PRA lifetime achievement award?

[chuter]

Does the PRA have any awards like a Lifetime Achievement award or something similar?

I have someone in mind I'd like to nominate for such a thing.

[WHY]

Hi Chuter

Been in PRA over 30 years and do not know of such a award, I think the highest award that PRA has is possibly "man and machine"

Tony

[KenSandyEggo]

Sorry, I got it many years ago and it's retired. It's a one time thing. You can see my trophy at the Smithsonian. It's on the 2nd floor, next to the Doodle-Bug display.

[Mayfield]

Michael,

Absolutely wonderful idea. I'll bring it up. We could nominate and then vote. Vote should be open to the entire membership.

The only problem is selecting the winner. My take, for several years worth would be:

Chuck Beaty, Ernie Boyette, Gary Goldsberry, Art Evans, Dick Degraw, Red and/or Doug Smith, Marion Springer, Doug Riley, Ron Menzie, Rick Marshall, and Ron Herron.

Whenever I put a list like this on paper I'm reminded of the scene from the movie "Patton." "The Russians, don't forget the Russians!"

Jim

[Rotornut]

We do have the KEN BROCK AWARD each year. MJ :)

[Rotornut]

Geez Jim I did not see my name on the list :( just kidding lol MJ :)

[Mayfield]

M.J.

That's what I meant by the last sentence in post 4.

You and Carfish should be listed for all you've done for BDs these many years.

Jim

[Rotornut]

lol ok Jim your off the hook. Hope to see you again in Mentone. Take Care
MJ :)
ps/Thanks for the kind words about BD Days, but without all the Family showing up and New Designs and Builders we would fall short of a Wonderful fly-in.

Jim I hope you and Steve and others figure out what went wrong with Terrys SH. We all lost to much with this accident. And with more and more SH flying now any info could help.

[chuter]

Is the Ken Brock Award a PRA thing, or is it associated with a specific PRA Chapter?

[Doug Riley]

There are quite a number of people in or formerly in the gyro world who have impressive credentials. They're all modest to a fault. You only learn who you're REALLY dealing with gradually, through little dribbles of info that come your way. You can get dizzy wading among the PhD's, crackerjack test pilots, racing legends, real space scientists and engineering professors among us.

Even the founder of Mother Earth News magazine, John Shuttleworth, started out as the editor of the PRA mag.

[chuter]

It wouldn't have to be a one-winner-a-year thing; you could have years with more than one, and years with no winners. Seems like that would add some integrity.

I hate those "employee of the month" things where somebody has to be picked regardless of what's really been happening.

[PRA]

Michael,

P.R.A. does present, annually, the Ken Brock Award to the person best advancing the knowledge, awareness and safety of Rotorcraft World Wide. This award has been presented since 2002. Award winners so far are:

Chuck Beaty 2002
Gary Goldsberry 2003
Jim Eich 2004
Greg Gremminger 2005

If you have someone that you would like to nominate for that award, you may want to contact Sue Goldsberry at gsgold@ccrtc.com. She collects the nominees for the award. It is presented at the yearly P.R.A. Convention.

[chuter]

Thanks Pam, will do.:)

[Harry_S.]

I like Michael's idea.

I like the Ken Brock Award as well.

How 'bout A PRA HALL OF FAME?!

Football has the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the Dick Butkus Award, plus the Football Hall of Fame.

Baseball has the Player of the Year, Most Valuable Player etc,, plus The Baseball Hall of Fame.


CFWMDF
Cheers :)

[Hognose]

The advantage of a Hall of Fame, in comparison to the Ken Brock award, is that we could name people whose achievements were in the past. Even people who are no longer with us: Juan de la Cierva, Dr. Igor Bensen, Don Farrington, many others.

However, one problem I see is that we are a "rotorcraft" organisation, and in these awards as in many things we tend to slight our helicopter bro's. Maybe we could call it the B.J. Schramm Hall of Fame to remind people to be inclusive of the powered-rotor gang.

cheers

-=K=-

[KenSandyEggo]

"How 'bout A PRA HALL OF FAME?!"

Good idea, Harry. The PRA could buy about 40 acres of land (need sufficient parking, and we'd have to spend $35,000 to pave it) and have a grandiose building erected that would befit those honored. We could make up for it by cutting the magazine to one, no-color, 4-page issue per year (everyone would have to drive to Mentone to pick up their copy to save on postage) and completely denying any financial help to those trying to promote the PRA at Oshkosh and other fly-ins. We could call it "PRA Hall of Fame Mentone" to protect all the PRA's assets from being sued away to greedy lawyers. :rolleyes:

[david holmes]

we'd have to spend $35,000 to pave it

Ken those must be north carolina paving prices.

