April 2006 Flypaper

 

The Flypaper

Newsletter for the Crestline Soaring Society
USHPA Chapter 16

P.O. Box 9052, San Bernardino, CA 92427-9052 · www.crestlinesoaring.org

 

April, 2006

 

CSS General Meeting

Saturday, April 29, 2006, 7:00 PM - Andy Jackson Airpark

 

President's Report

We are at a very important place in our history of flying at Marshall and Crestline. The area surrounding the Andy Jackson Airpark is coming under housing development and we have some options to consider. What we decide now could affect the future existence of the landing area and at the very least affect the quality of the landing facility in coming years. Please read through this newsletter and respond by mailing back the enclosed questionnaire. There is also a vote on changes to the dues structure for the upcoming year. They are changes that your officers are recommending. The Treasurer’s report covers some of the dues changes and why they are needed. If you don’t have time to read it right now, then put it in a place you can come back to and spend the minutes necessary to understand our situation.

We have a good relationship with the California Department of Water Resources and as long as the USHPA is able to sell us site insurance, we are in good position to keep the field. There is more to a landing area than just the actual area that we land on. The approach is very important. The flatter the glide, the more we need the surrounding low-level airspace to be clear of obstacles. If you take the attitude, for example, that losing a good approach only affects hang gliders then remember that losing options for the approach will cause hangs and paras to be doing approaches closer together in the same airspace.

This winter the CSS officers have been working with the housing developers who are planning to build homes adjacent to the airpark on its east side. An agreement is in the final stages that would be a compromise of losses, with the developer losing about 10 homes in an area best described as a quarter circle centered around the little hang training hill (Mt. McKenzie), on its northeast side. What we are losing is the nice wide left-aircraft approach currently used by the hangs. The result to all of us is that we will be changing the hang approach to a combination of right-hand pattern (mixing with the paras’) and a figure-8 approach swinging around the east end of the eucalyptus trees NE of the airpark. Expect homes to be built during the calendar year 2007.

On the south side of the airpark, the zoning is currently flood control area with no allowance for development of homes. It will be important to keep an eye on this property and to oppose any proposed changes to the zoning should they ever come up.

On the west side we have a good 300’ wide margin (approximately to the power lines) that is DWR property and as such will have this area continuing to be undeveloped and thus clear for approaches.

Most of the north side of the airpark is a combination of some DWR margin (like the west side) and a private single-structure residence. If we use the buried pipeline (the candy cane pipe) as a starting point, the first approx. 100’ north is DWR, but everything north of that is the private residence's.

While we were in the middle of negotiating the future of the hang approach and the development east of the airpark, the north side property, which comprises about 15 acres, came up for sale. The developers actually put in a bid on this property. The property eventually sold at $530,000. The good news, temporarily, is that 2 local pilots (Len Szafaryn and Owen Morse) pooled resources to get the property.

We need to figure a way to permanently keep this property from being built up. If the structure were relocated towards the southern edge of the property, or vertical obstacles were placed on the property, it could restrict our approach.

The new owners (Len and Owen) wish to see the property become effectively part of our landing site (I will refer to this property as “the Ranch”). This means the removal of the fence and clearing of the entire area so that our actual landing area will in effect double in size. Obtaining the Ranch would allow 2 additional training hills, both about 80’ high, with one facing SW and the other facing S.

But the Ranch currently has a $400,000 mortgage that is requiring about $2200 a month in interest charges. Also there is property tax of about $6500 a year. The math indicates expenses of about $33,000 a year. The Ranch's house will bring rental income of probably $1200 a month, depending on your optimism. This means a loss of $1550 per month before any maintenance and repairs on the structure. The Ranch will probably be going up in value, so if the future is that Owen and Len have to sell to a third party, they will in all likelihood recoup their expenses. But that’s bad for us. The question is… What can we, the CSS, do to keep the Ranch from being sold to a third party?

The CSS officers have been thinking about this for a few months and have come up with 3 options. They are: ignore the Ranch and let the owners do what they want with it, pay a set fee, like a lease, on a month-to-month or annual basis to keep the current owners from selling the Ranch, or finally, the option of the CSS buying the Ranch.

