November, 2003 “SHGA Board of Directors 101”

With the election for the 2004 SHGA Board of Directors oneself of all the relevant facts. However, a director is coming up, the current Board thought it would be appro- allowed wide latitude in exercising his “business judgment.” priate to publish the expectations of the Board and the job A director who acts in his selfish interests at the expense of descriptions of the elected positions. All positions listed the corporation, or who makes a decision that no reasonable here are elected to a one year term by membership vote. businessman would make, may be liable to the corporation for any damages legally caused by that breach. Purpose: To advise, govern, oversee policy and direction, Finally, a corporate director is ordinarily not liable for and assist with the leadership and general promotion of the debts of the corporation. Thus, a director of SHGA is Sylmar Hang Gliding Association so as to support the not personally liable for SHGA’s real estate taxes, its water organization’s mission and needs. bill, or damages if a person is injured on SHGA property or sues SHGA for a contract debt, like rent of the mailbox. Major responsibilities:* • Preserve the flying site for Hang Gliding use Length of term: One year, which may be renewed. • Encourage the enjoyment of flight at Sylmar Flight Park • Help promote and improve safety Meetings and time commitment: • Financial management, including adoption and oversight • The Board of Directors meets monthly on the second of the annual budget Thursday of the month, 7:00 p.m., at a location to be • Organizational leadership and advisement determined by the President. Meetings typically last • Organization of the board of directors, officers, and three to four hours. committees Expectations of all Board members: • Formulation and oversight of policies and procedures • Attend and participate in meetings on a regular basis, • Oversight of program planning and evaluation and special events as able. • Promotion of the organization • Participate on a standing committee of the Board, and • Fundraising and outreach serve on ad-hoc committees as necessary. *Members of the board share these responsibilities while act- • Be alert to community concerns that can be addressed by ing in the interest of Sylmar Hang Gliding Association. Each SHGA’s mission, objectives, and programs. member is expected to make recommendations based on his • Help communicate and promote Sylmar Hang Gliding or her experience and vantage point in the community. Association’s mission and programs to the community. • Become familiar with Sylmar Hang Gliding Association’s Legal responsibilities: finances, budget, and financial/resource needs. SHGA is a California corporation. The job description of • Understand the policies and procedures of Sylmar Hang every director of a corporation contains some duties that Gliding Association. are prescribed by law. The director’s first duty is called the Job Descriptions “fiduciary duty” to the corporation. A “fiduciary” is a per- son in a position of trust, like a child’s guardian or an President attorney handling your case or your assets. • Set up and chair meetings of the Board of Directors. The corporate director’s fiduciary duty is to act as a trustee of • Prepare an agenda for each meeting. the shareholders’ assets. SHGA is a non-profit corporation. The • Delegate tasks to other Board members and other Club assets of SHGA are (1) the LZ and its improvements and (2) members. SHGA’s bank accounts. SHGA members pay dues not for • Make necessary decisions when Board is not in session. shares of stock, but for the privilege of using the Club’s proper- • Act as contact to community groups and governmental ty. The primary value of membership in SHGA is the use of the agencies as needed. LZ. Therefore, the primary duties of an SHGA director are to • Encourage and facilitate the participation of the member- preserve the use of the LZ for flying, and to keep informed of ship on committees. any threat to that use, and to eliminate or mitigate those threats. • Assist other BOD members in getting what they need to A corporate director’s fiduciary duty includes the duty of do their jobs. “due diligence.” This is a duty to exercise the care that a • Keep current with developments at USHGA and guide in reasonably prudent businessman would use in the manage- continued on page 2 ment of his own affairs, and it includes a duty to inform deposit and individually identify for what purpose the funds Board of Directors... were received, i.e. dues, initiation, visiting pilot, other. continued from page 1 Safety Director the formulation of constructive activities. • Accept accident reports, distribute copies to the Board • E-mail pertinent information to the Secretary for dissem- and forward them to the USHGA. ination to membership. • Encourage safe flying practices at the Sylmar Flight Park • Keep the meeting on schedule. and elsewhere. • Attend committee meetings on a “need to” basis. • Make accident reports whenever possible, and solicit them from witnesses/participants otherwise. Vice President • Monitor safety at our flying site and make suggestions to • Responsible to the President for operation of the com- the Board. mittees assigned. • Write safety-related articles for the membership. • Chair monthly meetings and/or Board meetings in the • Other safety-related tasks as required. absence of the President. • Empty the post office box at least weekly and distribute Activities Director the contents to the appropriate parties. • Plan member events throughout the year. • Act as parliamentarian. • Responsible for budgets of events. • Act as liaison with community. Secretary • Manage participation of SHGA in community events. • Coordinate record keeping transition from past to current • Submit information to be disseminated to membership to Board. Secretary. • Send roster of newly elected officers and directors to the USHGA within 30 days of the end of the December meeting. Past President (automatically appointed to a one-year term) • Record minutes of all Board meetings. • Serve a 1-year term as an advisor to the President. • Attend all Board meetings. If unable to attend for any • Act as continuity between past and present Board of Directors. reason, ensure that arrangements are made for someone • Liaison to appointed committees. else to perform the Secretary’s duties. Director-At-Large • Maintain all records. Additional Directors-At-Large may be appointed by the Board • Promptly send the minutes from the previous Board of Directors. Limits on this are specified in the by-laws. meeting to all Board members. • Provide support by professional experience. Treasurer • Attend all Board Meetings. • Responsible for the receipt, recording and depositing of • Serve on committees as requested by the president. all funds. • Responsible for the disbursement of all funds as appropriate. • Approve requests for fund disbursal. Any disbursal must also be accompanied by a receipt. Pot Luck and Club Meeting • Maintain a computerized database that shows funds Saturday, November 15 in the LZ received and funds disbursed. Organize this database so 3 p.m.—Pot Luck that funds received and distributed fall into categories for 3:30 p.m. (approximately)—Meeting report sorting. Rain or shine, flyable or not, Kagel open or not. • Pay all bills in a timely manner so as to not incur late charges. • In January of each year, prepare a budget for calendar year. The last Board meeting for 2003 is on December • In December of each year, prepare an end-of-calendar 11 at 7 p.m. at Jim Heaton’s/Windsport’s house. year financial report. • Publish the annual financial report in the January newsletter. • Respond to any requests for tax information and file appropriate tax returns. Speedy Recovery, Todd! • File any 1099s for services rendered as appropriate. • When the BOD authorizes site improvements and other On October 30th, Todd Siebert suffered a ruptured aorta. items not in the yearly budget, validate that the funds are Luckily, he made it to the emergency room in time to available and earmark them as such. undergo open-heart surgery that saved his life. He is now • Keep a separate computer database for storage box on the way to recovery. He has been moved into his own income and the status of the savings/CD account. • Move money from regular checking to savings as appro- room in the cardiovascular unit and he would be happy to priate to keep the regular checking at an approximate receive cards, letters, or visitors. He is at Encino-Tarzana balance of $8,000.00. This number seems to work for all Regional Medical Center and visiting hours are from 11 situations and does not require liquidation of the CD, am to 8 pm. “Visitors with colds, sore throats, or conta- thereby avoiding any early payout penalties. gious diseases should not visit patients.” • At BOD meetings, whenever funding is approved for a project and the money is not in the yearly-approved budget, remind the board that the funding will have to come from reserves. Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center—Tarzana Campus, • Maintain a spreadsheet of all funds received for each 18321 Clark Street, Tarzana, CA 91356, 818-881-0800 2 • Round Mountain – Closed. Upcoming Election Matters • Trancas – Closed due to local complaints and not by George Stebbins enough pilot attention to the politics of the site. • Olive Pit LZ – Closed due to building construction. I wanted to address the membership of the SHGA and say • Base of Dam LZ – Closed intermittently for safety a couple of things about the upcoming elections. reasons/construction and currently for sale. First, I want to thank all of you for your self-restraint in our recent temporary closure. It is that kind of responsible • Avenue L – Closed recently due