTOCK

CRAIG SHELTON - 2/21/98 - 40 MINUTES AT WOODSTOCK; 2/22/98 - SLED AT HIGH ROCK

MARVIN PRESLEY - 2/21/98 - WOODSTOCK TO STRASBURG TO THE GAP, LANDED OUT, 15 MILES

DOUG WAKEFIELD - 2/21/98 - WOODSTOCK 3 HRS. 30 MIN.; 2/14/98 - 2 SLEDS AT HIGH ROCK; 2/22/98 - SLED AT HIGH ROCK

CHRISTY HUDDLE - 1/31/98 - SLED AT HIGH POINT; 2/8/98 - SLEDS AT HIGH ROCK; 2/14/98 - ONE HOUR (LATE) AT HIGH ROCK; 2/21/98 - 2 HRS. 35 MIN AT WOODSTOCK; 2/22/98 - 8 MIN SLED AG HIGH ROCK

TOM MCGOWAN - 2/14/98 - 3 HOURS AT SACRAMENTO, 3700' OVER, 10 MILES; 2/21/98 - 4 HOURS AT WOODSTOCK, 27 MILES TO NEW MARKET

New Faces

Jose Cruz is up for a couple of years to the DC area from his home flying haunts in Puerto Rico. Mark Malick has got a couple of years of towing experience behind him. Past perennial CHGA Officer Bobbie Servant put in a surprise appearance.

Observer Meeting

Two hours prior to the General Meeting Geoff Mumford held a meeting of the area Observers to discuss pertinent issues.

Amateur Radio Testing

It was determined to proceed with the scheduled Amateur Radio Operator license testing prior to the July meeting despite the revised question pool panic.

Meeting Room TV

Rick Holtz donated a television set for the meeting room to replace stolen equipment.

Yard Sale

On the morning of Saturday, 97/08/16, Sheila Boyle will be hosting a CHGA yard sale at her home at:

2000 S GRANT ST ARLINGTON VA 22202-2728

to be followed by a party or rush to the mountains. Mike Chevalier and Kelly welcome contributions and are willing to serve as collection points. Volunteers are needed.

Phil Bachman Visit

USHGA Executive Director Phil Bachman is scheduled to visit the club in October. Questions members might have for Phil should be relayed to Kelly.

Pulpit Work Party

The pavilion is in want of attention, vegetation tends to grow, and a Pulpit work party is scheduled for Saturday, 97/08/23.

McConnellsburg Hang Gliding Festival

Mark Cavanaugh continues to solicit volunteers for the 97/09/20-21 Pulpit fly-in. It is desirable that a load of firewood appear on that Friday night.

CHGA/MHGA Website

Several area site and club waivers are currently available at http://www.mhga.com/. A Woodstock photo by Skip Brown was also reportedly on display at http://www.discovery.com.

Pulpit Ramp Improvement Committee

George reported that the Pulpit Ramp Improvement Committee has met twice on site and once at his home. Mitch Shipley, Pete Lehmann, and Dennis Pagen have been consulted and currently brewing is a design which should improve launch safety. The finished product should be a lot steeper (15-20 degrees and wider and a bit higher. It is estimated that several weekends of construction effort will be required.

Bill's Hill

Matthew reported that he received an inquiry from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry concerning some hacking of trees on the back side of the Bill's Hill launch.

Emergency Info Cards

On impetus from Rich Donahue, five hundred emergency information cards have been printed for about $30 and made available. Pilots are urged to fill these out with such information as contacts, blood type, and medication intolerance and to carry them when flying.

50/50 Raffle

Jim Ventura scored half of the evening's $30 50/50 raffle take.

TE 97/07/06

Sectional Seminar

Joe Gregor gave a pre-meeting presentation on aeronautical charts for those trying to figure out the alphabet soup of airspace classification and others making the transition from the 1993 overhaul.

New Faces

Hale-Bopp blazed through the College Park metropolitan light pollution to provide a spectacular viewing from the parking lot. Bill Umstattd migrated down from his usual Wind Rider haunts to put in a CHGA showing.

Broken Pilot

Get well cards were circulated for Fred Permenter, wishing him a speedy recovery for an Achilles' tendon torn as a consequence of an old injury while thrusting off the High Rock ramp 97/03/23.

