South Jersey Kite Flyers November 2008

Number 77 The newsletter of the South Jersey Kite Flyers Volume #6 2008 Even towards the end, he wouldn’t tell you much about his An Empty Place in the Sky - Scott E illness. However, you could just look at him and know that Spencer 07/02/1959 – 11/18/2008 he wasn’t doing well and dealing with pain. Scott gave a by Mike Dallmer workshop at the AKA Convention on Mini Banners and in- sisted that he be the Auctioneer at SJKF’s Anniversary Bash. I know these must have been exhausting for him, because Hello Fellow Kite Flyers, it is with at the Bash, Scott had to take a few naps and slept all the heavy heart that I announce the pass- way home. At this year’s AKA Convention, if you bumped ing of Scott E. Spencer of Collings- into Scott, you most likely walked away with a temporary wood, NJ. In his too short of a life, he tattoo of the AKA logo, which he made himself. touched many. Scott succumbed to cirrhosis of the Liver. He is survived Scott held many positions in the Kiting World, he was an by 2 sisters, Ellen and Tracey. Scott AKA Regional Director. He was also at one time or the was a dear and trusted friend, not other, President, Vice President and Director at Large dur- only to me but to Kiting as a whole; ! ing SJKF’s Existence. This year, Scott was nomi- he was also an innovator and a teacher of the hobby. nated for The Steve Edeiken Memorial Kiteflier of Scott was opinionated and wasn’t afraid of telling you the Year Award and came in second. He had two what he thought. separate nominations. Scott had been getting more ill recently. On Sunday, Early on, at SJKF parties, Scott always liked to 11/16/08 he was supposed to go to a SJKF meeting cook. He then found his nitch organizing the with Cel and I. We stopped to pick him up at 11:30 clean up after the parties. He hardly ever missed but he said he wasn’t feeling well enough to go. I a SJKF meeting and had this uncanny knack of tried calling him on Monday and left a message for knowing what was going on behind the scenes in him to call me back. On Tuesday, 11/18/08, I called the AKA. him more aggressively but still no response. Cel, Mike Jr. and I, along with Pete Dolphin went to his Scott gave many workshops to the AKA, SJKF and house and had police go in to look for even on Kite Builder.com. If I or anyone had a him. They found him in bed. ! question about a kite, Scott would always have an answer, sometimes even improving on the original way of doing Scott was born on 7/2/1959, but had a things. rough past couple of years with the loss of Betty Hirschmann, the love of his life Scott was a Boy Scout and traveled the world with them? and partner. She was taken from him on He did service work in Bogotá, Columbia for the poor August 7th, 2005. Both his parents, Ed and kids. Nancy Spencer passed away and then his own health issues to deal with.

Scott touched many lives with his creativ- ity and artistry. He came up with many unique and interesting designs: the Facet Kite,! Transition Tail, Weaving, Mini Banner, SJKF Personal Banner, SJKF Mother Banner and Kite. He was a founding member of SJKF and a long time member of the AKA. As a matter of fact, this year’s Convention was the 24th that Scott attended. He may have upset you at times with his views, but he was always looking at the big picture and representing what he thought was good for whatever organization he was speaking of. Scott was a long time supporter of the Drachen Foundation and the World Kite Museum.

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Personal Stuff: Scott was a true and trusted friend of Cel and Scott’s arrangements were a private family affair. With that mine. Sometimes, Scott would do something weird and peo- said, anyone wishing to send cards or the like, please send ple would ask us what was wrong with Scott. Cel and I would them to me and I will get them to the family. both respond, “It just Scott, being Scott”. The year Cel and I Scott E. Spencer Family, c/o Mike Dallmer, 7204 Oakley St won the Edeiken award, Scott made sure that we got the Phila., Pa 19111 award presented to us from Erin Edeiken. WOW, what an honor! He was always worried about Cel and I, that we were doing too much behind the scenes, and missing stuff in the kiting community. The strange thing is he was right there besides us most of the time. In loving memory David Davies Your friend over the pond, Con Engels May he finally rest peace because when all was said and done, he was such a gentle soul. Go fly a kite for Scott; I On Tuesday morning at 11:00 am on November 11th, David know he would want you to. Davies passed away. Present when David passed was his beloved wife Sue and family members at his home.

I came to know David in January 1997, when I attended the Kite Trade Show in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Walking down the beach that fateful January day, I saw a kite from a distance that instantly drew my attention… it was a Sky- dancer Black Rainbow quad line kite, with long flowing 45’ matching tube tails. The way the kite flew, and interacted with the flier’s input and control was truly amazing. As many in fliers gathered around David Davies to talk with him about this new flying machine, they anxiously waited to have a go at flying it. When I finally had my turn at the con- trols of the Skydancer, it was nothing like I had ever flown before. I fell in love with the kite, and needless to say, I left Clearwater Beach with my very own Skydancer.