to liability issues. action on the part of our Club and of our members that • Soboba – Open then closed, then open repeatedly. helps keep the site open. Well done! • Kagel Launch – Closed twice in two years due to Second, I want to address a concern that different SHGA Forest Service concerns about fire. Boards of Directors have had over the past 20 years. Some • Marshal Launch – Closed at least twice in two years members feel that we should be able to fly when and where due to Forest Service concerns about fire. we want to with no rules. Yet the only reason that we have • Kagel LZ – Mission College attempted to take property this site is that the original Club (20 years ago!) had the via eminent domain. foresight to talk to our neighbors and find out their con- cerns. They had the courage to impose a few rules on • LA City (Launch & LZ) – City council nearly voted to themselves to ensure that our flying site would still be open make hang gliding illegal in LA. and available for flying 20 years later. We owe them thanks. Time has passed and most of the current members don’t The list above is not complete. It is just what that I remember our epic struggle, either because they weren’t fly- could remember off of the top of my head. The only rea- ing then, or because it was so long son that the College was stopped is that we and our neigh- ago that they have gotten compla- bors all got together and fought cent. After all, we own it right? They them. If our neighbors weren’t don’t remember that the City of Los “We land in the City and are nearly happy with us, it might have gone Angeles was in the process of mak- surrounded by urban and suburban the other way. Kagel is now the ing hang gliding illegal inside city ONLY flying site still open in the limits. They don’t remember that our areas. We are not out in the boonies.” City of Los Angeles. Dockweiler neighbors instigated this action. is not inside of the City, it is on They don’t remember that only the county land. There have been formation of the Club, heroic efforts by certain individuals, many other flying sites in the LA area that were open for a and our ability to follow through on our promises to the time, but ultimately closed down. neighbors, plus a little luck, allowed us to continue flying in We land inside the City, and we are nearly surrounded by Los Angeles. While our relationships with the local politicians urban and suburban areas. We are not out in the boonies. and the surrounding community are better than they have Because of this, we will always need to keep our neighbors been, we are still at risk. happy. That is the price that we pay for flying so close to the Look at the following site closures and near closures: city. If we want to fly somewhere without rules, we need to • 1500/2200 LZs – Closed due to home construction. fly Garlock, or somewhere else away from town. • Hospital LZ – Closed due to liability issues (emergen- Finally, I would like to say that if you want to have a flying cies only). site in 20 years (or 10, or 5), we must continue to work care- • Big-T launch – Closed due to USFS closing the road. fully with the powers-that-be in the City. We must keep our • Lukens launch – Closed due to road closure. neighbors happy with us, and not make them think that we are • Palos Verdes sites – Closed to largely due to landowner a bunch of loud, rowdy, people who don’t care about their complaints. concerns. We need to be polite, drive slowly and continue to • Avenue S – Nearly closed because of homeowner be good neighbors. If we do these things we stand an excellent complaints. Newly started construction may affect chance of keeping our flying site open. If we do not do these future use of site. things, we will have fun for a while, but soon we will all be • Tehachapi Airport – Closed (after 1 day!) because going somewhere else to fly. The history of hang gliding in Dino did aerobatics over the runway after being told our area makes it clear. We either cooperate with each other not to by airport officials. and our neighbors, or we lose our flying sites – maybe not • Wilson LZs – Closed because ONE pilot landed at the now, but eventually. I would love to fly here for the next 20 Rose Bowl twice. (Actually, ALL LZs on Pasadena years or more. Kagel is our “home” flying site. It is close, fun City property were closed!) and flyable more often than almost anywhere in the world. It • Wilson LZ (wash) – Closed after being opened again. would be a shame to lose our ability to fly Kagel just because we were too shortsighted to do what it takes to keep it open. • Wilson LZ (park) – Closed after being opened again You have a choice before you. You can vote to party now, because a pilot yelled at a soccer coach in the LZ, ignore the rules which have helped keep our site open, and which made them check and find out about the annoy the neighbors who have the ability to close our site. Pasadena City property law. Or you can vote for a Board that wants to continue the strat- • Crestline LZ – Closed, moved, then moved again, then egy that has kept our site open for 20 years while sites reopened in current location. around us were closing down. • Chatsworth – Closed due to construction. The choice is yours. I urge all of you to think about it and then vote for long-term flying at Kagel. • Simi Valley (2) – Closed due to home construction. 