Happy Valentine s Day to Everyone

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1 "AS THE PROP TURNS" LAKE NORMAN AIRPARK NEWSLETTER Editor: Kandy Murray Visit: Jan-Feb 2009 full time, some have kids, and all have many other interests besides working on the airpark! There is still a lot to do, and we will continue to find creative ways to make improvements, within the constraints of the budget. However, the volunteers are the ones who make it possible to do so much for so little. Happy Valentine s Day to Everyone The President s Corner By Glenn Babcock As I come to the end of my first year as President, I've been reflecting on our successes and failures over the last year. Among the many successes, and to me the one that stands out the most, are the efforts of the volunteers, both on and off the Board. More people are getting involved, and the volunteers are looking for cost-effective ways to not just maintain the airpark, but to improve it. The common areas are looking better, we're addressing the runway lights, the new windsocks look great, and ideas are coming in for other improvements. Let me point out that the volunteers are not just retired folks with lots of free time. Most work 1 As I said in the budget cover letter, just think how much we would spend on mowing if we contracted it out. Or how much maintenance on the runway lights would be if we called an electrician each time we needed a bulb changed or a relay replaced. Consider the cost if we had to hire a management company or an accountant or a web master or a newsletter editor. Of course we use outside professional services when we have to, but the attitude of the volunteers is Do It Ourselves! Often this includes the contribution of personal materials and vehicles, not to mention the very real value of our skilled members time. This literally saves us many thousands of dollars a year! So if you're not volunteering, I encourage you to do so. And the next time you see a volunteer (you know who they are!), thank them for saving you so much money and making this both a better place to live and a better airport! Here are just some of the Projects underway or planned for this year made possible by the volunteers: Improvements and repairs to the taxiway serving lots 3, 4, 37, 38, 39 Repairs on the beacon

2 Repairs to the PCL radio Repairing the mid-field windsock light Maintenance and improvements to the walk path Installing two threshold lights on 32 Improvements to the lakenormanairpark.org website Mower shed, built by volunteers Restoration of the Lake Norman Airpark sign Fire Department training and orientation program There are also the ongoing efforts of those who work on the Fall Celebration of Flight fly-in, the Perth Road Adopt-A-Highway crew, and other activities at the airpark. OK, so what can we improve? Communications is on the top of my list. Many of you have commented to me on this, and I agree. So what can we do about it? First, we need to schedule more meetings where the members can speak directly to the Board, and to each other, on matters regarding the community. We will be announcing a schedule for regular open Board meetings soon. Second, we need to adjust the calendar. Our fiscal year starts in January but the annual meeting is in May! We need to have the annual meeting a month or so before year end so we can ratify the budget before the New Year starts. The Board proposes that we hold the annual meeting as scheduled in May, then plan another one for the first Saturday in December, and use that date going forward. We will include this proposal on the May meeting agenda. Finally, the Board is working on improving the processes for managing both expenses and the capital fund, with improvements on communicating issues to the members and tighter controls on the capital fund. Special thanks are in order to Mary Grace Lawless, for helping out as interim Treasurer, and to John Schroeder, for all his hard work as Treasurer. No community is perfect, but what I see here at Lake Norman Airpark is a very special community that continues to improve. Having been to many airparks in the Southeast, I can say with confidence that this one is the best! I'm looking forward to working with you all to keep it that way. P.S. Special Thanks to Kandy for producing our newsletter! Next Trash Pickup March 7 th By Mary Grace Lawless Adopt-a-Highway Trash pickup will be Saturday, March 7, 8:30 AM. Meet at the Lawless hangar. We ll hope it's warmer than today. Remember the most fun is visiting afterward. We'd love to have any of your kids join us too -- what a great introduction to service, and it only takes an hour. Hope to see you then, for the work, the donuts, and the social hour afterward. Mower Update By Mark Mayerchak The mower has been sent to Toro for hydraulic system repairs and preventative maintenance. The QVC Experience! By Charlie Littwin After being rejected twice we finally got our foot in the door and went on QVC! Many thanks to the enthusiasm of our sales rep and the testimonials he was able to give the QVC buyer from his kids having so much fun with the balls. 2