While visiting David and his wife Sue at their home in August of 2003, I had the chance to see a different side of David, as I had the chance to meet family members … One of a loving Husband, Father, and Grandfather. I also came to know that David had served in World War II, as a Glider Pi- lot. David was also an accomplished professional commer- cial photographer, which was his lifetime career before re- tiring. In the early ‘90s, David found a new love, and that was of kite flying, and making his Inter Active Kites, such as the SkyHawk, SkyEagle, Spectra, Enigma, Fijet, Bat, Ghost, Swift, his most famous Skydancer and many more.

To see more photos of Scott go to: David Davies was a http://picasaweb.google.com/MikeDallmer/PhotosOfScottE dear friend and I SpencerAndHisWorks# will miss him very much, along with the To see what other people have written about Scott go to: many who have had http://www.kitebuilder.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7196 the pleasure to get to know him www.aka.kite.org throughout the Kite Talk Forum In the public section. Open Forum years. My sincerest Sad News -- Scott Spencer sympathy goes out to his wife Sue, and to all of David’s family members. Al- A memorial fly by SJKF is tentatively scheduled for February though David is no longer here on Earth with us, I know that 14, 2009 at Cooper River Park on Goose Island, more infor- David will live on through his kites, and in the hearts of mation will follow. many.

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came in second to John Barresi on the voting for The Steve Presidential Ponderings, Edeiken Memorial Kiteflier of the Year Award, way to go What and Bear Dropping Scott!!! WindWriters, your bi-monthly newsletter of SJKF needs By Mike Dallmer your help. We need articles and you are just the person to write them!!! When I started this job as President many, Hello fellow South Jersey Kite Flyers, I hope many moons ago, I hated writing, now look at me, agendas, everyone is well and ready for the Holiday Sea- Presidential Columns and of course at least one other arti- son. I’d like to wish everyone health and Hap- cle per issue. If I can do it so can you, why not try. As we piness throughout and may you enjoy every- have said often, it doesn’t only have to deal with kiting, look thing that life gives you. at the beginning of this report…

This has been a very interesting year for me Finally, I like to remind you all about checking the status of and SJKF, as all of you know by now, I lost my ! your membership, if you got a membership card recently Mom but with that we are in the process of moving into her you should be OK, if not contact me and I’ll let you know house. It will be a grand occasion when we finally have her how much you owe, we wouldn’t want to loose you and in house up to our standards but in the mean time work con- this economy the cost of membership is reality inexpensive. tinues. Moving for us will be a nice im- provement, as those that have been at our Good Winds home on Oakley St will know the house is Up With Kites, Down With Bears rather small, 732 sq. ft. where Mom’s (our) (But only with a chute) house is over 1300 sq. ft., what an upgrade. But I promised Cel that before we moved in Awards or Non-Awards from Anniversary Bash the bedrooms would be redone and that is what we are working on. Kite building is sort Normally at this time I would give out Presiden- of on hold for now but if an emergency pops tial Awards but this year there are none, how- up it can be handled. In the end however I ever I would like to point out a few people who will have a bigger dedicated kite-building have gone above and beyond what was re- workshop that I hopefully won’t have to quired of them to make SJKF Great!!!!!! share the space with anything. Last year my light table turned into a Christmas train dis- Scott Spenser – for his continuing efforts to play for the Grandkids. make SJKF a fantastic club, if something needs pointing out or fixing, Scott is there to lend a Next year looks just like last, very busy. We hand. already have quit a few events on our sched- ule but early in the year we are again doing Dave and Sue – for doing the duties of their the Wetland Institute kite build, it is always a jobs and making my life easier. lot of fun. I’m looking for a workshop to coordinate,! if you have any ideas let me know and I’ll see what can be done. Andy and Vi– for stepping up and taking care of things. Andy and Vi ran workshops for the club and didn’t ask for The Anniversary Bash was a couple of weeks ago and I any help from the club. again want to thank all those who brought food and money to the event. I especially want to thank the New Tech Kites, Lisa Willoughby – for her continued support of SJKF, a cou- Go Fly a Kite and the Gombergs for their contribution to our ple times a year we get checks from workshops she has Auction. The Gomberg Certificates alone brought in over done in SJKF and hasn’t asked for help with them. $600, thanks Brad, Dave and Sue!!! The total brought in by the auction was $2,305.00, WOW and THANKS, you guys Mike and Don - for taking over the SJKF, especially all their make my life a little easier. hard work with the Queensboro embroider stuff.