Details of Options:

1. Ignore the Ranch. This has zero added financial expense for the CSS. The site remains status quo. But there is a possibility that in the decades to come, as property values increase, the Ranch will have changed from being a secluded rural lot to a prime piece of residential real estate and as such be developed to fully increase the value of the property. It should be assumed that the eventual owners will exercise the FAA described rights to keep us from flying low across their property.
   
   
2. Pay a use fee. The figure we have been leaning toward in talking with the current owners is to pay the property tax ($6300 a year) plus a $200 a month fee that would enable the CSS to access the water. Please understand that our current access to water is somewhat tenuous, as it belongs to the developers east of the LZ. It is unknown whether the developers will ask us to stop getting water from their property, and if they do, whether prescriptive rights based on our having been there more than the 5 years as required by California law would allow us to stay. The $200 per month matches our current labor costs to maintain our water system and also match an approximate water fee if we managed to obtain water through the new development and paid standard water rates. The average annual dues to CSS members will probably be about $25 greater with this option over option 1, given that much of the income to the CSS is day use fees.
   
   
3. Buy the Ranch. The CSS doesn’t have anywhere near the $530,000 to buy the property. We have been contemplating a strategy where we encourage our members to offer zero interest loans to the CSS amounting to an immediate purchase. If the Ranch were completely paid off, the combination of the income at $1200 a month minus property tax, insurance and maintenance leaves the property with a net gain of about $6,000 a year. Add in that we would then have the ability to remove the $200 monthly water expense and we can see the ownership of the Ranch as not only absolutely securing the property to keep the approach area clear, but we would ultimately have enough water to grow grass on the entire field, and the security to fully develop the training hills. Dues in the long run would probably be lower than they currently are (after inflation is taken into account).

How Do We Repay $530,000?

Let’s compare the income difference between option 2 and option 3. In going from 2 to 3, we would drop the annual expense of $8,700 and in addition change to a profit of $6,000 a year, a $14,700 difference. So if we kept the same dues structure as needed for option 2, we would be paying the loans back in full in 36 years. If the dues increased by an additional $30 per member and we maintained at least 90% the membership numbers we’ve averaged over the last 10 years, then with a proportional change to the day-use fee the loan would be fully paid back in 20 to 25 years. Enclosed you will see the survey sheet where you can personally indicate what you would be willing to loan to the CSS. The CSS will only choose this option if we have a general desire among our members both to see option 3 as the preferred choice AND that we would actually have the ability to obtain the funds in full. Only indicate your ability to loan to the CSS if you are truly able to follow through.

The CSS is a now a 501(c)(3) Federal Charity

I hope all this talk of our options regarding the north-side property doesn't overwhelm the announcement of this milestone. In fact it is one of the biggest accomplishments we've ever had (thanks Alan Crouse). It has been completed just in the last couple of weeks, and is mentioned here because it may directly enhance our ability to obtain funds to repay the $530,000 in loans to the CSS. Due to our new status we are in a position to solicit and accept larger donations, perhaps from corporate or other benevolent interests. There is also the possibility for individual pilots to give to the CSS above and beyond what is asked of them in dues and work parties. As each of us turns onto final approach in life, we look to make final use of our assets. We encourage all CSS members and their families to consider bequeathing money to the CSS when that distant but inevitable landing comes. It would be both a tax writeoff and a great way to say 'thank you' for all the years of flying the CSS has facilitated for so many of us. This is a wild card and could be anything from having a negligible effect on repayment of the loans to allowing the repayment in just a few short years.

If you’ve made it this far, then it shows a general interest in what the future of the CSS and the Andy Jackson Airpark will be. I wish I were rich and could just buy the ranch for the CSS. Instead, I am limited to offering a pledge of $20,000 and recommending the “Buy” option as my first choice and annual payments as second choice. I’m letting you know my intentions to challenge you to also help out. But PLEASE, only pledge if you really plan to do it. There’s no crime in not being able or willing to help out. Please return the enclosed survey form marked with your preference of the CSS's relationship with the Ranch and also what your ability to loan to the CSS would be IF the preferred choice of the CSS members was to try to collect funds to purchase the property.