7 Should so much money be spent on the furniture and New Blood on the Board construction? Maybe. The picnic tables and benches were by Jim Thompson expensive but they will probably outlast many of us. If you don’t feel the need to leave something good behind Elections are on the horizon and the membership has an for the future (which may include you), well tough. I opportunity to make some significant changes in the direc- always buy the best I can afford, too. The construction tion the club takes in the next year. Many have been heard may have been handled more efficiently and apparently grumbling about expenses, the restrictions placed on the there were volunteers at lower cost for several projects. I use of the LZ and discontent with the current board, in would like to know why those avenues weren’t chosen. general. However, most of those complaining decline to However, many of the complainers gave up their right to become involved with the running of the club. complain by not voting in the first place or attending How did people that make unpopular decisions get meetings that are open to all. elected? Probably because very few members voted, and Should we rescind “rule thirteen?” No because there isn’t most of those people voted for them. You all didn’t care one. What we have here is a difference of opinion on what enough to find out what was going on, who they were and makes good sense. Everyone has an opinion but as there is what they wanted to do. Flying is the priority, there’s no no formal rule; everyone is free to ignore everyone else. time to muck about with running the club. When have hang glider pilots ever been known to listen to This is the year you need to change your thinking. someone else? If peer pressure influences personal prefer- There is a challenge to the status quo and I agree that ences, that is a personal decision. No one is keeping anyone there is a great deal of room for from doing anything in the LZ. The change. However, you need to be only rules I know of concerning the thoughtful about your choices. “What we have here is a difference of LZ are no dogs and the 200’ buffer Many of you believe that there opinion on what makes good sense.” from the homes. No one has banned is no need to worry about the sta- beer (go ahead, try). I see members’ tus of the LZ, and that there are kids riding their motorcycles (great too many rules regarding its use. that they can get their kids to get To some extent, this is correct. That doesn’t mean we out to play nearby). No one I’ve talked to seems to mind. The should push the limits of use. Zagis are flown with due courtesy to the RC people and one Should we have meetings in the LZ? Barbecues? Yes. grouchy neighbor. Members play Frisbee (and bean incoming In fact, the informal parties going on nearly everyday I pilots). No complaints. People toke up in their cars and even have been at the LZ this summer have been great. I don’t at the tables. Well, that’s a problem for some. But: there is no think we need to institutionalize them. However, it would rule saying it isn’t allowed. So go ahead. Sure, it’s illegal and be nice to have the Board present at a scheduled event neighbors visiting may complain to authorities (wasn’t there a from time to time to interact with the membership. I only problem because of kids and dealers using the old LZ know them by name and some I’ve never seen. Is it OK to phone?). Just remember Rule 14: everyone has a right to say spend dues on this? Yes, but don’t go overboard. Potlucks something about it. If the neighbors speak to the right people, might even get more significant others involved. we’ll all hear about it. Should the Board meetings be held this way? No, noth- Finally, back to the point. Apathy kills. We need to be ing would ever get done. Committees have been described involved with our club and not just expect a few members as creatures with many stomachs and no head (apologies to elected by a minority to get it right when we didn’t bother to Heinlein). Ten people trying to do business is bad enough; find out what their plans were before they got elected. After imagine 50. If you trusted the people on the Board enough they’re elected, seek them out and tell them what you think. to vote for them (“ay, there’s the rub…”), then you should And the next board? Gayle has named many good people for trust them to make good decisions. If they don’t, vote next the board. I named many more that I thought really have a