Bensen Days is in Dire need of your help!!!

The PRA is not FEMA

The PRA is not FEMA

dragonflyerthom said:
The true leaders lead by example, don't toot their own horn, and work very hard behind scenes in order to effect change for the future of all of us.
Click to expand...

Well, said!!

That is also the case here except they get second-guessed, no benefit of doubt and criticized by arm-chair quarterbacks.

Animal, The PRA budget is published every year.

Thanks to good foresight we don't have to worry about the National Convention being canceled by some twitchy airport manager or local official.

The PRA is not FEMA not the EAA not yo-mama around just to wipe bottoms for cranky $40 dues payers.

If you want the PRA to do something more than it is doing, volunteer and DO IT, don’t just belly-ache to the already overworked people that actually do more then send in a lousy $40 check each year.

Crymony..

Ron, what’s the total so far??


.
 
Gentlemen can we all go to our neutral corners!

A PRA chapter has a problem and asked for help.

Many people have stepped up to the plate and sent money.

Some of us won’t even be there this year.

Time to put down the clubs.

Enjoy the activities.
 
So far I have counted a total of 1835$..... plus several others who said they will make a donation but never said how much they are going to give.

At this point I believe the donation jar will make up for any shortage we might have, although I would like to see the total raised from the forum here be at or over 2000$.... so anyone else who might like to make a donation, let us know.

I think next year the club may end up going with the same insurance company and the same 2500$ bill..... but they plan to be ready for it in advance, and will find a way to incorporate the expense into the registration or camping fees. Apparently the EAA's insurance plan is not very good once you read the fine print.

We will know more in a week.......
 
Jonathan, I have said enough on this forum about this matter. I am tired, have the flu, pollen is kicking my ass right now, and I am simply stressed out.

When you are ready to be open minded and your ready to listen, call me and hopefully we will work this out. You are making a huge deal out of things that aren't...... and overall you simply don't know or understand alot about alot, and I will try to enlighten you.

And lastly, it is not about the dues..... if it were you would have been removed from the email list months ago and you would have not been allowed to come onto our last online meeting and participate in club business. The whole "dues" thing, is about principal.... if you are not up to date on dues or have simply decided not to pay those dues anymore, then on principal alone you should not be bitching about things the club or organization has done, or will do, or should do.
 
First, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. For those who have donated to our insurance problem bless you. I am very sadden that a few people think this problem was a scam. The only thing I can say is, that they sure don’t know me. However , I do hope they come down and join us. If that happens they will see what a great bunch we all are.

This event is very important too me and many others. So many of you have worked and saved all year just to come down and have some fun and there was no way in hell as our chapters new President I was going to allow anything to ruin Bensen Days.

After what I have seen this week I am honored and grateful to be part of such a great organization . For the couple of disgruntle members X leaders that are trying to cause us harm and wish Bensen days to fail . GET OVER IT, GROW UP, & MOVE ON.
 
BDays

BDays

Put me down for $50. Should be there Wed or Thur.
 
Think about this.........

Think about this.........

Most of us pay $400 or more a year for cable TV.........
and don't watch but four channels.
Most of us dine out regularly at $40 a sit-down...........
and that ends up in the toilet.
Most of us pay $40 dollars to fill up our gas guzzler......
and thats gone in five days..or less.
Most of us pay $40 or more a month to go online.........
and couldn't live without it.
Some of us wouldn't even blink at $500 for a computer..
which gives us poor service.
Some of us (not me) pay $50 for a pair of sneakers......
and then wear them out.
All these things, we don't even blink at it...................
it's the way things are nowadays.
And we all spend WAY too much on our Rotorcraft........
but thats OK.....'cause it's our passion.
I have been to Bensen Days (with a EN), named after the Late Dr. Igor Bensen, who was my mentor, twenty times in 36 years.
I will pay $10 for every trip......and thats a BARGAIN!!!!!!

I will contribute $200 to this problem of insurance.
And even more if called upon. I have a sense of duty to the Florida boys because several of them have helped me so much over the years.
I want half of this to be considered to come from Floyd Brown, whom I loved very much, and I'm sure if he was with us today, he would have been the first to help out.
Bensen Days is part of my LIFE and as such is............
priceless.....to me.
See you in a few days.....Mike Driggers aka MaD DoG.
When the going gets tuff, the tuff get going.
 
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Bam......! Thanks to Gary and Mike - wow Mike, 200$ is awesome! - We are at 2085$

Chuck Beaty's, and the few others who said they will donate but didn't say how much will likely fund the remaining balance.

My thoughts were the GyroCFI's and vendors at the event would also probably throw a few bucks in the jar as Bensen Days is a real money maker for them, so in the end were likely to exceed the 2500$ goal for this year. That is great!
 
Ron: The funds collected obviously will swell past the $2500...and this would be a good start on the 2008 Bensen Days insurance bill.


Stan
 
Jonathan Weis

Jonathan Weis

Jonathan if I "berated" you about dues then you have the lowest threshold of "pain" of anyone on earth.
You have made a charge that I berated you because you haven't paid dues in 16 months. Yes. I've checked my records and I can't find any record of you paying except for the year 2005.
Now if I ask the simple question "Jonathan. Do you wish to remain a memeber of our chapter send me your check or money order made out to ,,,," That's berating someone? I asked you to let me know soon didn't I?
You may have donated money for newsletter supplies and I stand corrected on that.
The fact remains you haven't paid dues for 16 months and have been treated as a full fledged member.
Yeah the Aiken chapter treats it's members rotten don't we? NOT!

