Informal meeting at Oshkosh

[Larry Lyons]

I have an idea I will put out here to debate. On Thurs. night, this year (08), the Vintage Aircraft Assoc. (VAA) had their annual dinner in the Nature Center at Airventure. For $10 bucks we got Roast beef, Turkey, Pasta, Fruit salad, a roof over our heads, and free beer! Did I mention Free beer? Anyway, we could have our little get together there too. I met up by accident with Carl Rigdon so we sat together, but I know what he looks like. George was there too, from another post, but as I do not know what he looks like I missed him. If we had this face to face meeting it would allow us to start putting a face to name. Did I mention Free beer? Other wise the only time we see each other is at the forum and we do not know names so we still do not get the family thing going. We need a casual setting to start to make that happen. I'd like time to chat with Rob more but he has things to do as does everyone else, so with out a designated time and place to relax and chat we never will. The Cessna 190 people had a sign on a table so they could set together and chat. That is where Carl and I ended up. As it happens early evening the forums are done, the airshow is over, another words we would be able to sit and just shoot the bull. As I had only 2 days I did not have time to look for the others up there and even at the Type Club table every one comes and goes at a different time. Did I mention Free Beer? As a rather new member I thought I would throw this out as I know we talked about getting together last year but did not in the end. Did I mention free beer?
Larry

[Robert Lees]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

Well, we had me, Marta & Mike Jones, Joel S, Carl Carlson plus a few others sitting at the Taylorcraft table at the VAA dinner. George kindly made some labels for us.

We always try to have a get-together there, and the labels were quite open & visible!

Rob

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

We , the Taylorcraft gang have always done the VAA picnic for Many years, Yes we have a sign and just do it. Once we out to Omro and once we had a get together at a private hangar on the east side of the field. Never really get more than 12-15 of us at one time.

[flylo]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

"Never really get more than 12-15 of us at one time."
Probably because no one else knew about it. Communication is everything. I think Larry has a great idea. I'll be at the VAA dinner next year now that I know about the Taylorcraft table. Never heard about it before. Thanks Larry for bringing this up. I'll buy you a free beer next year!

[flybikefarm]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

I have invited everyone over for cocktails and bs here. Couple of people found me. A good time was had by all. Did I mention margarita's? George

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

I always bought the beer first round. WE always had the sign up at the Type Club Tent to meet at the VAA picinic. Many would rather do air conditioning and fancy dinners. Same here in Alliance.

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

Well I plead ignorance here. I have been reading this group for two years now and had not seen anything about the VAA dinner meeting or having our own table. Darn, wish I had new you guys were there. Rob, sorry I did not see you at all. We were not on the first tram and the second was full so we had to wait for the last one over. By the time we get there the line is very slow so it is late by the time we get inside. However you can bet I will remember next year! My ride to Oshkosh was with me, I had to settle for a ride in a Mooney, kinda slow at 150mph cruise. Larry

[flybikefarm]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

Sorry I missed you, I was in the serving line handing out the fruit, the big ugly guy next to the quite Italian girl. George

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

I too am very sorry I missed at all. Since 1973 ( my 1st) this was the third time to miss. Dad died in 1976 ; Mom in 1993 ooops I had pneumonia once so this is fourth time. I always placed a note on the table in Type Club that we would meet at the VAA picinic ; I always make that one to see Jeannie Hill get younger each year; what a doll!
Dick, I just had to reveal my love for her

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

Forrest I did see your letter on the table the one time with the planes for sale. There were several people over in the Cub table but no one at ours nor any forms to join either the TOC or the Foundation. Larry

[VictorBravo]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

Do we have any kind of form or flyer to entice people to join? Do we have any "promotional" materials to send out to T-craft owners?

Myself or others on this group can easily come up with something that will serve the purpose, if the club will actually distribute it.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

thank you I needed eyes and ears. I thought someone from the Foundation membership would sit there once in awhile. It was there and available.
Steve Krog would have had the applications. Oh well onward and upward. Each year we have tried to get someone nearby to OSH to arrange a dinner meeting, no volunteers so we ahve done the VAA picinic. I love it because I get to see the others too! Remember here in Alliance and near vicinity we have Fleet, Pietenpohl, Aeronca , American Cahmpion, Funk, Luscombe, Stearman, Waco, North American T-6, Piper J-3, J-4, J-5, Pa-11 and numerous others, including Light Sport stuff and U.L.'s in addition to our three Gyro Copters and two Heli copters. Lots of skydiving and powered parachutes. got to www.barberaircraft.com and check the For Sale & links.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

I arrived back home in Blighty this morning.

Yes, I guess there are things that we can always do to improve communications on the VAA dinner...keep the ideas coming.

I think Bill's idea is worth working on.

Rob

[Ryan]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

I would volunteer to help with the flyers as I thought about sending one to regional Tcraft owners in late winter spring reminding them of the Alliance flyin to try and get more planes. There were very few "local" planes there, ones I see all over the place at other flyins. We may need to get the word out as there maybe many new Tcraft owners in recent years due to LSA, cheaper fuel consumption etc... I would like to see the Taylorcraft Foundation and the get togethers grow.

Ryan

[Joel Severinghaus]

Re: Informal meeting at Oshkosh

Sorry we didn't all connect at the VAA picnic. Usually we'd have Forrest there as an unmistakable rallying point. And the hand-lettered "Taylorcraft" sign on the picnic table was kinda small.

George, I confess I remember the attractive "quiet Italian woman" working on the serving line, but I apparently didn't notice you, if you were standing next to her...

So OK, in hopes of putting more faces with names next year, I'm volunteering to bring a bigger, more visible "Taylorcraft" table sign to the VAA picnic. I'll bring stick-on nametags too. Now I just need to get to the Red Barn soon enough to catch the first tram over to the picnic pavilion.