Thank You, Bob Lenhardt

Well folks… I’d hoped this day would never come. However, at long last, Bob Lenhardt is stepping down as our Field Marshall. Bob has spent the last 7 years as our Field Marshall. His tenure has spanned 3 Presidents. He has done so with great skill, diligence and integrity. We have had many great people in this position, and Bob has distinguished himself as one of the best of the best by his superior leadership, talent and abilities. Often times, Bob did things himself in solitude and without great fanfare, but he was also very adept at massing the troops and supervising large groups with many complicated objectives. In the end, we could always count on Bob and he always delivered the goods.

I have grown very appreciative of Bob and always trusted him to do the job the right way. I also think of Bob as a good friend and fun person to be around. I hope to see Bob more frequently and enjoy flying with him in the years to come.

Thank you, Bob, and… “Job Well Done”!

Doing It Your Own Way

That being said, we need someone to fill some very big shoes. Now, I know what you are thinking… “Bob is a tough act to follow”! And, that is very true. However, you do not have to do the job the same way that Bob did it. In Bob’s own words… “it can be a position of just organizing and scheduling work and rounding up different materials for what needs to be done”. Bob did a lot of things himself because that is what he both enjoyed and was good at.

However, this job can be largely administrative. IOW… setting up and directing work parties, procuring materials, utilizing outside resources (such as Jefferson county persons required to do community service), and coordinating other Club members with different skill sets and talents.

Additionally, Bob isn’t the kind of guy to just drop everything and walk away. He’s going to continue to be around and has committed to help with the transition of a new person in this role. He has also said that he is willing to help out with different projects from time to time.

This is a very rewarding and vital Board position. That’s right, this is also a Board position. And that means it comes with a great deal of help and support from a very talented and experienced of group of folks that will support you, just as they have Bob. If you are interested in being our Field Marshall, please have a conversation with Bob and reach out to me or any other Board member.

Thanks,

Joe Pirozzoli, President

By: Dennis Wruk

On Monday, I learned that the midair collision (of 2 full scale aircraft) south of Longmont last Saturday (9/17/2022) morning claimed the life of a longtime friend, fellow RC enthusiast and AAM member.

Henry “Buzz” Butler was flying his Sonex Xenos (N225BF) westbound from the Platte Valley airport heading towards the Longmont airport.

A flight school’s Cessna 172 (N2117Y) with a student and instructor on board were northbound from Metro airport and began maneuvering out of a left 360 turn and into a right turn to an eastbound heading when the collision occurred over Niwot. There were no survivors.

I had first met “Buzz” in the mid 1970’s when our mutual interest in building and flying R/C airplanes brought us together. At that time Buzz, had an auto painting business and he did a great job repainting two of my cars. He was a founding member of both the Arvada Associated Modelers and of the Jeffco Aeromod’lers R/C clubs. Buzz was an award-winning scale model airplane builder, a private pilot, and he finished building and painting a full scale Christen Eagle II biplane for a mutual friend of ours. Later Buzz opened a successful R/C hobby shop where he supplied his Magnum brand of model airplane fuels and Lithium Polymer batteries to model flyers across the nation. He owned and flew a Mooney M20 before acquiring the Xenos. Buzz participated in AAM Float Fly events and invited others to fly R/C floatplanes at a private lake that he had arranged permission to fly from.

From what Buzz had told me, he enjoyed flying his airplane from Platte Valley airport to Longmont on weekends to meet up with his homebuilt airplane friends. They would grill burgers, do some “Hangar Flying”, and then fly off to other airports.

I have a million good memories of Buzz as he was one of those guys that totally loved everything about building and flying airplanes.

He will be missed.

We are updating our field regulations to include the following policies related to fire prevention and fire fighting.

AAM Fire Policy & Procedures

Revised Aug. 10, 2022

1. If a crash occurs (any type of model), everyone look for smoke. This is the responsibility of everyone present, not just the pilot who crashed.