Were you at the AKA Convention in Gettysburg? Those of us Jim and Mary – for your support and hard work doing things that were there had almost nothing but good thing to say, of for SJKF and showing up at events. course there were always a few downsides, the one that sticks in my mind and I will remember always were the And finally Cel – for being my right hand person, running dogs. There were also a lot of trophies won by SJKF mem- stuff (you cannot image) and all the time she puts into mak- bers and if I start listing them I know I’d miss someone so ing sure SJKF looks good, especially at the Friday night So- I’m not even going to try. I do know that Scott E Spenser cial at Wildwood. however brought home a special award for all his years of hard work and dedication to the AKA. I also heard that Scott !

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Greetings from the Northern The winds were light but we got kites into the air and over the Falls. Lots of photos were taken, here are some Edge of South Jersey, type in this link, by Ralph Reed SJKF KONE Nor'easter AKA http://www.flickr.com/photos/rreed3/sets/72157607800953 930/ see if you know anyone in them. We recently held a mini South Jersey Saturday and Sunday, we Kite Flyers Club moved the festival to Reser- meeting in Niagara voir Park. This would be a Falls NY. The North- good place to hold an AKA ern edge was well convention. The fields are represented and the big, Lots of hotel spaces, lots Southern most mem- of things to do after the fly- bers Russ and Pat ing. Oh, I would like to make Mozier held up the a motion, every kite festival other end. The meet- must have a hot tub available ing was "presided" after the days fly. The host over by Ron Ja- hotel had a nice one, it was kubowicz, past great after a day of flying to president of SJKF. I sit in the tub before changing think Glenn Davison for dinner. Wait, second mo- is a member, so we tion, all kite festivals need to had quite a crew at be near a casino that have all the Falls. you can eat buffets within walking distances of the ho- The Reeds got to tel. Niagara on Thursday afternoon, we walked around and tried to catch up with eve- A fun thing to do at a kite festival, make 19 kites in the ryone at once. I really like these big events. Lots of people shape of a Butterfly, attached less than 100 feet of line to from all over the planet. Some that we hadn't seen since last each kite, year, others we had flown with last weekend. One of the new then hand the kites to experienced kite flyers. Butterflies features of this years Niagara event was the happy hour mini are notoriously unstable flyers. In other places, kiters would workshop. Start at six, and go for no more than an hour, my separate themselves to keep from tangling, not this time. idea of a great way to share information. The first workshop People would go out of their way to tangle, tip, and other- was led by Kelvin Woods. He gave a quick talk about how to wise cross the other flyers. No one got cut, everyone had create spars using small pieces of wood. You know the loads of fun. It kind, the sticks that they put Chinese food on. Picture an looked like we arrow nock, got it? Take one small stick or spar, cut off were knitting. two equal pieces about an inch long or less, tape them to See some of the the end of your spar creating a small nock. This allows Flickr pictures you to make workshop kites that can come apart. VERY for the fun. ROK smart. So simple, that everyone should have thought of battles are fun, this, but ------. but this is way more fun. It takes Russ and Pat are the best. I hadn't seen either of them for a tiny bit of skill over a year, but they acted as if it was only last week to fly these kites, since we had spoken. As a matter of fact, I think that is and it's fun to true about most kiters. We don't see each other for a long tangle and un- time, but we can catch up on events in our lives and go tangle the lines. straight into being lost lost buds. Kiters are some of the coolest people on the planet. OK, enough about my weekend, how was yours? Did you fly any kites Blessed are the Pat's of the kiting world. While the rest of us lately? Anyplace that you want to share with the rest of us? were trying to get our kites wet, by flying them over the and BTW, the rumors that Jack Rogers is getting back in to kiting in my case into the Falls, Pat sat at the registration table appear to be true. Dust of your crew jackets and be pre- checking people in. It has to be done, but I'm glad I wasn't pared to fly some big kites. See ya Soon asked.