USHGA BOD Meeting

Geoff reported on the Spring USHGA BOD Meeting from which he recently returned.

His feeling is that the controversial membership referendum was the result of rushed schedules and inadequate planning, rather than a communist plot for world domination< and that the sponsors had the best interests of the sport in mind. There was realization that the Board has given the appearance of secretiveness in the past and remedial actions will be taken. The proposals were defeated 158 to 50, representing about two percent membership expression.

A Web site is expected within the next couple of months and will feature such items as bylaws, minutes, standard operating procedures,.and directories. Geoff will make the directors' manual available for scrutiny until things are up and running.

Paragraph D, concerning indemnification of released parties, has been eliminated from the USHGA Waiver.

The organization's insurance premium dropped $30K and three other companies have given quotes.

Executive Director Visit dd> Kelly relayed that USHGA Executive Director Phil Bachman would like to swing by for a CHGA meeting, were the club so inclined. It were. Matthew circulated for member signatures a USHGA Waver gift he concocted for the future occasion.

Ladies of Hang Gliding

A get-together of area female pilots, other kite people, and interested parties is being planned for 97/04/11, Friday, 19:15 at Old Town & Brewing Company, 227 East Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, 301-948-4200.

Pulpit Fly-In

McConnellsburg Hang Gliding Festival is scheduled for the weekend of 97/09/20-21.

Shenandoah National Park

George relayed some information from Nelson Lewis about a National Park Service Special Use Specialist expressing in a letter an opinion about hang gliding being incompatible with park missions. It is advantageous to the preservation of the Shenandoah National Park sites to increase the use of those launches, which are optimal for light, summer conditions.

Club's Web Site

Scott Lindsay, an Internet Service Provider from MHGA, has landed the two clubs a free Web site which he and Mark Cavanaugh have packed with useful information and links. Check out this valuable asset at http://www.mhga.com/ and start thinking about what textual and/or graphical material you might contribute.

T-Shirt Design

Kelly circulated drafts of ten designs which she had prepared for selection for a new club T-shirt.

Observer Award

Matthew proposed an Observer of the Year award to the tune of of a case of Samuel Adams, to be decided by a vote of the club's Novice pilots.

Emergency Contacts

Those filling out membership application or renewal forms are asked to consider the emergency contact information mandatory. Lack thereof recently complicated a situation that was bad to begin with.

Fund Raising

Kelly proposed and provided options for a new club T-shirt design and recommended revival of the August yard sale tradition. Members are asked to store marketable items at home, Mike Chevalier got volunteered to house junk in his garage.

Newsletter Fodder

Kelly requested flying pictures for Skyline.

Landowner Contacts

It was announced that the Flight Director and Director at Large will stay in touch with area mountain site landowners during their frequent and varied flying excursions and that John Middleton will handle the training hill circuit, save for Smithsburg, at which Eddie Miller will provide the link.

Observer Reappointments

Geoff Mumford relayed that Richard Hays has been sick and has gotten behind on the USHGA paperwork and advised Observers to keep functioning in that capacity until the formality of the reappointments is effected.

Mountaineers Site Policy

Mountaineers Hang Gliding Club Secretary/Treasurer Christy relayed that that club will require full membership upon the second annual use of any of their sites, the first being a freebie.

Fort Ritchie

Christy reported that consultants for the Local Redevelopment Authority, at a public hearing in mid December regarding the reuse of Fort Ritchie, due to close in 1998, presented three alternatives: a village of 375 vacation homes; a campus of educational and corporate training centers; and a high-tech office park. The Authority will next consider comments, tweak alternatives, have an environmental impact statement prepared, and select an alternative. Christy advised that we should obtain a copy of the impact statement and keep abreast of developments.

High Rock Reporting

Emma Jane has requested that High Rock pilots who land out report in to her nevertheless to help differentiate situations from nons.

High Rock Weather Station

The club concurred in a decision to evenly share, up to $100, the cost of a home weather station for Emma Jane.