time. Again, though, the Board members really need to stake in the continuation of the site because they use it so spend time talking to everyone out at the LZ, not just their well. Many probably declined and that is a mutual loss. So clique. How else can they know what kind of job we think far, I’m told out of 34 nominees for director-at-large only 8 they’re doing before the next election? have consented to run. I urge them to reconsider but it will Should members be involved in the maintenance of the probably be too late by the time you read this. Next time, site? Yes, conditionally. If someone wants to drive a mower you all should urge members you know—that you think will around every Saturday morning, great! If it’s just occasion- do a better job, in your opinion—to be on the ballot. ally and the weeds are left knee deep, we need a regular For the time being, all of us need to be involved enough gardener. We should also look to the maintenance of the to at least send the damn card back! Choose carefully but launch area, even if it isn’t owned by the club. I know you choose someone. You want new blood on the BOD? You all hate setting up in the fine dust as much as I do. have to do the work. You have to care at least that much. 6 Another Windsports’ Flying Adventure to Big Sur by Adam Stone

This article has been edited to fit this publication. for cool, damp nights. A few others had their own individ- The entire article can be read online at: ual sites, and came by to visit us. The scenery and facili- www.sol3logic.com/adam/hang_gliding/flights/flight_198.htm ties are good, but there are a few precautions. There is poison oak just about everywhere outside the I did get more than an hour at Big Sur—it just took five cleared camping area, and it is eagerly making tendrils flights to do it. The great thing is, that got me my fifth site into that. I learned of this the hard way, after wading (needed for my Hang 4 rating). We had a great time flying, around in it in search of a stick with which to roast my hiking, and camping, and everyone came back alive. weenie. I guess the group was sensitized to this bane of Launching is easy; deciding to launch is sometimes dif- campers everywhere by a recent episode on the back side ficult. On Friday, the fog kept closing in on the LZ. It of Kagel. Once it was discerned that I had, in fact, been teased us on Saturday, as well. It also tried to blow down, wading in poison oak, we immediately implemented the slightly, a couple of times. On my fifth flight, I was con- HAZMAT procedures. I was instructed to wash thoroughly cerned that the east wind would increase, so I chose to with soap, take off my contaminated clothes, burn them, launch in wind that was about 1 mph down. I was in a wash thoroughly with soap again, burn my shoes, and then Falcon, and I had done similar wash the soap with soap. (I guess launches before. Nevertheless, it it worked, because I never had a was a long run down the hill. single itch—thanks!) Also, my first landing ended up Another bane of campers every- slightly downwind. George Stebbins where is the raccoon. Plaskett has tried to tell me of the wind change, plenty of them, and they are plenty but I failed to comprehend the mes- bold. We were cautioned not to sage until I was about to flare. confront them, because we would George yelled “downwind landing!” lose, every time. If we did which actually helped me snap out encounter them, we were instructed of my ocean reverie and handle the to walk away slowly, with our situation (I landed on my feet, with hands in our pockets, whistling the wheels touching down a bit). casually, and also to never turn I hadn’t flown a Falcon for your back or make eye contact. My months, and in the still air I was “George yelled ‘downwind landing!’ only brushes with these critters impressed with how slowly it flew. It which actually helped me snap out were: two pairs of glowing red was eerie, in fact: quiet, smooth, of my ocean reverie...” eyes from the periphery of the surreal. This was definitely the vehi- camp as we sat around the fire, a cle of choice. Thanks to Joe Greblo sniffing sound outside my tent in for the use of the glider. However, the middle of the night, and dozens the next time I go, I think I will bring my Ultra Sport. Then, I of paw prints up and down my glider bag the next morning. should be able to make it out over Plaskett Rock. After these episodes, I felt I had been re-educated about The glide from launch to the front ridge is rather shal- camping. I used to be a Boy Scout, but I had forgotten a low, so you are flying low over the trees and the grassy hill- few of those important safety tips. Speaking of which, a top. This is a neat perspective. One day, Joe landed on the friend of mine was kind enough to demonstrate how to hill, then re-launched a while later. properly use one of those little backpacking stoves. I was This was my first attempt