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Boks And Roks In Cape Town by Phil Broder Cape Mental Health is a nonprofit that helps care for physi- cally and mentally disabled people. With 40% unemploy- Sometimes, 22 hours on a plane is time well spent. That’s ment in the nation, it can be impossible for someone to try how long it takes to get to Cape Town, South Africa, and I’d to hold down a job while caring for a disabled child. So take that time again any day. Ostensibly I was there for the CMH provides schools, daycare, and even employment as- Cape Town Kite Festival, but a little vacation never hurt ei- sistance. We spent a couple hours at a park in Khayalitsha ther. The trip was organized by David and Susan Gomberg, Township (an unbelievable shanty town packed with des- and we were joined by Germany’s Bernhard Dingwerth and perately impoverished people), flying with kids from a Switzerland’s Petra deBack. The kite festival is organized as nearby CMH school and daycare center. There were huge a fundraiser by Cape Mental Health Society, and they took smiles all around as we broke out a giant crocodile, great care of us. We were housed in a gorgeous B&B, fed dropped candy, and ran bols in every direction. It was some well, and treated like, well, guests. of the most satisfying kiteflying I’ve ever done. And the me- dia showed up in force, with coverage in the Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, and German papers. In the days leading up to the festival, we toured the Cape area. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is as stunning a col- lection of flowers as you’ll find anywhere in the world. Table The festival is held in a park in the suburb of Muizenberg. Mountain rises above the city, with clouds rolling over it, The park is fenced off, and a small admission fee is charged and an amazing cable car ride gets you to the top in a jiffy, for the festival; about 20,000 people paid to get in, raising where you can see so far in every direction that you can more than $14,000 for CMH. There’s a nice roped field for actually see the Earth’s curvature. The Victoria & Alfred Wa- “pro” flyers, a big stage with live music, plenty of vendors, terfront is home to shops, restaurants, craft markets, an kids activities, and a kiter hospitality tent where we ate ca- aquarium, the Clock Tower, charter boats, street musicians, tered meals on linen-covered tables. In other words, this and the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island Prison. festival has it all. Most importantly, it had good wind. The A two-hour drive east brought us to a private game reserve, Gombergs staked out a batch of pyrodeltas, then ran up where we drove amongst herds of springbok and wilde- plenty of inflatables. Bernhard flew every kite in his bag beest and zebra, elephants, rhinos, ostrich, giraffes, and (18) at once, using both ends of some of his lines to do it. lions. In wine country, we ate in a treehouse while Zulu en- South African kiters anchored the other end of the field with tertainers played for us. We visited the lighthouse atop a nice assortment of foils, inflatables, and line laundry. Petra Cape Point, hiked to the lighthouse at the very tip of the launched a KAP rig, and I filled in the gaps with single lines. Point, and hung out with penguins on the beach.

I’ve flown at Wildwood, Long Beach, Ocean City, and Grand Cape Town is simply beautiful, from the water through the Haven, and I can say that Cape Town is as good a festival as city to the mountain. The city is clean and safe (with the we have in America. The CMH organizers have invited me same basic precautions you’d take in any other city). The back, and next time I can afford a vacation, I’m ready to go exchange rate between rand and dollar is heavily in Amer- south again. South Africa is too incredible a place to not go ica’s favor right now, so prices were low (for example, a back to. good meal at a waterfront restaurant was usually less than $20). And with the World Cup coming to South Africa in 2010, there’s a lot of infrastructure improvement going on.

And a little something to add to the Broder legend…. On my free day, I went to the opposite side of Table Bay and I was asked to do a sport kite demo for “Def TV.” I figured it took kitesurfing lessons. My instructor met me on a de- was the South African equivalent of MTV; you know, def, serted beach, and quickly had me hooked into the kite rig cool, hip. The reporter talked to me for a while, then said and flying. Getting into the water was another matter. The she wanted to learn to fly a dual line kite. So I passed her wind direction created big waves that day, and getting out the lines, and stood behind her, helping to steer. But we into the 8’ waves was more than I could handle. After half an tangled up with another kite, and I needed to get control hour of eating sand and salt, I had to give up. But by then a back. “Let go,” I said. No reply. “Let go!” Nothing. “LET dozen experts were riding the waves. Cape Town and Bloe- GO!!!!” No answer, and the kite crashed down. The reporter bergstrand have an active kitesurfing community, both local was very apologetic. It was only when she started talking to and tourist, and it’s easy to see why. The wind blows strong her cameraman – in sign language – that I figured out that every day, and with the warm Indian Ocean on one side of she was actually from “Deaf TV.” town, and the colder Atlantic on the other, you can choose from several great locations.

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Vote for Single Acre Wood! Phil Broder Editor, KITING Magazine

That's right, it's election time here in Single Acre Wood. And let me remind you again, vote Phil! For change you can spend! Yup, I'm running on a platform of pennies, nickels and dimes. Because America has enough bills, we need change. It's time for some cents in government. I'm willing to work across party lines to make change. Because what's more American than foot- ball? And how long is a football game? Four quar- ters. You see, it's all about change we can spend.