If there is anything you wish to contact me about, remember that the best way is to drop an email to president@crestlinesoaring.org

- Rob McKenzie, CSS President

 

Notes From The Vault

I’ll start with the bad news; we’re looking at a dues increase. Probably not a surprise to many of you. The CSS dues have not increased since 1991, when we went from $35 to $100 (might have been only $90), to address the need to save for a potentialy expensive LZ that we would be getting a lease on at some point. After the LZ lease was negotiated and we knew the price, and saw that membership was increasing, we lowered it to $65 in 1994. We took a pretty major hit to the reserves in 2004 fencing the LZ, 2N40 (Marshall Road) and replacing the water tanks after the Old fire. Total loss on the year of just over $17,500. We did a lot better in 2005, but the combination of storm clean-up from the record rainfall (for those of you who weren’t around, more than 1500 cubic yards of silt came down the mountain and had to be removed from the LZ, plus road and other repairs were required due to erosion), paying two years of lease cost (the lease re-negotiation pushed the 2004 payment into our 2005 year), and rebuilding the Crestline launch ramp, combined for another $6,186.15 loss.

So Mr. Treasurer, what’s the good news???

Well, we actually have some good news as well. We finished our last fiscal year with a reserve of about $20,000; just about the minimum recommended level for an organization like ours. We have also just been approved as a federal 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

On the reserves, the recommended level of reserves for a membership dependent organization like ours is one-year’s operating cost (pretty much exactly what we’ve got). The theory is that the organization could survive a year in which we could not operate for some reason, or make it through a major fiscal crisis (like the Old fire caused). We’ve been dipping into the reserves each of the past two years and this is not sustainable. Should we encounter a legal problem (like Elsinore, San Diego, etc.) or be hit by another natural event, the reserve could be quickly exhausted. We’ve got to stop the bleeding and build up some cash on hand.

The federal 501(c)(3) charitable organization came with a bonus. Of the amount paid by members for their annual membership fee, $86.00 qualifies as a charitable contribution. Whether this charitable contribution goes on to become tax deductible is governed by the individual's income level, gross aggregate amount of charitable contributions, the proportion of income that aggregate contributions represents, etc. This means the effect of a dues increase may be offset by a federal tax deduction for most members.

Finally, the Board wants to share the pain equally. Day use fees are also proposed to increase and will be required for casual users of the LZ (kiters, students, and tandem passengers). Camping fees will be tracked more closely. All in an effort to bring the books into a positive cashflow position.

We’ve got a great, world-class site. Time to dig a little deeper to ensure it is there for the rest of our flying careers, and those of the pilots to follow.

- Alan Crouse, CSS Treasurer

2006 CSS XC Contest

We have set up a season-long on-line XC contest open to all CSS members with GPS capabilities. Modest cash prizes will be awarded, but the emphasis is on fun and accomplishment in various categories. For details, current standings, etc., see: http://www.fracas.us/css/?file=3&i=1 .

Contest Rules

• All flights must originate from Crestline or Marshall. Participants must be CSS members or day paying guests.

• Distance is calculated by the measurement of the total distance made good between a maximum of any four turnpoints, launch and landing inclusive, along the course line. A turnpoint will be defined as any change in course greater than 90 degrees. That means straight line distance, out and returns, triangles or partial triangles all work. Doglegs won't be added to total distance. In the distance portion of the contest there will be prizes for the paragliding division in DHV2/3 class and higher, and for DHV2 class and lower. There will be prizes for hang gliding division in topless and kingpost classes. Pilots can enter only one category in each division. That means PG pilots can only enter flights in either DHV2/3 and higher or DHV2 and lower, HG pilots can enter only in Topless or Kingpost.

• Duration is longest continuous period between launch and landing.

• Final distance category will be for the team of two pilots (1 in each discipline) who have the maximum combined distance between them on the same day. Pilots must launch with 30 minutes of one another to qualify. There are no class restrictions in the team portion. Meaning pilots aren't restricted to flying the same class of wing as they are using for the individual portion of the competition.

• Team flights cannot be used in the individual award category.

• Seven awards total, $ 100 each award. Contest ends October 31, 2006.

• All entries need to be accompanied by a gps track, sent to me (Len Szafaryn, flymrpuffy@aol.com ). I also encourage sending along flight descriptions and pictures if you got 'em.

Those are the only rules, but we’ll make some more if we need them.

