CHAPTER 172 AUGUSTA, GEORGIA

.

A Sorrowful Goodbye Alex LaFave

It was a simple signature. I have signed my name many times

before of course (though Miranda may say I need more

practice!), but this time was different. This signature means

changes – big changes! This Signature means uprooting my

family from this place we have learned to love and these people

who have truly become family. This signature means packing and

cleaning, selling and buying, traveling and moving, tears and

stress. This is not the first job offer I have signed, but it is the most difficult. We moved to Augusta for

my job, but EAA Chapter 172, and its members made this place home.

This signature also means much more. This signature means I get to spend valuable time with my

grandparents as they age. It means my daughter gets to grow up with her cousins, grandparents and

great-grandparents. It means my family no longer misses out on vacation, family events and holidays:

both with my side and Miranda’s side of the family. This signature represents going back home. Back

to where our families live and our roots grow deep. We are both excited and saddened by this next

chapter in life and look forward to new adventures in Olathe, KS.

July, 2018

Club Leadership

President

Allen Nodorft 706-955-1049

Nodorft@hotmail.com

Vice President

Nandi Shetti airnandi@gmail.com

Secretary

Alex LaFave 816-294-1167

webmaster.eaa172@gmail.com

Treasurer

Sandy Walther sandywalther@yahoo.com

Tech Advisor

Dave Dent davedent@comcast.net

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 14: EAA 172 meeting. 11:30AM at the Pea Patch!

July 23-29: EAA Airventure Oshkosh

August 11: EAA 172 meeting, 11:30AM at the Pea Patch!

South Carolina Breakfast Club

July 23: Cheraw, SC KCQW

August 6: Anderson, SC KAND

August 20: Moncks Corner, SC KMKS

Olathe is the home to Garmin, International. Yes, that

Garmin. The folks who make auto navigation units, watches,

fish finders, and more. Of course, none of these were listed at

the top of my Job Offer. I have accepted a position of Aviation

Programs Manager at Garmin, where I will be working closely

with business jet clients developing solutions on the Garmin

G3000/G5000 platforms. While we are saddened to leave

Augusta, and EAA 172 – we are excited to move back closer to

home with this opportunity for me to transition my career into

the Aviation Industry.

Miranda and I would like to thank the members of EAA 172 for

accepting us so quickly. It has been nothing but a pleasure to

serve as Secretary, Newsletter Editor and Webmaster for the

past 7 months. My only regret is leaving before I have the

chance to finish at least one year serving you all. This Chapter

and its members are special. There are larger chapters, and

probably more active chapters – but Chapter 172 is a Family.

July Meeting:

The July meeting will be at the Pea Patch with lunch starting at 11:30. Nandi Shetti will be discussing

what it is like learning to fly in the US as a foreigner.

Lunch will be Burgers/hot dogs, so please bring an appropriate side dish.

June Meeting Minutes:

June’s meeting was a bit light, with 19 members and

guests present. It is always expected this time of year

to have fewer meeting attendees. Those of us that

made it out to the Pea Patch enjoyed some great

fellowship and fantastic Barbeque courtesy of Sid

Brown and a full feast of sides to accompany.

President Allen Nodorft opened the meeting at

12:25pm and after some brief announcements, turned

the floor over to Jim Maher and Ronna Hiltz. Jim and

Ronna volunteer almost every year at Oshkosh and

had a great presentation on Life at Oshkosh. Below is a brief recap of volunteering and/or getting the

most of your trip to that hallowed ground.

1. Weekend Work Parties

a. These occur several times a year leading up to Airventure to prepare the grounds for the

biggest Airshow in the world.

b. Stay at Bunkhouse, meals during shifts, all tools needed, and special programming for

work weekend volunteers

c. Receive 1 day ticket to AirVenture

2. Daily Activities

a. Forums – every subject imaginable on aviation

b. Workshops – Sheet metal, welding, fiberglass,

fabric covering, wood rib building etc.

c. Displays – Vendors/ Exhibitors/Innovators etc.

d. Homebuilts/Warbirds/Vintage in review –

Discussions at their respective areas

e. Kidventure – hands on aviation activities for kids

f. Womens crafting tent

g. Tri-motor & helicopter rides

h. Ultralight aircraft demonstrations

i. Seaplane Base – A great place to slow down & relax

j. EAA AirVenture Museum – Included with daily

wristband

3. Nighttime Activities

a. Fly-in Theater – nightly movies introduced by

celebrities and complementary popcorn, bring a chair

or blanket to sit on

b. Theater in the woods – Awards, celebrity speakers,

shows, aviation related entertainment

c. Twilight flight fest at the Fun fly zone - STOL flights,

Paradigm team, Patriot parachutes, and 3D RC

demos

d. Concerts on the West ramp – different acts

nightly

e. Hot air balloon glow

f. Night airshows , fireworks & pyro – Wed & Sat

nights

4. Food Selection

a. Selection, quality, cost much improved over past

years

b. Breakfast at Tall Pines in the Vintage area

c. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner vendors include - A&W,

Benvenuto’s, Papa John’s, Cedar Creek, Subway,

ThunderBay and more

d. Special group Dinner gatherings in the Nature

Center almost every night – including

Homebuilders /Type clubs(Thu), Int.Visitors(Fri), Volunteer Wrap-up(Sun)

e. Dinner with friends at Camp Scholler

f. Dine out at any of the many fine restaurants in Oshkosh

5. Lodging

a. Camp with your plane – ship your gear ahead

b. Camp in Camp Scholler or other nearby camp

grounds with your camper or a local rental

c. Hotels – Oshkosh,Fondulac,Appleton. book well

in advance

d. Dorm Rooms @Univ. WI OSH – book well in

advance

e. Rent house on Air B&B

f. Rent a room or house @ eaalodging.com

THered

Secretary’s Note

Our new chapter website is now live! Our new web address is www.eaa172.org. I still have some

work I would like to complete to make it as useful as possible to our members. I have a page created

for both aircraft mechanics and CFI’s. If any members have recommendations for each of these,

please send the name and contact info of the A&P or CFI t0 webmaster.eaa172@gmail.com.

I also would like to feature member’s aircraft and projects in both the website and newsletter. Please

send a picture of your airplane or project and a short description, and I will be sure to add it to the

website. If you have a current project in progress, I would love to receive periodic updates on

yourproject to publish in both the website and newsletter. Furthermore, if any member has requests

for an article or suggestions to improve the website and/or newsletter, please contact me at

webmaster.eaa172@gmail.com.

Regards,

Alex LaFave

2018 Schedule

Month Day Time Event Location Food January 13 12:30 pm Basic Med – Joe Britt Pea Patch Chili February 10 12:30 pm B-52 – Dave Dent Pea Patch Soup March 17 10:30 am David Harris Daniel Field Pastries April 21 11:30 am Pietenpol Air Camper – Keith Goff Pea Patch Fish Fry May 5 9:00 am Young Eagles Daniel Field N/A June 16 11:30 am Life at Oshkosh – Jim and Ronna Hiltz Pea Patch BBQ July 14 11:30 am Nandi Shetti Pea Patch Burgers August 11 11:30 am Oshkosh recap Pea Patch Cold Cuts September 15 N/A Wrens Fall Fly-in Wrens N/A October 13 10:30 am TBD Daniel Field Pastries November 10 12:30 am TBD Pea Patch Burgers December 8 12:30 am Christmas Party Pea Patch Turkey