Also, I endorse Gonzo for President. My bank has been very good about fixing the credit card problem. They just put the stolen $1200 back into my ac- So, I'm back from my week count, on a provisional basis. Provisional... isn't that like a in South Africa. You can see ballot where they can't actually ID you? Can I spend provi- all the pix (well, not all. I sional money? took 956 of them. I culled it a bit.) at Next week I'm off to Portland for a conference. Lake is be- ginning to get a little too comfy at the sitter's house, but this http://picasaweb.google.com/KitePhil/CapeTown2008#. is my last trip for a while. After that he's stuck with me all Thanks to the Gombergs for organizing the trip. I had a winter. great 12 hour stay in Dubai along the way. I highly recom- mend flying on Emirates Airlines; it was tres luxuri- ous, with 1000 channels of entertainment (new movies! TV shows! Whole albums! Video games!) at every seat, good food, and wide seats. Cape Town itself is just indescribably beautiful. We saw all the sights -- Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden, the water- front, Table Mountain, Cape Point, the penguin col- ony, wine country -- and contributed a lot to the local economy. The exchange rate is very much in our favor right now, and everything there is fairly cheap. I would have spent more, but my credit card got scammed on Day 3. Our B&B was lovely, the food was delicious (yeah, I ate warthog. And os- trich. And the national symbol, springbok. It was all yummy.), the scenery was amazing. I even got to watch their Super Bowl, the Currie Cup for rugby, between the Durban Sharks and the Praetoria Blue Bulls. Took some kitesurfing lessons, enjoyed local jazz, hung out with elephants. And yes indeed, I bought a zebra belt and an elephant hair bracelet. We were there to fly in the kite festival benefitting Cape Mental Health. They were great hosts and really took care of us. The event raised more than $14000 to Lake celebrated his 13th birthday a couple weeks ago. He support their work with physically and mentally disabled had extra cookies, and a celebratory nap. For an old dog, he children. And I like how they put it: we've all been mentally hasn't lost a step. Or maybe he has, but since I've lost one ill at one time or another, because everyone's had a bit of too, we're still at the same relative speed. wobble at some point in their life. Bottom line is, I'm looking forward to going back. And I'd recommend a visit to anyone, I'm still a little too tired to think of everything that's been kite fest or not. going on. But as they say in Cape Town, it's all lekker.

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time Lisa Willoughby showed up and flew her light wind Sharrott Winery Fall Festival Revolution 1.5 for the entertainment of the crowd. Some By Viola Brown & Andy Selzer groups were even taking pictures by the banners. Sunday’s music The first weekend in November, was provided by Shorty Long and the 1st and 2nd, several SJKF the New Jersey Horns Band, a members were invited to fly really great band doing a wide some kites at the first Fall Festi- selection of songs. val for the new Sharrott Winery in Winslow Township, New jer- Thanks to all who showed up and I sey. hope you all had a great time. Pics Viola Brown. Saturday morning around 11:30 Viola Brown and I arrived and coordinated a spot with the vol- unteers from the winery as the best place to setup the kites and So Many Books... banners. We had a small field right behind all the vendors by Phil Broder and the band with which we set out the banners on a right angle giving us the field inside to fly kites. President Mike There's a story told by park rangers of a man who walks up Dallmer graciously lent me several of his eagle banners and to a ranger in Yosemite National Park, and says, "I only have along with a couple of mine we one hour spend here. What should had a good show of color for the I do?" The ranger replies, "Sir, if I anticipated crowd. A warm were you, I'd sit down on that rock breeze was blowing from the over there and cry." That's how I southwest, so warm that we felt at Powell's Bookstore in Port- eventually ended up wearing t- land, OR, where I recently at- shirts, I put up the Go Fly 60’ tended a conference. Only one parafoil and anchored it off to a hour available, and in front of me ground stake. It would fly for was one of America's biggest and about 5 minutes and then the best bookstores. Tears filled my wind would die off. Eventually eyes. Where to begin? we had to put the kite away and go with something smaller. Vi Actually, that doesn't matter. It's took out her Sam Houston dela- where I ended that counts here. porta and I had small 4’ Rok that flew well when the wind After 45 minutes of browsing the stacks (spread across a cooperated. Around 2 pm. The wind really died off and we complete city block, 4 stories high), I stepped up to one of took a break to get some lunch and check out the vendors. their customer help computers, and typed in "KITES." Jack- There was a fresh salsa vendor, chesse and soups, NJ. Win- pot!!!!! All of their kite books were in their Orange Room, ery tours guide, lots of different craft vendors and several aisle 509, on the endcap. Easy to find. And when I got there, food vendors. Of course we stopped at the welcome tent I cried for joy. Powell's, you see, specialized in used books, and picked up our souvenir wine glasses and did some and the shelf was filled with old kite books. Books that have wine tasting. The live band that day was the Matt Nottinger been out of print for ages. Books that I can't get from the Band with a mix of rock and blues. Later in the afternoon I Kitelines Bookstore. Books I'd never even heard of. I began flew a fighter kite for some time; having fun cobra-ing the filling my basket. kite by the welcome tent. Around 4pm the Hot air balloon ride showed up and was giving tethered rides. Hardcover copies of Tal Streeter's "The Art of the Japanese Kite." Tsutomu Hiroi's "Kites: Sculpting the Sky." A few other Sunday we made it to the field around 12 pm just as Mike kite art books. A little book of kite plans from 1962, priced Petty and Don Pigonlet had gotten there. The wind had to move at $1.95. It was a treasure trove. changed direction and was now coming out of the northeast and blowing cooler at around 10mph. Mike and Don tried So as you're filling Christmas stockings, keep in mind that their large parafoil and cat, but the wind would shift every there's no need to fly from PHL to PDX. Just go to couple of minutes and roll the kite over. After a lunch break www.powells.com, where you'll find their entire inventory we all decided to put up some frame kites. I choose the available online. If you're a book junkie, you may never Premier Astral-glide with the fish on it. Mike went with a leave. If you're a kite junkie, you'll find something of interest. large dela-porta and Don took out a bat kite, which was ap- If you're a kite book junkie, welcome to Paradise. propriate for a couple of days after Halloween. Around this