[KenSandyEggo]

Hey! I'll....er.....I mean, "Hall of Fame Mentone" will decide how much to spend on paving. I....er.....I mean "Hall of Fame Mentone" doesn't need any input from the rabble on how to spend the PRA's money. Get with it. Only one bad thing about this idea, David. The PRA doesn't seem to have any money for some reason for me....I mean "PRA Mentone" to spend. It'll be a great investment though eventually. God knows there's a shortage of museums in this country to visit. We can hold one big open house per year and keep it locked up the rest of the year. I doubt anyone will come any other time of the year anyway.

[Harry_S.]

Kenster...Easy big fella...

A "PRA Hall Of Fame" need not be an elaborate undertaking. It could be something as easy, at no cost, as a page on the PRA Web. it could be simply a Portrait, dates and a few words of praise.


CFWMDF
Cheers :)

[KenSandyEggo]

Aaaah, Harry. You have to spoil everything.

[Harry_S.]

Aaaah, Ken...Touch'e.;)


CFWMDF
Cheers :)

[gyroplanes]

Is that PRA doesn't have a historian, or an archives area. It is tragic that Bruce Charnov and myself bought Igor Bensen's actual FIA speed and altitude record awards on ebay ! Someone in the PRA should be collecting and archieving our history.

We have a hard time trying to figure out who has been the past receipient of the Man & Machine award (I believe it's now called the Pilot & Machine award thanks to Carol DeGraw)

We used to have the "Helen Darvassy Award" presented annually to the person who did the most for PRA. It was a devotion to PRA award. It silently fell by the wayside.

There are no "perks" and very few "attaboys" for dedicated service to the PRA.

Perhaps we wouldn't have the PRA problems we now have if we would take the time to honor and thank the volunteers who make the PRA possible.

[Harry_S.]

HEAR...HEAR...Tom.


CFWMDF
Cheers :)

[Hognose]

Here's a name to consider. Carl Schneider. How long has he done the Oshkosh booth out of his own pocket?

As far as the memorabilia that Tom and Dr Bruce Charnov have rescued, well, there is the Leroy Hardee Museum at Mentone. It is not the National Air and Space Museum, but it beats the air & space museum they decided not to build in New York City (a true story that I'm working on. It was gonna be in the old NY State pavilion from the 1964 worlds fair -- the city decided that they're going to tear it down instead. True quote, "we have a science museum, that's good enough.")

Every time I go to New York now, I'm gonna be thinking, "John Rocker was right."

cheers

-=K=-

[KenSandyEggo]

Tom, I thought that there was a museum owned or run by Glenn Bundy at Mentone? Seems whomever runs a PRA museum would be a historian and archive important data and history. What's the story with the museum?

[Rotornut]

Hognose, I like that Idea BJ Yes! Great Suggestion. MJ :)

[Hognose]

Kenny, there is a museum there, it's called the LeRoy Hardee rotorcraft museum. It has its own building (or half-building?) and they have a number of rare aircraft in there including one of Bensen's one-off helicopters, and the #1 Air and Space 18A (an Umbaugh 18A, actually), which is unfortunately only a hulk. My understanding is that the exhibits came from people donating them or Glenn or Gary just going and buying them -- not with PRA money, either. I'm not sure that's right.

You ought to go to Mentone and check it out.

cheers

-=K=-

[Pam Bundy]

Kevin,

The museum at Mentone is called the Archimedies Rotorcraft &V/Stol Museum. The building that the museum resides in is the P.R.A., LeRoy Hardee building. The museum was founded by Glenn Bundy in the middle 1980's in Middletown Ohio and later moved to Brookville Ohio in the early 1990's. Glenn was asked to bring the museum to Mentone Indiana after P.R.A. moved to Mentone. A LeRoy Hardee memorial fund was started to build the building that the museum resides in.

Thanks,
Pam Bundy

[Pam Bundy]

Ken,

I thought that there was a museum owned or run by Glenn Bundy at Mentone? Seems whomever runs a PRA museum would be a historian and archive important data and history. What's the story with the museum?

In my opinion, I don't think that there are too many other bigger rotorcraft history buffs could be found, besides Glenn Bundy. Unless it is Bruce Charnov and Tom Milton. Listening to these three guys talking about rotorcraft history together is enough to make your head bleed.