High Rock LZ Maintenance

Dave Proctor reported that most of $175 of stone has washed from the High Rock LZ road into the woods. Dave has consulted with Kelvin Pierce who recommended installation of a corrugated 13"X17" oval drain pipe ($174). Harry Carbaugh can do the back hoe work when conditions improve in March. The club agreed to cover the cost of the pipe and to try to defray the outlay with donations. Noting that the entrance area of the primary has become a quagmire, Dave also recommended a little drain field engineering for that ground.

Woodstock Site Maintenance

George, in cooperation with Nelson Lewis, representing CVHGA, responded to a request of Mr. Fishburn's for some stone to maintain the road into the LZ parking area at the beginning of the month. The owner wanted to pay half the cost but the club representatives insisted in making the full gesture. He recently acquired and paid for a $120.60 load for which, it was affirmed, CHGA will fully reimburse him. CHGA is to be reimbursed, in turn by CVHGA, for half that amount.

It is recommended that vehicles not be driven needlessly into the yard and onto the grass when the drivers are on site breaking gliders down or running retrieval. Under such circumstances it's probably a better bet to park at the end of the road and reserve the wear on the soft surfaces for that necessitated by vehicle drop offs. It might also be a good idea to consider parking options along US 11, especially for those who will likely as not end up someplace other than the primary.

Thanks to George, Mark Cavanaugh, and Eric Logan for doing some pungee stick removal and other vegetation work at launch on 97/02/24.

Photocopying

Mark Gardner advised that the cost of owning, operating, and maintaining photocopy machines is such that the club might do very well to continue to use commercial services. The volume of our newsletter production is far below the level at which any advantage would be accrued by having it printed.

USHGA Awards

Emma Jane Carbaugh was recently recognized with the USHGA Emma Jane Special Commendation Award. Bob Beck received a Presidential Citation for his work on the Antler MOA.

USHGA

Geoff asked for input to present at the 97/03/20-23 USHGA BOD Meeting at Colorado Springs.

MHGA Meeting Rescheduling

Due to a scheduling conflict at Oregon Ridge, the March MHGA Meeting will be postponed a week.

Flight Distance Award Rules

In a strive for uniformity of area XC flight recognition rules, it was agreed to make the CHGA Flight Distance Award rules consistent with Region 9 Championship and Yearlong XC Contest rules, with (I'll exercise a little abuse of editorial power here) the understanding that maximum turn point distances are recognized irrespective of launch and landing locations (e.g. you get one way credit for the length of a ridge on which you did an out and return). Hopefully Mitch will continue his established early pace of blowing everyone else out of the water so we won't be in the position of splitting hairs come January.

Raffle

Sheila Boyle's lucky ticket netted her half of the evening's $61 50/50 haul.

1996 Awards Presentation

Exceptional Service Award

Christy Huddle has paid some major dues in this sport: three years as a CHGA Officer; about as many as Pulpit Treasurer; CHGA Site Directory editor; Mountaineers Hang Gliding Club Officer. In recognition of her long, many, and varied services to the area hang gliding scene Christy was awarded the club's annual fifteen hundred pound token of its appreciation.

Flight Distance Award

Yours truly squeaked by Mitch with a rather unremarkable Independence Day Harrisonburg run. Flight was from the new Woodstock launch to Signal Knob to Massanutten Peak to Lynnwood, just across the South Fork of the Shenandoah. Launch to landing distance, the operative figure under '96 rules, was about 42.25. Maximum extents of the flight (97/01 rules) were about 49.5 miles distant. Region 9 measurement (97/02 rules) was about 50.5 (Mitch squeaked by me with 50.9 miles under that measurement on a similar - and superior - 96/11/27 Harrisonburg run).

Milestone Awards

Unfortunately timed at the end of an already overly long meeting, pilots were recognized for firsts achieved in the following categories over the course of the previous year.

High: David Stoudt; Matthew Graham; Karen Carra; Janet Gregor; Mike Yudovin; Marvin Presley; Dan Tomlinson.

Soaring: Ed Daley; Jim Dullaghan; John Anderson; Dennis Moran; Janet Gregor.

Thermal Gain: Judy McCarty.

XC: Mark Cavanaugh; George Price; Eric Wakefield; Joe Gregor; Steve Vogel; Geoff Mumford; Chris Robbins; Bacil Dickert.

Over the Back: Pete Schumann; Joe Gregor; Dave Proctor.

TE 97/03/05