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Back when I started going to this event, it was held in No- vember, no matter what the weather was like and always on a Sunday. I talked the love of my life, Mary, who’s now my Scott Spencer wife, into going with me. We were expecting a cold winters day. What we got was a beautiful sunny warm clear day. So News from the President for November after some breakfast of coffee and donuts and after I loaded the car with chairs and the few kites I had at the time we At Convention a Special Award was given out to a very were ready for a road trip. So off we went. special person who has made many varied contributions to the AKA over the last few decades. That person is Scott As we approached Seaside Heights there was no kite to be Spencer. Many people have been giving the AKA President seen. I told Mary not to worry, maybe we were early. Soon the credit for Scott's recognition at Convention, but I am not we made our way to the beach and still no kites to be seen. the only person who is thankful and appreciative of all the We or I decided to drive up the beach to the town north. No things Scott has done for the AKA over many years. It was luck. So we head south, still no luck. Mary was cool not get- Drake Smith who brought the idea of an award to me, and I ting upset at all. Myself, that was another matter. So back to brought the idea to the Board and there was unanimous ap- Seaside Heights. Driving along the main street which has a proval. Thank you, Scott, for everything you have done wide dividing strip and is planted with trees, I spot a work through the years to help make AKA what it is today. crew putting ribbons and bows for Christmas. I decided to [email protected] stop and ask. The worker I asked was very nice and friendly. I went on to show him the newsletter with the in- formation on the IIOPBCKFBO and as I was holding the pa- per, he was so kind to point out that it said Sunday and this was Saturday.

I thanked him and was wondering how Mary would take my Our First Peanut Butter mistake, but she was good with it. So it was decided to go to By Hank Kleinot the beach and fly anyway. So after a trip to the wine store for some wine, cheese and crackers, it was off to the beach. It was a great day. After setting up the chairs and putting up I got into kiting thanks to my kids and Roger Chewning. a kite, we got into the wine and cheese. Being separated from my first wife meant trying to keep my daughters happy on my weekends. So I took my girls to a The 30sq ft Sutton with line laundry was flying all by itself. kite fly at Belmont Plateau where I meet Roger Chewning. As we sat there we watched a fisherman walking along the He was into kiting big time. And still is, as we all know. He beach and whenever he caught a fish, he tagged and re- talked kites and I listened. He invited me to stop at his shop, leased it. We were both curious. So off I go with a glass of The Meadow Mouse, part hardware part kite store. I walked wine and a question in my mind. I asked the guy what he out with my first kite, a French Military which I still have. I was doing, He replied he was about to arrest me for having just don’t fly it very often. Plus you have to keep your first booze on the beach in a state park. I quickly dumped the kite forever. wine and said what wine. With the wine gone he laughed and said he was tagging small mouth bass. So for all my Then came another weekend with the girls, but this time it planning, things went far from what we had planned. We was a road trip to Wildwood. A day of walking the boards didn’t return on Sunday since we had such a good time on and riding the rides. And to my delight a stunt kite festival Saturday. (ECSKC) and that’s where I saw stunt kites for the first time. Dancing in the air at the whim of the flyer. I was amazed. So The second peanut butter kite event was totally different. back to see Roger and my new Hawaiian spin-off with 2 ex- We had the right day Sunday, right time, and right place. tra center spars, complements of Roger. He knew being a But there was a snow squall. And as we drove into the park- first-time flyer they would break. ing lot everybody was leaving to go a diner for whatever. Olin Turner leaned out the window and said to feel free to Roger and Ralph and some others flew kites on Sunday at use the beach it was reserved all afternoon. We turned Core Creek Park. These are the people who helped me around and went to the diner where we got to meet some learn to fly stunts. Best of all they told me about a newsletter great people including Olin and Bernice Turner, Ed and put out bi-monthly by a fellow kiter named Len Conover. It Nancy Spencer who would become close kite friends with was called the Greater Delaware Valley Kite Society myself and Mary. And many more who’s names have been (GDVKS). It listed all the kite events large and small. And lost thru time. that’s where we learned about the Peanut butter kite fly. SO OFF WE GO TO OUR FIRST PEANUT BUTTER KITE FLY.