at aerial photography. I bought fascinated as he first poured a little of the white gas liquid a disposable camera, and rigged a harness for it out of nylon on the burner and lit it. This was to heat up the little burn- cable ties. I then made a 3-foot-long lanyard and tied it to er so it would turn the liquid gas in to gas gas. The trick, I my harness. It worked fairly well, considering I had to hold was told, was to turn on the little pressurized gas supply the camera with one hand, while attempting to fly with the just at the moment the liquid was about to burn out. other, and guess what was in the frame. I got a CD along This he did. However, it was just a little too late, and with the prints, and the cost ended up at about $1 per photo. the flame went completely out. Fortunately, I had taken a A big part of this trip is the camping. We camped Friday position about ten feet back from this demonstration. and Saturday night at Plaskett Creek Campground. The Thinking fast, my friend said, "I may still be able to save Greblos arranged for a group site, which is quite nice, though finding a level spot is a challenge. Also, be ready continued on page 4 3 Flying Adventure... this never works. When are you going to give up?” Undaunted, the professor continued shaking, the hammer continued from page 3 getting heavier in his hand with each shake. Then there was the first pop. Then more. Eureka! it was working! He it.” Not wanting to repeat the ritual of heating the little switched hands, then he used both hands. The crowd burner with white gas liquid, he went for the butane cheered him on. It grew to the size of a cantaloupe, pop- lighter. Meanwhile, a nice little cloud of white gas gas was ping and sizzling. It was almost done. “Just a little more!” forming. As he struck the flint, I was And then, when it was the size of a most impressed by the resulting bigger cantaloupe, FOOF!, it burst HUGE BALL OF FLAME! into flames. The name of this person will be “Aaah! Put it out! Pour beer on withheld until relatives have been it!” After a fair amount of blowing notified. After the crowd had and tamping, the flames were out, stopped gasping, and the smell of and all eyes were on the smoking burning hair had cleared, I said, aluminum cantaloupe as Steve “Ken, do you realize your head was carefully tore it open. Inside completely engulfed in flames?” He was—popcorn! “Hey, not bad!” said, “Yes, it felt like my head was Steve passed it around and we all completely engulfed in flames.” I’m partook in ceremonious fashion. (It convinced that his eyeglasses are was a little burned on the bottom, the only reason he still has eye- though.) brows today. “Aside from raccoons and Aside from raccoons and can- But fire is our friend. And we cantaloupes, there are other taloupes, there are other interest- all look forward to those times interesting critters.” ing critters. We found out about when the whole gang settles down one as Steve was driving us up to around the campfire to roast launch. With his new brakes, he marshmallows, drink cocoa, and suddenly stopped the van. tell stories. This was the scene on Friday night, when a “There’s one!” We all jumped out to see a fairly good- strange visage emerged from the darkness. It was a tall sized tarantula. While Steve was looking for something to man with wild gray hair and an intense focus in his eyes. put it in, it began to crawl under the van. “Quick, it’s get- His clothes were somewhat disheveled, and he carried all ting away!” Thinking fast, I grabbed the remaining Jiffy manner of gadgets. He had a two-pound hammer, a large Pop out of the van, and herded the tarantula until Steve spring clamp, a flashlight that looked like something from could get it into a plastic bag. We put it in the back of the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and an unopened pan of van and headed on up to launch. Every once in a while, I butter-flavored Jiffy Pop. had to look over my shoulder, and under my feet, just in In the flickering light, as he clamped the Jiffy Pop to case. Once there, Steve showed it to the others on launch, the end of the hammer and raised it over the fire, the cata- and then let it go. batic wind blowing his hair back, it felt like I was in a But tarantulas don’t fly. We do, and we did. Some folks sequel to Back to the Future. The crowd was mesmerized got terrific conditions and had hour-long flights. I missed by the intensity of the effort, the hypnotic flickering of the these opportunities (with no regrets), because I was focus- flames, and the soothing rattle as the professor gingerly ing on getting my five flights. I wish to thank Larry rocked the Jiffy Pop over the fire. Chamblee, Ken Andrews, and especially Steve Wallick for Not everyone was impressed, however. There were helping to make this possible. Maybe next time I’ll get my skeptics who had seen this show before. They said, “Aw, hour in just one flight!

