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Jon Britt reported that the Kansas City RC Association’s annual Swap ’N’ Shop was a tremendous success! It was larger than last year. Thanks to Duane Hulen for leading the event and to those who volunteered their time and energy on set up, door attending, raffle operations, and take down. He wrote, “This is our club’s largest fundraiser of the year and keeps us in the black with club expenses.”
I pride myself on including everything sent to me in my articles, but occasionally, one will slip through the cracks. This is one those.
Several months ago, Nick Ziegler, District IV associate vice president shared that Wayne Morgan, a teacher from Woodhull, Illinois, is doing something most schools don’t do. He is teaching the younger generation of students the basics of aviation and model aviation in general, from Free Flight to drones to RC aircraft. Wayne reached out to Nick for advice and knowledge.
Nick decided to contact some companies that had supported him in past endeavors and get some donations. His club, the Hillsdale Country Fliers, donated tubs of items, airplanes, and more.
Getting kids off the phone these days is rare, but these kids want to learn and are having fun, Wayne told Nick. They are really hands-on and involved. Wayne also took the kids on a field trip to the full-scale Galesburg National Stearman Fly-In, where he and the kids received special treatment. The pilots invited them to sit in their airplanes and talk about them. One of the pilots told the kids that if they wanted a ride, to bring a parent on Saturday and he would give them all rides.
One girl came, and off they went flying into the wild blue yonder. Wayne figured that it would be a quick trip around the patch, but they were gone for nearly an hour. When they landed, the pilot told Wayne that she flew most of the time while in the air. He even gave her a logbook as a gift. He said, “I am an instructor and I’m signing off on your first hour!” Now that’s a great mentor.
Nick plans to go to the school to help and do some teaching. He can take some Giant Scale aircraft and turbine aircraft for show-and-tell. We need new, younger generations in this hobby to keep it alive and growing. Wayne and his school district are really onto something very special.
Gary Himes
Vice President District VI