Page 8 South Jersey Kite Flyers November 2008

Sunfest and the AKA Convention in Gettys- ple you meet. I want to thank Mary Davis also for all the burg, all wrapped up into one long vacation time she spent there with us. Also, Mike Jr and Tracey showed up with computers, logged stuff in and made the from work totaling 10days away from home. Loud Auction go a lot more smoothly…. By Mike Dallmer The feeling you get from Volunteering for an Sunfest as always was great, especially seeing organization is something I cannot describe friends that were made over the years. This year the other that recommending that you try it yourself. Sun was fantastic however on Thursday, Friday and the Saturday the winds were terrible making flying Cel and I were able to sneak away a few times, a challenge, the winds blow steadily for those 3 we gave a workshop on Parachuting Teddy days at least 20 mph with gusts!! What do you fly, Bears, it was fun doing that again as we don’t get well I have a Bulldog Parafoil that I got many years enough time to bear drop anymore. We did have ago at a Sunfest Kite Loft Auction and that fit the bill the honor of attending the Annual Business meet- perfectly!! Throw in the Santa Windsock and we can ing and I will say that was an experience. It was at least say we flew something. The winds were so interesting, to say the least, to see how our or- strong that we had to set up our gazebo as a lean to ganization is being run. and it still broke on of the corners. Candy drops, they happened but due to safety reason they turned into! a I know it rained a few times during the day and might have candy throw!!! Bol races were held and man o man did the made a few things damp but for all those detractors that kids have a hard time running into the wind didn’t want to go to Gettysburg and with the SJKF Bols but they all had a good time. wanted a beach location, I hope they As usual, the host of the event, the Kite Loft and were checking the weather reports for especially Jay Knerr were exceptional. On the shore areas, I do know that Ocean Sunday, the day of the Auction, the winds City, Maryland was hit with a really bad calmed down to nice 7-10 mph but who wants Northeaster while Convention was go- to miss the auction… ing on, I think winds were around 40 Sunfest is a great time, if you’ve never been try mph for a few days and it rained a lot it, if you haven’t been there in while, come there. Also, I think I saw one of the back, it is on the Dallmer’s must do list…. loudest detractors there competing and winning all kinds of awards. This person Early Monday morning we left for Gettysburg said he wasn’t coming, go figure??? and the AKA convention by way of Philadelphia !for a change of Suitcases and to pick up the AKA Auction Items!! On Saturday, our day to play, we got to enter What the Duck in ground display, this is really the only AKA Convention at Gettysburg - We Kite Flying that I had come to do anyway, arrived at Gettysburg just in time for show off What. Well, we found out the the opening night reception, the rules stated you couldn’t use a kite for money that SJKF donated towards this the ground display so out comes a 32 foot was used very well as the food was long heavy duty banner pole to keep great. What a way to start off the con- What upright, never tried it before as the vention, meeting a lot of old friends. plan was to do it at Sunfest but you know We were supposed to help out at auc- how that weather was. Guess what, it tion receiving on Monday but due to our! late arrival that worked but once we finally go him inflated, very low winds, didn’t happen but we showed up bright and early Tuesday the rain started but the effect was there. We would up win- morning and basically had the Auction handed over to us. ning the Ground Display with the people voting. Mel, who was supposed to be in charge of the Auction must have felt confident to let Cel and I run When were leaving the Convention we were things as he was rather scarce doing other met with one of the most beautiful sights, things once we showed up. I was a bit con- Scoot and Captain Rick had put out Scott’s cerned because everything was being Banner Flag, what a fitting end to 10 glorious done by hand (no computer), how do you days. run an Auction of this magnitude without one?? Cel and I wound up spending most of Now it is back to work and getting ready for everyday in Auction receiving but we the next kiting event….. didn’t mind, we felt as if we were helping out the AKA plus all the neat peo- ! Page 9 South Jersey Kite Flyers November 2008

Schedule of Kite Events, SJKF 11-14-08 5/22/09 -5/25/2009 23rd ECSKC and WWIKF, Wildwood, NJ Contact Sky Festivals [email protected] or 732 822 4884 12/7/08 SJKF’s 11th Holiday Party 1pm to 5pm at Venturas 6/20/09 (Saturday) SJKF Meeting, 1 pm, Gloucester County 1/15/09 Deadline for WindWriters. Send to Dave Ciotti Library, Mullica Hill, NJ Contact Mike Dallmer [email protected] 100 Sixth Ave., Hamilton, NJ 08619 [email protected] or 215-722-4092