- Len Szafaryn, CSS Vice-President

 

Newsletter/Website

The Simba weather station infrastructure has suffered a bit in the recent harsh weather, but the core components are working fine. Many thanks to David and Lauren Ball of Gypsy Flights Hot Air Balloon Adventures (www.gypsyflights.com) for continuing to host our weather station and webcam in Crestline. I've got a new way of visualizing the wind reports (in addition to the graph and table) in the works that I hope you'll find useful. The CSS website itself will change radically in the near future. We'll be going to a Content Mangement System called Drupal shortly after version 4.7 is released (they've just published release candidate 2). This modern, modular framework will feature a new, richer Pilot's Forum with more content flexibility, Board member's blogs for getting news out faster and fielding comments, plus we'll have the ablilty to easily allow interested CSS members to contribute and/or manage other content on the site while keeping a coordinated overall look and feel.

- Ken Howells, CSS Webmaster/Editor

 

CSS Spring 2006 Ballot/Survey

Fill out your ballot and survey and mail to:

Crestline Soaring Society PO Box 9052 San Bernardino CA 92427-9052

You MUST include your Name, CSS number and USHPA number so we can verify that it’s really you. Votes must be received by April 30th, 2006.

Or bring to the Spring General Membership Meeting Saturday April 29^th, 7 PM at the Andy Jackson Airpark. You may also email your votes to robandi@flytandem.com

BALLOT (circle your votes)

Annual Membership: Change from $65 to $100.	accept	reject
Day Use Fee: change from $5 a day to $10 a day	accept	reject
Training hill and/or Kiting needs Day Use or CSS membership	accept	reject
Tandem Passengers must pay Day Use or CSS Membership	accept	reject
Optional $250 Annual Rate to USHPA Instructors (exempts passengers/students from Day Use Fees)	accept	reject

 

CSS MEMBER SURVEY

Name:_________________________________________ CSS#________ USHPA#________

In consideration of the future of the CSS and the Andy Jackson Airpark, I have read the details of the options and am marking what I think the CSS should consider as their order of preference. I am circling a 1, a 2, and a 3 with 1 meaning first choice and 3 meaning least favorite choice.

• 1 2 3 (circle one) Do Nothing with the north side property. Leave it status quo and take the risks that development will not affect our approach to the airpark.

• 1 2 3 (circle one) Pay the property taxes plus $200 a month for water rights. Assume the risks that the current owners will be willing to continue losing about $850 a month and not sell the property to recoup their losses.

• 1 2 3 (circle one) Buy the property. This means if we have a good chance that members actually are willing to loan the amount necessary to buy the property, we should actually do it.

Now let’s pretend for a moment that the CSS is actually going to try to buy the property. Even if you chose a different option as your preferred first choice, what amount of loan would you be willing and able to offer the CSS. Circle the choice that best describes you…

$0.00       $5000       $10,000       >$10K (enter amount)_________________

Flypaper PDF

The Flypaper Archive - CSS Newsletter in Abode Acrobat PDF files

2006
April - CSS & 'The Ranch', Treasurer's Report, Online XC Contest

2005
March - President's Report - CSS Election Results

2004
December - President's Report - CSS Elections, Treasurer's Report
July - Andy Jackson Airpark 10th Anniversary Celebration, SoCal PG Comp, Officer's Reports
May - CSS General Meeting, News About USFS and MArshall Peak Closure, Discussion of Events for Spring/Summer
April - CSS Board Election Results, Notes from the Vault, Newsletter Distribution Changes
February - Marshall Closure Update, CSS Board Election Ballot, Proposed Constuitutional Changes (with new Constitution in full)

2003
December - Old Fire Aftermath, CSS Board Nominations, Christmas Toy Drive
October - New CSS Board, Safety Tips

December 2004 Flypaper

 

The Flypaper

Newsletter for the Crestline Soaring Society
USHPA Chapter 16

P.O. Box 9052, San Bernardino, CA 92427-9052 · www.crestlinesoaring.org

 

December, 2004

President's Report

It’s been a very successful year with the CSS managing to overcome some major hurdles. Thanks go to the many members who jumped in to assist in the extensive work parties since the fires of Oct 2003. I would also like to express a special thanks to the CSS officers for their extra effort in keeping the CSS moving forward on everyone’s behalf.