3 Our QVC sell on went very well. We sold a total of 2,144 Night Yackles in 7 minutes. They put us on at a good time of day, around 9:30 a.m. EST. Since they broadcast 24/7 you never know what time of day you will be scheduled. They were pleased with Patti and the quantity sold so they are holding onto the remaining balls in inventory for another airing in July 2009 since that is the next time they sell toys. At the world s largest electronic retailer everything is gauged by dpm (dollars per minute). We exceeded their minimum dpm for rescripting so we will be invited back. You can see the clip at: The Comanche served us well for transport with 197 knot ground speed on the way up, but the 50 knot winds aloft became a headwind for the flight home. The resulting ground speed of 100 knots made the flight home just over 4 hours. Pinocchio s of Spencer, NC By Mary Grace Lawless Van and I went for dinner before a play in Salisbury. What a great evening wish we had time to linger for dessert!! Stacy (owner) welcomed us as if to her own home. We got a history of the restaurant, and learned how very Italian Giuseppe (chef, owner) came to have such a fabulous restaurant in Spencer. Not only was Stacy gracious, the food was outstanding! I started with an appetizer portion of the homemade pumpkin ravioli with a great cheese sauce. Giuseppe treats pumpkin like a vegetable. Van had the fish special of the day, with artichokes as one of the toppings. I tried a chicken special: chicken breast topped with marinated eggplant and cheese, finished with a lemon sauce. WOW!!! By this time it was time to go to the play, so we didn t get to try dessert next time, for sure. You can see the menu on their website Make sure you read EVENTS -- it s not events, but 10 FAQ s that are indicative of the You re visiting a friend atmosphere. EXTRA BONUS: Every Tuesday night Pat Mother Blues Cohen entertains, starting at 7 PM. They also have a wine club, and in March a Murder Mystery Dinner. To get more information about these events, send an to pinocchios@carolina.rr.com with the request. The Kouwe s Gig at The Three Goats Phil and Jake Kouwe performed Friday, Feb. 6 th at our local coffee shop, The Three Goats. I ve had a number of reports about what a fun evening it was, and how crowded as well. Phil wants you to know how much he appreciated all of his neighbors coming out to support him and Jake. Everyone had a great time. The Three Goats is located just a few doors down from our nearby Harris Teeter. Ron and I have become addicted to their coffee. Who needs Starbucks, when you can get such great coffee, smoothies, gelato, sandwiches, etc., so close to home! They also feature local talent on many Friday nights. New Florist Shop in Mooresville This is just a quick note to let you know that Stacey's florist shop opened in downtown Mooresville this week. Her Website is It s a great website to browse for lots of information and ideas for flowers and gifts for special events. Let s all plan to drop by over the next few weeks to wish her well in her new location! Here s the contact information: Willow Branch Flowers and Design 148 North Main Street, Mooresville, NC or

4 Landscape project By Charlie Littwin Patti and I worked over an entire weekend bed edging, removing grass (with the help of Jacob and Adam Unterreiner), digging holes, preparing soil, planting trees including apple, peach, flowering cherry, dogwoods, small red leafed decorative shrubs and finally 3 pickups of hardwood mulch. The fruits of our labor will yield fruit in about 5 years and the bed really gives some nice definition between our properties and creates a barrier between the Bermuda grass and our fescue that I obsess over. Golf Cart for Sale By Gail Douthitt I have a 2002 Club Car - Electric - Black Paint,. Mirror, 2 rear seats, wheel covers, side panels and kick plate The batteries were new when I purchased it and they last for years. It is in great condition. $3,000. Call me if you re interested. There are hangar and tie down spaces for rent at 14 Alpha. If interested, please contact Coni: Hangar Space Available By Jerry Kinn I have a hanger 80' X 60' located at the rear of the building at 123 Yeager. It is available for $ per month for each plane or $ for the whole hanger. You may contact Kari Fingerlow at to view the hanger, or me at JerryMKinn@aol.com for more information. EAA Chapter 309 Kitfox Project A Kitfox kit was recently donated to EAA Chapter 309 for the chapter to build. It is currently residing in Don Sink s hangar, and the chapter is planning on meeting there on Tuesday nights to complete the building project. Following are a few pictures of the project and builders, as well as a picture of the newest and youngest member of the chapter, 15 week old Turner Repucci, who was out for his very first airplane ride with his daddy and mommy, Bill & Nora Repucci. He flew in his daddy s RV-9 of course! Commercial Area Update By Glenn MacDermod. Race City Aviation offers A&P/IA services Contact Glenn directly at (704) Reminder from Glenn: We've recently started recycling used motor oil. Anyone in the airpark is welcome to bring their oil for recycling. Nora and Turner Repucci 4

5 forget to watch which way the wind is blowing! Try it its fun! Kitfox frame Upcoming Events The Ladies of the Road will be meeting at TJ's Deli and Grille on Thursday night, Feb. 12th. at 6:30 p.m. TJ's is located in Morrison Plantation near the Harris Teeter. Chapter members doing a parts inventory Great Games I m not normally a computer game player, but when a friend ed these to me, I just had to try them. Now, every once in a while when I need a break, I go to these websites and challenge myself. The address is 120-A Marketplace Avenue. They specialize in home cooked meals and soups and nothing is over $7.49. EAA Chapter 309 will be meeting in Don Sink s hangar on Tuesday nights from 5:30 7:00 to work on the Kitfox. Members are welcome; nonmembers are welcome to drop by and see what s going on. The first one can be accessed at the following website. It s called Free Rice. Every time you correctly identify the meaning of a word, you donate 10 grains of rice. It s a challenging word game, but if you love words and like to learn new ones, this game is for you. This next game is strictly fun and allows you to practice your reflexes. You click on jump and Daffy exits the airplane. You click to open his chute in time to allow him to land safely. Don t 5

6 Lake Norman Airpark Kandy Murray Newsletter Editor, LNAOA Newsletter 295 Normandy Road Mooresville, NC TO: 6