1/18/09 Meeting, 1 pm, Gloucester County Library, Contact 6/21/09 Father’s Day Mike Dallmer [email protected] or 215-722-4092 7/15/09 Deadline for WindWriters. Send to Dave Ciotti 1-24-09 (Saturday) Wetlands Institute Indoor Beach Party [email protected] 100 Sixth Ave., Hamilton, NJ 08619 Kite Build, 10:00 – 3:00 Contact Phil Broder [email protected] 9/15/09 Deadline for WindWriters. Send to Dave Ciotti [email protected] 100 Sixth Ave., Hamilton, NJ 08619 2/15/09 Meeting, 1 pm, Gloucester County Library, Contact Mike Dallmer [email protected] or 215-722-4092 9/20/09 Meeting, 1 pm, Gloucester County Library, Contact Mike Dallmer [email protected] or 215-722-4092 3/15/09 Meeting, 1 pm, Gloucester County Library, Contact Mike Dallmer [email protected] or 215-722-4092 9/24/09 – 9/27/2009 Sunfest in Ocean City, MD contact the Kite Loft at 410-289-7855 or [email protected] 3/15/09 Deadline for WindWriters. Send to Dave Ciotti [email protected] 100 Sixth Ave., Hamilton, NJ 08619 9/2/09 NASCAR race at Dover

3/28/09 43rd Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival Time: 10 am - 10/5 to 10/10/09 32nd AKA Convention, Rochester, MN 4 pm Location: Washington Monument Grounds - Constitu- tion Ave. & 17th St., NW October 09 (Sunday) SJKF’s 15th Anniversary Bash

4/12/09 Easter 11/15/09 (Sunday) SJKF Meeting, 1 pm, Gloucester County Library, Mullica Hill, NJ Contact Mike Dallmer 4/19/09 Meeting, 1 pm, Gloucester County Library, Contact [email protected] or 215-722-4092 Mike Dallmer [email protected] or 215-722-4092 11/15/09 Deadline for WindWriters. Send to Dave Ciotti 4/24 to 4/26/09 13th Annual Maryland Int. Kite Exposition & [email protected] 100 Sixth Ave., Hamilton, NJ 08619 Mid Atlantic Stunt Kite Championships (MASKC) Contact: Sky Festivals [email protected] or 732 822 4884 Visit www.easternleague.net for more information on Eastern League Events 5/10/09 Mother’s Day President’s Note: Though these dates are accurate 5/15/09 Deadline for WindWriters. Send to Dave Ciotti at time of printing it is best to check with the con- [email protected] 100 Sixth Ave., Hamilton, NJ 08619 tact to make sure the proper dates are listed. Got an event that you want listed, send it: Mike 5/17/09 Meeting, 1 pm, Gloucester County Library, Contact Dallmer, 7204 Oakley St., and Phila. Pa 19111 Mike Dallmer [email protected] or 215-722-4092 [email protected]

Page 10 South Jersey Kite Flyers November 2008

SJKF MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Fill in the form below. Return this application along with your check payable to SJKF and you’re in! Welcome to the club! Name ______Return to: Address:______South Jersey Kite Flyers City: ______ST:______ZIP:______PO Box 32 Collingswood, NJ Phone(H):______(W)______08108-9998 e-mail: E-Mail Address:[email protected] New member______Renewal______Type: Individual ______Family ______(For family memberships, list additional names below. Circle name if under 10 years old) ______Favorite Kite(s):______Signature:______Date:______Dues IF YOU JOIN BETWEEN Individual Membership: 9-30 and 12-31 pay $15.00 1-1 and 3-31 pay $11.25 4-1 and 6-30 pay $7.50 7-1 and 9-30 pay $3.75 Family membership: 9-30 and 12-31 pay $20.00 1-1 and 3-31 pay $15.00 4-1 and 6-30 pay $10.00 7-1 and 9-30 pay $5.00

Page 11 South Jersey Kite Flyers November 2008

WindWriters Is the newsletter of the South Jersey Kite Flyers and is published bimonthly by the SJKF President Mike Dallmer, Sr [email protected] (215) 722-4092 1st Vice President Sue Ciotti [email protected] (609) 587-8334 2nd Vice President Andy Selzer [email protected] (856) 728-8870 Secretary Felicia Mosery [email protected] Treasurer Dave Ciotti [email protected] (609) 587-8334 Director at Large Cel Dallmer [email protected] (215) 722-4092 Director at Large Web Master Russ Mozier [email protected] (407) 208-1455 Publisher Sue Ciotti [email protected] (609) 587-8334 Merchandise Don Pignolet & Mike Petty [email protected] (215) 465-4702 WindWriters Editor Dave Ciotti [email protected] (609) 587-8334 Hospitality Cel Dallmer [email protected] (215) 722-4092 Membership Sue Ciotti [email protected] (609) 587-8334 Children’s Kite Making Workshop Coordinator Cel Dallmer [email protected] (215) 722-4092

www.geocities.com/sjkf.geo

P.O. Box 32 Collingswood, NJ 08108-9998

Inside This Issue Empty Space in the Sky 1 David Davies 2 Presidential Ponderings 3 Niagre Falls 4 Cape Town 5 Election Promises 6 Sharrott Winery 7 So Many Books 7 Scott 8 Peanut Butter 8 Sunfest 9 AKA 9 Coming Events 10