FLY-M

HOME

EAA Chapter 1242 News

EAA Chapter 1242 Home

March 2009 - Supporting our Chapter in a Struggling Economy - by Mike Howe President

 

Happy March to you all!  I would like to welcome you to our little corner of the World Wide Web thanks to Fred Matthis’ generous support.  I welcome you to stop in often and see what’s new.  We encourage you to contact one of our chapter officers to get a personal introduction to Holland’s EAA Chapter 1242.  To learn more about the EAA as a whole, please stop by www.eaa.org.   

 

First and foremost I would like to say “Thank You” to all those who have lead and supported this chapter over the years.  We have a lot to be thankful for.  We have an incredible showing each year for our Young Eagles event, Air Affair.  

 

Supporting our chapter might seem like a tough thing to do considering the local economy.  Many of our friends and neighbors face more difficult times this year than they have in a very long time.  

That does not mean this group needs to fade.  In fact, just the opposite.  With a contraction of travel and expendable income, many families are looking for things to do closer to home.  I believe this chapter offers an excellent opportunity for families to begin to explore their aviation interests supported by a long list of existing EAA members in the local area.  Did you know that there are over 300 EAA members in the local West Michigan area?  From Saugatuck to Spring Lake; Holland to Grand Rapids.  We will begin to contact our local EAA members inviting them to join us in reviving this chapter and the Park Township airport.  We are working on putting together a series of programs that will give families a reason to come out to the airport.  I ask that if you have any ideas or suggestions that you please let me know.

 

Mike Howe

Chapter 1242

Holland, MI

616-862-8061

 

10/9/2008  Park Township Board Approves Park Township Airport Lease

Last Thursday (October 9) the Park Township Board voted on the new Park Township Airport lease. Five voting "yes" were Doug Dreyer, Amanda Price, Jeff Ebihara, Stu Visser, and Jan Steggerda. Two voting "no" were Brett Docter and John VanIwaarden. So the airport has a new lease beginning January 1, 2009. Basic terms are 25 years with a 5 year extension if funding for certain improvements is received within four years. The first improvement will likely be topping trees in the approaches. Within six months there will be a new Airport Layout Plan that will define the look of the airport as improvements are made through the years. The new lease is a good foundation for bringing back HLM as the jewel-of-an-airport it can be. Getting to here has been a lot of work, but in many ways the work is just now beginning.

Thanks to everyone for your support.

Gary Miedema