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Wiarton/Keppel Airport Monthly Newsletter |
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August 17, 2008 Breakfast Fly-In Wingham (CPR7) August 18-23, 2008 Platinum Triangle Poker Run Kincardine (NS7) click here for all Oshawa Events |
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Issue #112 August 2008 |
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click here to view past issues |
 On the 10th of July Lorne Schroeder and
myself headed off to St. Thomas, ON, to attend the
COPA Convention. Host Flight #75 Captain Ian Basson and his
enthusiastic volunteers were well organized and fully prepared for
the 260 folks who attended the event.  After an
all-day directors meeting on Friday, we drove to the Diamond Aircraft
Plant at the North end of London, where one of the hangars had been
transformed into a dining hall. During the meal we were entertained by a
local street band named The
Traces. |
 We were then divided into small groups of about 20 and taken on a tour of the impressive Diamond facilities, which employs over 700 people and has just finished building their 1000th aircraft
aircraft since opening. Saturday morning the tents and hangars were all set up at the airport, ready to receive the conventoneers ... then the weather decided to play some tricks with us and it poured rain for about 45 minutes! The Lancaster that was scheduled to appear and the scheduled Pelee Island Winery tour flights were all cancelled, however there was plenty of other items to keep one busy with manufacturers booths and a varierty of seminars.  Our annual meeting
was held under a secure dry tent, headed by Kevin Psutka and Board Chair
Bob Kirkby, who handed out much deserved awards to various members of the
aviation community. At 6:30 that evening we all gathered at the St. Anne's
Parish Center for our evening banquet, where the highlight of the evening
turned out to be the presentation of The Presidents Award to John Lovelace
by Kevin Psutka for his contribution to aviation in Canada. John is the
founder and owner of the weekly 1/2 hour television show "Wings over
Canada", which is now being broadcast worldwide. Our final breakfast was held Sunday morning at the airport, after which we all packed up and went our seperate ways home with full bellies. A tip of the hat to Ian Basoon and the members of Flight #75 for a well planned and hosted convention! Check out the article by Michael Hell in the COPA Flight News, August Edition for more information and photos!  It seems like only yesterday that we started planning our August 2008 event in which we would be recognizing the first Canadian Female Pilot, Wiarton born Eileen Vollick. A former Flight #68 member, Kelley Dewey, propsed the idea about three years ago, and member Paul Kastner undertook the project, chairing a small committee of Marilyn Dickson and Akky Mansikka from the 99s, John Burt and myself from our COPA Flight. Finally, after a multitude of meetings and at least 8000 emails, the big day arrived last Saturday! John Drake lent us his 5000sq. ft. hangar for the event, which our outstanding membership cleaned and decorated superbly. We had fantastic weather for Saturday, sunny, not to hot, not to cold, had about 15 aircraft fly in and too many vehicles to count! Vollick family members arrived from many parts of the world - Ontario, New York, Virginia (Eileen's younger sister, Audrey Hopkin, at the tender age of 91, traveled by car from Virgina to attend the event!) ... to celebrate Eileen at what was like a family reunion with many relatives they don't normally see.  Music for the day was provided by an excellent local band,
Midnight Blue, led by David Nixon. Lunch, catered by Delicious Dishes,
gave attendees the choice of an Elk burger or chicken breast, along with
salads, pastries, and of course a 'birthday' cake, which was decorated to
simulate a frozen Burlington Bay, from which Eileen took (and
passed) her flight test in 1928.  The
ceremony started at 2:30pm, with many local politicians and figureheads
bringing greetings to the Vollick family, passing on
their congratulations, and presenting plaques. Family
members spoke of their memories of Eileen growing up, then before the
ceremony moved out of the building for the unveiling of the
marker, we were entertained by 5 dancers from The Peninsula School of
Dance who preformed their rendition of a Charleston.  Pipers Harvey Brush and Ken McNay led the group from the hangar
to the parkette site, where Rev. Ted Davey said a few words before the
marker was unveiled. Each member of the Vollick carried a balloon to the
parkette with them, and after the unveilings, the balloons were released
into the air in honor of Eileen. After the celebration, Audrey, along with Eileen's two Daughters, Joyce Mills and Eileen Barnes went for a plane ride with Marilyn Dickson. It is reported that this was Audrey's first time in a small plane, and upon landing, was heard saying "Now I know why my sister loved it so much". A special thanks to all the volunteers who helped set-up and take-down the decorations, chairs and tables for the day, A/P manager Doug Sykes and the airport staff for their help and cooperation, and also to 'our Jenn' who designed and printed the programs, as well as helped out with a multitude of other work! Only two weeks left to purchase your poker hands for our annual Platinum Triangle Poker Run! Host terminus for 2008 is Kincardine (NS7). Cash prizes for the top 5 hands! Unfortunately I don't think I will be mobile enough to be able to attend that day, but 'our Jenn' will be there! Harold Fry co-Captain COPA Flight #68 CYVV |
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