Pam Bundy

[Rotornut]

Tom said/
There are no "perks" and very few "attaboys" for dedicated service

Boy is that a Understatement!!

Hey Ken come visit down in Florida for Bensen Days 2007 lots of time to Plan for it now. MJ :)

[Vance]

Attagirl MJ. Attaboy Catfish. You both brighten my life.

Thank you, Vance

[KenSandyEggo]

"Hey Ken come visit down in Florida for Bensen Days 2007 lots of time to Plan for it now. MJ"

MJ, only if you guarantee my personal safety.:eek:

[Rotornut]

Ken I will Personal Gurantee your Safety on the Ground, but in the Air You are the Pilot In Command not me.

Really Ken if Craig Wall could come down for BD Days and our New Years fly-ins surely you can compete with that. And why would you worry about Safety, just have Ron Awad by your side and all is Good. lol MJ :)

[Rotornut]

Vance you making it down for BD Days Puts a Smile on my Face every year you drive in. MJ :)

[Vance]

Ken, I will cover your back because I know you are a very nice man. I know that it frustrates you when others don’t share your concern. It is not because we didn’t hear you the first time. I know you have the best intentions for the sport.

Your career change is a testament to your goodness and an inspiration to us all. Giving up trying to control chaos in order to live the American dream of being your own boss, and then giving up that dream in order to help little kids and to open yourself up to the inevitable pain is a remarkable choice.

You are also very funny and I would like to learn that..

Thank you, Vance

[gyroplanes]

Tom, I thought that there was a museum owned or run by Glenn Bundy at Mentone? Seems whomever runs a PRA museum would be a historian and archive important data and history. What's the story with the museum?

I suppose Glenn could become the PRA's official volunteer historian. I would hate to see that interfere with his duties as the PRA's official volunteer toilet drainer and shower winterizer, grass mower, hangar maintenance man, electrician, painter, plumber, etc, etc.

In fairness, Glenn doesn't do these things alone, often he is assisted by his wife, Pam, on her day off.

Some of you can cry and moan about the PRA's leadership and where your $40.00 went. But until you visit Mentone Airport on a Saturday and find both Pam & Glenn mowing the acreage, or Gary crawling, mud covered, out from under the PRA modular office after effecting a plumbing repair, you should reconsider and thank these people for giving you a PRA.

You sure want a lot for $40.00

[KenSandyEggo]

How about them thanking us for paying for an airport in their backyards that they can easily use whenever they want?

[Rotornut]

Vance, Funny I have spoken with you several times and I find at times you yourself can be very Funny. And Fun to talk with. When you can put a Smile on my face in the middle of BD Days your Tops Vance.

Ok Ken now you got two watching ya, so what ya say BD Days 2007 here you come?

MJ :)

[GyroRon]

Did I miss something? Did you decide on not doing the HotDog Stand or whatever it was you were going to do Ken?

Ken no one will pick on you at Bensen Days, for the most part people leave their grudges at home on the keyboard when they go to these fly-ins. You would have the time of your life if you went. And yes I will be your body guard!

Better start making plans to fly that Red gas sucker over to SX days July 15th and 16th. And ROC later in the fall.....

[Rotornut]

Ken, Come on PRA Airport more important than us trying to hang in and stick together as a Group and what about all the PRA Ch out there.

I would never want to give up PRA Ch# 26 EVER. We ALL need to Stand up and Help in Supporting PRA and Drawing More Members into PRA.

To HECK with the Airport, yes I do go there and Love it, after all when I am there I do Feel At Home.

I pay my Dues and serve my Chapter, because it is my choice to do so. I have become Attached and Friends, Family to many in my chapter.

I really do not have the energy, drive, or desire to fight for a Airport that my 40.00 dues I feel is for Membership in PRA and MAG.

MJ :)

[Pam Bundy]

Ken,

How about them thanking us for paying for an airport in their backyards that they can easily use whenever they want?

I've heard this comment about all I care to hear it. In case you didn't know, before I was asked to move to Mentone and take on the Office Manager job for P.R.A., Glenn and I lived ON an airport in Brookville Ohio. We didn't have to move to Mentone to have an airport in our backyard. Besides, I don't fly anyway. Glenn spends so much time working his tool and die job and working around the airport, that I don't think he has even flown his gyro in almost two years.

Ken, you're more than welcome if you want to move to Mentone so that you can have an airport in your back yard. By the way, the grass needs mowing!

Gotta go,
Pam Bundy