Now I believe you need to admit you are wrong and apologize to everyone.
If not then look up the term "persona non grata." Because that will be what you are to me. I thought we were friends but I see you have posted my name for the world to read. Thanks buddy.
 
This insurance mess has been quite a saga.

In some ways, a glitch like this one serves a humanitarian purpose; it provides an excuse for the malcontents to vent who might otherwise explode.

The “insurance” Sunstate had been purchasing from the EAA each year is vaporware inasmuch as it didn’t provide liability protection for the City of Wauchula, the primary mandate for having insurance in the first place but no one bothered to read the fine print.

In years past, we were never asked for insurance but as litigation started to run wild, airport authorities began making noises about liability. We satisfied them for a few years by having everyone sign liability releases but that ended as most everyone came to realize such things are worthless. A pilot can’t waive the rights of his survivors.

It is possible that cheaper insurance can be found with more time but liability insurance will always be higher in Florida, blessed as it is with very generous jurors and statutes designed to protect widows and orphans.
 
Scott said / For the couple of disgruntle members X leaders that are trying to cause us harm and wish Bensen days to fail . GET OVER IT, GROW UP, & MOVE ON.

Let me set the record Straight before a few people's mouth over load there A__
Someone called EAA and Complained about this Club and how the Elections were held. They told EAA to call me and get the whole truth and story.
EAA called twice I then called them back. I talked to about 4 different people.
1) Was there a unoffical meeting in Jan? Yes
2) was Scott and Ernie removed from the club per EAA By-Law? Yes
3) How many members in your club? Ask Scott Lewis.
4) How many members are EAA members? Ask Scott Lewis.
5) Was this Club two organizations PRA and EAA? Ask Scott Lewis
I told them when I left the club it was only a EAA Chapter.
She then told me she had found a web site PRA 26, which led her to believe we are two organizations.
And Bud the first year I took over I asked you about this when I had to fill out my first set of EAA papers and you said yes you knew about the EAA rule no "other organization), you told me we dont talk about PRA.
And Yes EAA pulled the Insurance last year for BD Days 2 weeks before the fly-in was to start, because they found my name on a web page for PRA as Prez of PRA chapter. I told her it was an old page and I would have it removed. That is why my name was removed from the PRA page to Pat McNear for contact person and this was done right after BD Days 2006.
This has been changed in the PRA Magazine also months ago.
It seemed to me they were more interested in the meeting and removal of Scott. She asked if I would care to bring this before the EAA and have this investigated. I told her no, I just don't care about it as much anymore.
She still asked for a copy of the removal paper's which I do have and have not sent them because I Dont Care. I have moved on, but insight of all this BS I'll have to rethink this. She told me EAA could not have a person running a club that was removed as a member.

And dont tell me about the Love Ya'll showed MJ and Myself at New Year's!
I can do with out that kind of Love. After years of busting our butt for this Club and ourselves we did not even get so much as a phone call before the Meeting NewYears or Afterwards. We asked for the Vote to be Held in Jan 07 instead of Dec 06, but I guess what we wanted as the Prez/Sec/Treas. was not important.
And by the way Fat Boy I have not and Will not Call the FAA, but we can Thank Your Mouth for Posting that on this Forum that we know they read way to go bright child.
You all can think what you want.
10% of this club is not even in my thoughts, but the other 90% I will Miss.

If you want a fair election's change the by-laws (ask ernie it's easy) so that the member's get to vote for Board of Director's and Officers not just Board of Directors and then they pick the Officer's.
To be fair send a post card in the Newsletter mark it and send it back to a Third party and then they would bring them to New Years or BD Days to be counted at a meeting of club members. That way All Member's have a Say!

Fly-Safe Richard (catfish)
 
Richard,
It takes a brain child to pick on me for my weight problem. Thanks for that. That was very original. I have never heard that before. I wish no ill will toward you or your family. I would like all us to get past this all of this and be friends again. If you are unwilling to do that then so be it. You Mary Jane, and Trinity will always be in my prayers. God Bless.
 
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Check is in the mail. I have been trying to e-mail Ernie but the e-mails keep coming back. Did you change your e-mail address?
 
Guys I forgot to ask at the end of Bensen Days but did the chapter collect enough money to pay back Scott Lewis?
 
Yes Rudy , we did I will post the exact amount when I know it. I have been very busy with Sun N Fun. I work the tower in Chopper town. I thank you all very much for making BD turn out so Well. Now that the learning curve is over I promiss you guys the next Bensen Days will be 2nd,. to None....

Scott Lewis
 
I believe there is a really great future in store for the Wauchula airport and it's relationship with gyros.

1. The city manager loves the fact that we are so active and is on a mission to get a gyro manufacturer on site.
2. The new FBO, Jim Hay, is also hooked on gyros (thanks Steve!) and is fully responsible for the improvements going on right now.
3. The Chief of police, Chief Beaty, who has attended Bensen Days for at least the last three years, is completely supportive of our sport. He has said many times what a class act we are at our events. This year I and many others heard him say that next year there will be an improvement in the power layout for the campsites so that we can all run our equipment without flipping breakers all the time. He also said he would try to get water to the sites.
4. I even heard Jim Hay talk about the possibility of putting in a type of county park facility on site, and maybe another runway running east/west!

So start planning now for even better times in Wauchula.
 
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