2. If smoke is visible: (a) a member must be assigned to immediately call AFD. In addition to the field address posted in the east field shed, we will post maps of the area so that whoever calls AFD can better describe the location of the fire for efficient access. (b) Everyone who is physically able to do so, regardless of which flying site they are currently using, should immediately scramble to fight the fire. If you’re flying, land your plane and go fight the fire.

3. AAM will provide club members (at least annually) basic training on proper fire-fighting techniques as well as proper use of the available equipment.

4. Club will provide fire extinguishers and pay for maintenance to recharge/maintain. Members must contact the Safety Officer or other Board member if a fire extinguisher is used and needs service or maintenance.

5. AAM will enhance its firefighting capability by purchasing additional firefighting equipment and apparatus, which may include shovels, axes, blankets, “5-foot fire swatters,” and other durable tools, and installing one or more new gates in the fence to facilitate greater access to Pattridge Park.

6. Limits on flying.

a. AAM will honor any type of fire restrictions or “red flag” warnings (open burning, fireworks, etc.)

b. If a state/local/AFD fire ban or fire restriction is in effect or a “red flag” warning has been issued, members will not fly unless there is someone physically present with a working cell phone so that in the event of a fire, they can immediately notify AFD. And, if during a fire restriction or “red flag” warning, current wind conditions at the field exceed 25 mph steady or 30 mph gust within the previous hour, members will cease all flying.

c. Notice of fire ban/restriction will be based on the latest available information posted at:

https://www.jeffco.us/511/Fire-Restrictions-Bans, and

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lon=-105.21130084991455&lat=39.83868707372878#.YryFC3bMK0o,

respectively, and monthly updates of the status of any fire bans/restrictions will be published in the newsletter and on the club’s web site.

d. AAM will attempt to schedule larger contests or invitational events (e.g., the annual Big Bird fly-in) with AFD.

Notice of Annual Business Meeting – November 1, 2022

It is my obligation to schedule and announce our intent to hold an Annual Business Meeting (“ABM”) on Tuesday, November 1^st, 2022 at 7 pm.

Location will be: Arvada Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7090 W 64th Avenue, Arvada, CO 80003.

The official Club business scheduled for the ABM will be:

1. The election of Club Officers for 2023 (i.e. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Safety Officer). Please see separate report from the Nominating Committee regarding the current slate of officers; and
2. Voting on a proposed Dues increase for the Club (please see separate notification from the Treasurer in this NL).

Quorum Requirements

Please note that in order to conduct the ABM and have the Elections, we must have a quorum consisting of at least 30 active/voting members. Please make a point of attending for the sake of holding the elections.

Thank you,

Joe Pirozzoli, President

A Nominating Committee has been formed to seek out candidates for the 2023 Elected Officers. The Committee consist of myself (Jim Hagberg), Brian Dillman and Steve Allen. We are seeking individuals that wish to run for the elected offices of Club President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Safety Officer. The current list of candidates are as follows:

President: Joe Pirozzoli

Vice President: Bruce VerWest

Secretary: Jerry Higgins

Treasurer: Ian Isaacs

Safety Officer: Duane Gall

Anyone seeking to run for office or wishing to nominate someone else, please contact the committee or see one of us at the field. If you are nominating someone else, please be sure and ask that person if he or she will accept the nomination.

You can contact the Nominating Committee by clicking on the email link on the Board Members Webpage, under “Other Staff”. The following link will also take you there:

https://www.arvadamodelers.com/contact/?recip=Nominating%20Committee

Thanks,

Jim Hagberg, Chairman

Brian Dillman and Steve Allen

Email: nominations@arvadamodelers.com

Jefco Aeromod’lers will be hosting their annual RC Auction this year at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds on Jan 29th.

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Our dear member and fellow modeler, Werner Illig, passed away on November 29th. Werner was 88 at the time of his passing and had been a member of AAM since July of 1991. His wife, Janice, commented that Werner derived a great deal of enjoyment from the hobby and, in particular, his membership with the Club. Werner expressly desired to not have a public memorial. As such, the family had a small, private service.  However, if you wish to express your condolences to the family, please see the intra-Club weekly update from Joe Pirozzoli, dated 12/27/2021, for instructions and an address. The family has specifically requested that not send flowers.

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