LZ Lease Renewal:

We have just negotiated a renewal of our LZ lease with the Department of Water Resources. It’s for the next 5 years making it the 3^rd 5 year lease for us since the inception of the Andy Jackson Airpark in 1994. Final signing should be in the first few days of Dec 2004. This has happened as hoped and expected, but it is very nice to have something as big as this not become yet another major project for us to work on. Thank you DWR!

Toy Drive:

The annual Christmas Toy Drive is coming up Saturday Dec 18^th from 2PM to sunset at the Andy Jackson Airpark. For those new to the CSS, this is the largest annual PR event for the CSS. Members are encouraged to bring a donation of a nice unwrapped new toy. If you find you can’t bring a toy, you may donate $ directly to the CSS letting us know it’s for the toy drive. Each year funds based on past donation$ are used to purchase toys that greatly boost the amount of toys at the drive. Please send in cash donations by Dec 12^th, but even if you are running late please send it in as it will be used for the following year.

Here’s a picture from last year’s drive. Yes, the local fire department comes out to collect the toys which they subsequently distribute to local needy kids though the “Spark of Love” program. It’s nice they collect toys on this trip instead of a pilot from a hillside. We can help needy kids, show appreciation for our fire department and have some fun all at the same time.

Update: CSS Toy Drive was a big success, with members donating over $1,100 and the CSS Charity Fund kicking in an additional $500.

2003 Toy Drive: A nice turnout for the 2003 Toy Drive on Dec. 20th. The mountainside in the background burned in the 'Old' fire 3 weeks earlier.

Elections:

Also, it’s time to think about upcoming elections for the CSS for the year 2005. Here are the current offices and officers in 2004:

President – Rob McKenzie
Vice-president – Len Szafaryn
Secretary – Kathy Rhodes
Treasurer – Alan Crouse
Editor and Webmaster – Ken Howells
Site Coordinator – Dianne McKenzie
Safety Director – Gary Brock
Activities Director – [vacant]

As of this writing I believe that the current officers are willing to run again for the same offices. But it is encouraged that ANY CSS MEMBER willing to hold an office, either being one that is currently filled or one of the 2 vacant positions, please let me know. Or you can nominate someone else. But if nominating someone else, please get their permission before submitting their name. You must do so by Jan 1^st 2005. You can contact me by email through the flytandem.com website contact page or telephone (909) 883-8488. Ballots will be mailed out early in January. Elections will be held the first week of Feb 2005.

Remember that the positions are not to be taken lightly as the many decisions for the day to day running of the CSS are in the hands of the officers. But if you think you would be able and willing to volunteer a few hours a year to the task, please feel free to step forward. We have learned to streamline much of the interaction among the officers through online meetings. This has greatly reduced the amount of time needed to hold an office.

See you at the toy drive on the 18th!!!

If there is anything you wish to contact me about, remember that the best way is to drop an email to president@crestlinesoaring.org

- Rob McKenzie, CSS President

Notes From The Vault

In looking back over the past year it seems amazing; what we have done and where we are today. Last year this time, CSS had just spent about $6,400 to fence and protect the LZ after the devastating Olds fire. Marshall was closed and the potential dates for re-opening were pushed farther and farther into the future with each passing month. On the financial front, we were in great shape even after the fence with $39,056.81 in the bank.

You all know the story from there. Fencing the Marshall road was a great success in volunteer turnout from members and pilots all across the region. Probably the best $7,000 we ever spent. We’ve also replaced a water tank destroyed in the fire, and added a second storage unit in the LZ area. The 10^th Anniversary Fly-In was not only a great time, thanks to many generous sponsors and the huge turnout of pilots; it also made a little money for the club. Twelve months later, our bank account is somewhat reduced at $28,956.82. But the reduction can be directly attributed to one-time (we hope) capital costs. On-going operating costs and revenues over the year were essentially break-even.

We continue to maintain a healthy reserve of approximately two year’s operating cost. The new lease is in place, we have a greatly strengthened relationship with the USFS, and our application for designation as a federal charitable organization (501(c)3) is under review with the IRS.

So come on out and fly! Let’s take full advantage of our World Class site!