4th Annual Thanksgiving Trip to Santa Barbara We are planning to enjoy the trip again this year. We’ll Camping is available on a first-come, first-served basis. meet in the Cienaguitas LZ the day after Thanksgiving, For those that prefer not to camp, there is a Motel 6 (805- November 28, at 9:30 a.m.—weather permitting. Please 964-3596) in Goleta (just north of Santa Barbara, only contact Lynn McLaughlin if you would like to go. Hang about 6 minutes from the LZ) that has good rates. 2’s will need to sign up for ground school with Tammy Contact Lynn McLaughlin at work 818-955-5639 (prior Burcar (the local Santa Barbara instructor—Lynn will to Thanksgiving), 626-797-2415 (Thanksgiving Day) or arrange this). Contact Lynn for any details and for the [email protected]. final weather call on Thanksgiving Day, around 4 p.m. 4 Mike Rafferty Vote for More Parties Geza Szabo by Gayle Ellett Gayle Ellett Mike Balzer Hein Barnard Gayle Ellett here. I’ve been a club member for 10 years Dimitri Keller and have been on the Board twice before. I wanted to take Juan Corral a minute and share some of my thoughts with you all. If Barton Davidson you like things the way they are, then re-vote the current Rick Holman Board back into office. If you’d like to see things change Jim Gillen along some of the lines I’ll express, then I suggest you Jose Lopez vote in the people I’ve listed below. Except for Hungary Paul Thornbury Joe, it’s an entirely different group of people, and I’d like to steer the club in a different direction. Editor’s note—Gayle was informed that any article that he I’d like to have more fun, less rules, more BBQs and wished to have published in the upcoming Newsletter need- parties, and less fear-based decisions. Dang it, I wanna ed to be submitted by October 31st (which is already 11 mow the lawn myself sometimes, but I’m not allowed to days later than the regular submission schedule). The nom- use the mower. I’d like to include the club members more inations were to be received that same day, so there was no in Board decisions, by having the meetings in the LZ, as way that he could be informed of who would be running for we used to do. the 2004 SHGA Board of Directors. As of this publishing If I were on the Board, here are some of the things I’d date, we don’t know who will accept the nominations and support (although others on the Board may not vote for actually run for the position they have been nominated for. them): Have the board meetings held in the LZ on a The list of members running for the 2004 SHGA Board of Saturday (morning or afternoon), and also have monthly Directors will not be completed accurately until all of the Club Meetings on that same Saturday afternoon. I’d also nominees have been contacted individually. ask all 8 Board members to sponsor/run a BBQ, also held on that Saturday, during the nicer 8 warm months of the year, like March-October. The goal of a monthly BBQ would be fun, and not a way to make money. As long as they did not lose an excessive amount of money, I’d be New Storage Container happy. People have offered to help finish that new glider storage box…I’d get that completed immediately. I’d fire The new storage box should be ready for occupancy by the gardeners and do it ourselves (volunteers) as we’ve mid-November. It has full, 14” diameter tubes (old box done before, and save money. We have that ride-on mower, has half, 12” diameter tubes). The Board is currently and I’ve used it many times before…its fun. When the working on putting individual doors on the spaces. We blades gets dull, you just sharpen ’em; it’s easy. I would will allow people to move in prior to completion of the NOT buy tables for $900, when we could have built wood- doors, with the understanding that there is only the outside en ones for about 10% of that cost. I’d also rescind “Rule door as security until the individual doors are installed. 13.” And I do not fear beer. Priority will be given to those that already have space The ideas I’ve mentioned above are mine, and maybe in the current box. Those people have been contacted are not supported in their entirety by other potential Board about their interest in the new box. members, but it shows a direction that I’d like to see the If you are not in the current box and would like to have a club return to. If you support those ideas, then vote in the space in the new box (or if you would like to take the place people listed below, or other like-minded individuals. The of someone that moves out of the old box into the new specific office you vote someone into is not so important box), please be sure that your name is on the waiting list. (except Safety Director), since all Board members have an In order to get on the waiting list for the new box or equal vote. inquire about a space in the old box, please e-mail Kelly I have been refused my request to receive the list of Vinolus at [email protected] or call 661-252-7964. official candidates running for office by the current Board, Messages should include your name and whether you want so I am unsure of who exactly is running, but if you see space in the new box or the old box. some of these names on the ballot…I recommend you vote them in. Thanks! Prices for both boxes will be: Old Box New Box Hungary Joe (Safety Director) Yearly $200 $260 Robert Bustamante Quarterly $60 $80 Rome Dodson Monthly $25 $33 5 SHGA Facts: • SHGA has 12 rules, no matter what some might say • When the lawn mower is working, members are (and have been) allowed to use it P.O. Box 922303, Sylmar, CA 91392 • BBQs are not run as fund-raisers and never have been (donations are voluntary at our BBQs) SYLMAR HANG GLIDING ASSOCIATION HIGH TIMES is published • Most members like the new tables, which will last monthly to chronicle the events and progress in development of the for many many years without becoming unsafe eye- Sylmar Hang Gliding Association and is published as a service to the members of this association. Neither the Editor nor the SHGA make any sores, and falling apart like the old ones did warranties or representations nor assume any liability concerning the • It is not against the rules to drink beer in the LZ, validity of any advice, opinions, or recommendations expressed in this and never has been publication. Individuals relying upon the published material do so at their own risk. Subscriptions are available free only with full or associate memberships in the SHGA.