See you up there,

- Alan Crouse, CSS Treasurer

Weather Station and Webcams Awaiting Location

We have a lead on locating the euipment on the microwave towers just east of Crestline launch. We sent a proposal to the BNSF railroad after John Hoehn spoke to the local communications coordinator and had a very encouraging conversation. We are still waiting to hear back from them.

- Ken Howells, CSS Website & Editor

Vice-President's Report

A 2005 competition calendar poster is offered for free by the 2005 US Paragliding Team. It's got the major Paragliding and Hanggliding US competitions happening in 2005. Contact Len at if you'd like a copy.

- Len Szafaryn, CSS Vice-President

2005 Competition Calendar Poster

March 2005 Flypaper

 

The Flypaper

Newsletter for the Crestline Soaring Society
USHPA Chapter 16

P.O. Box 9052, San Bernardino, CA 92427-9052 · www.crestlinesoaring.org

 

March, 2005

 

President's Report

What a wet winter we are having. Hard to imagine how we were in the throes of a drought just a few months ago. Someone out there is still doing the rain dance we were asking everyone to do last summer. Cut it out!

Patience is a virtue. This too shall pass. There are many folks in the world hurting for one reason or another WAY worse than what we have going on here with the rain and its effect on our flying desires.

Seems that Cal Trans has their work cut out for them with the ongoing road erosion. Hwy 18 has been closed almost more than open so far this year. It can be frustrating getting them to have consideration for pilots needing the highway to access Marshall Peak. It is one thing when the highway is unsafe and they close it. But when the highway is fine and they just don’t consider that anyone needs to go up because they can’t get to Crestline it’s a frustrating battle. A couple of weeks ago we did make some headway and managed for a few short days to get Cal Trans to consider our flying needs. I hope this consideration resurfaces after the floods have settled down.

The Marshall road has been holding up but I hesitated to brag about the work we’ve done as the mudslide gods might not like such an attitude. If need be, the CSS will repair 2N40.

The Andy Jackson Airpark has had some recent landscaping work as well. Close to 1000 cubic yards of silt had piled up on our approach apron over the last year. We have moved it some 300’ to the east off of the LZ plateau. It temporarily has enhanced the hang gliding approach by making several thousand sq. ft. of extra flat area, but given the loose nature of the material it could easily wash away in the coming weeks. A labor by Dianne McKenzie, Kathy Rhodes and myself has established a nice 100’ long rock drainage ditch to help reduce the erosion of this new extension on the approach. Bikers are apparently liking this silt pile as a jumping ramp as reported by Timmy at the LZ. Looks like it needs perhaps some of our excess railway ties properly placed at the base of the slope to make it less attractive for such an activity.

The elections had more voting response than I’ve ever seen before. Strange given the obvious lack of choices as all offices only had one runner. Usually this leads to apathy on returning votes. But 48 votes were cast in all. It was a unanimous victory for the incumbents and the 2 new officers. (what a surprise!) Anyway, I would like to welcome 2 new officers, Dave Davenport (activities) and Gary Brock (safety). Maybe the large turnout of voting had to do with the desire for the average CSS member to give a pat on the back for those dealing with all the $#!+. And just to remind everyone who has been in the drivers seat over the past year, thanks go to: Ken Howells (website and newsletter), Dianne McKenzie (site coordinator), Alan Crouse (treasurer), Kathy Rhodes (secretary), Len Szafaryn (vice pres) and myself (pres).

Here are the current officers for 2005:

President – Rob McKenzie
Vice-president – Len Szafaryn
Secretary – Kathy Rhodes
Treasurer – Alan Crouse
Editor and Webmaster – Ken Howells
Site Coordinator – Dianne McKenzie
Safety Director – Gary Brock
Activities Director – Dave Davenport

I would like to thank everyone for supporting the CSS. It has grown in so many ways over the years. Though the weather is the worst that I’ve seen since I arrived in 1979, the CSS is stronger and more respected in the community than it has ever been. Remember that the current standing the CSS enjoys has a bit to do with recent work, but overall it’s more a reflection of all the work by everyone who has ever helped this association since it started as the San Bernardino Hang Gliding Association in the mid 70’s. We are standing on the shoulders of giants as they say. Thank You!

If there is anything you wish to contact me about, remember that the best way is to drop an email to president@crestlinesoaring.org

- Rob McKenzie, CSS President