Editorial contributions, articles, letters, cartoons, and photographs are welcome, and remain the property of the contributor. They may, with the consent of the contributor, be submitted for publication in other hang SHGA gliding or paragliding journals. Submissions should be in one of the following formats: Word, TIFF, or EPS. Macintosh and Windows files are Classified Ads welcome. Contributions are accepted in electronic or written format via e-mail or mail. Deadline for contributions is the 20th of the month.

Send submissions to: SYLMAR HANG GLIDING ASSOCIATION HIGH X-Lite 127—$1,200 OBO. Excellent condition (+100 hrs.). Blue and TIMES, c/o Newsletter Editor, P.O. Box 922303, Sylmar, CA 91392 turquoise with fluorescent yellow leading edge. Ideal for SMALL female with ADVANCED skills. Or e-mail electronic files to: [email protected] Contact “little Erika” at [email protected]

Apco Sentra—Intermediate paraglider with excellent stability for a beginner. New in 1996. Used no more than 10 times a year, and has less Board of Directors—2003 that 75 hours on it. White with purple corner. To see pictures of the glider President George Stebbins (661) 272-5869 (using someone else’s harness), go to www.chickentaco.com/paraglider. I am asking $2,500 OBO for it. Vice President Alex Calica (310) 379-1798 Secretary Lisa Wendt (818) 341-0693 Apco Top Secura harness with a CO2 airbag with reserve parachute. Treasurer Dan Barley (805) 383-0401 Cash, check, or credit card. Contact Kurt Othmer at 818-970-5878 (cell) or [email protected]. Safety Director Joe Szalai (661) 799-7349 Activities Director Lynn McLaughlin (626) 797-2415 150 Talon 8 months old, approx. 100 hrs. $4,000. Director-at-Large Jeff Carlisle (310) 306-0632 Brauniger IQ flight computer $450. Director-at-Large Larry Chamblee (310) 854-7268 Contact Phill Bloom at 818-345-1185. Director-at-Large Greg Kendall (805) 520-1453 Director-at-Large Kelly Vinolus (661) 252-7964 167 Saturn white/blue for $2,700.00. Has VG. Great shape, less than Director-at-Large Fred Weinmann (323) 855-1067 100 hours. Bought for $3,200. Sail is still crisp. Good step up glider from a Falcon, if you’ve tried an Eagle or a Pulse first. Performs between Eagle and UltraSport; very steady, does not oscillate easily. Other Important Numbers Contact Jim Gillen at [email protected]; 2211 Vanderbilt Lane, #4, Newsletter Editor Kelly Vinolus (661) 252-7964 Redondo Beach, CA 90278; 310-376-7614. Or hit me up at the LZ. Membership Manager Kelly Vinolus (661) 252-7964 Glider Storage Mgr. Fred Weinmann (323) 855-1067 147 WW Ultrasport red/white/blue—$1,800. Great condition. Flies great. Full inspection two flights ago. Kagel LZ (818) 362-9978 This is Fred Weinmann’s glider. Kagel Windtalker (818) 362-9604 Contact Kelly Vinolus at [email protected] or 661-252-5188.

Stealth II 151 $800 OBO. Red with gray stripe. Round and faired base- tubes, standard control frame. One of the easiest flying topless gliders. 2003 Activities Calendar Super Sport 167—$300 OBO. Purple/green. dates are subject to change Contact George Stebbins at [email protected] or 661-965-0493. November 28-30—4th Annual Thanksgiving Santa Barbara Trip Send your item and contact information to [email protected] by the 20th of the month. Your ad will run for three months. Let us know if your item is sold (contact Lynn McLaughlin) before the three month period. December 13—SHGA Holiday Party & Annual Meeting

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