Welcome to the Southwest Section

March 2013

Welcome to the first edition of the Website only “Southwesterly”. As you all know this has been a matter of discussion for a number of years and now has become a reality. I want to take this time to reiterate to all chapter chairman that if you have members without access to a computer please, please, please print out a copy for them. We want to make sure that every member receives a copy instead of just those with a computer. By publishing this on our website we will not be limited to the length of the publication, nor will be limited to the number of pictures it contains.

The month of January saw the loss of two Section Members, Karen Johnson Ventura Chapter Chairman and Kitty Houghton Section Sisters Section Committee Chairman and Int’l Membership Chairman. Our hearts go out to the families of each of these amazing women and I know that they both will be missed.

On a happier note I want to thank the Mt. Shasta Chapter for hosting a great Winter Workshop. Those in attendance learned how to revive a dying chapter, how to use the FAA Wings Program Website, now to navigate both the Section and International Websites and how to use an iPad in the cockpit. It was also great to see members that have been absent for a while. Thank you Int’l Director, Margy Leggett for coming down from Washington State and being part of the presentations. West Canada Governor, Betty Lee Longstaff was in attendance also. She was quite excited to be away from snowy weather for a few days. Stay tuned for information on the next winter meeting. The Coyote Country chapter is currently looking for a hotel in their area to host it. More information on that will be available later. If any of you have ideas as to what you’d like to see presented at the Winter Workshop, please let me know and I’ll see what I can do to make that happen. Remember this is your workshop and not mine so any ideas you have will not be ignored.

The Spring Section Meeting in Bakersfield is fast approaching. Have you registered yet? Once again the dates are May 2 – 5. Why not plan to arrive on Thursday to take part in the White Water Rafting excursion on the Kern River? The chapter has been hard at work to make this meeting a memorable one and I know that we’ll all have a great time. Carol Andrews and I will be flying down (weather permitting) in mid-March to view the facilities and work with the chapter. I’m really anxious to see the progress that they’ve made.

The Fall Section Meeting at McClellan is finally starting to come together. Because we were agreeable about changing the dates, the hotel is giving us a real bargain. The dates are now September 20 – 22. Remember this is a Section hosted event and all chapters are a part of this. Our Friday night function will be at the McClellan Aviation Museum which is always a lot of fun. We’ve also decided to have a variety of seminars after the business meeting on Saturday instead of tours.

We’re still looking for a host for the spring, 2014 meeting. If you haven’t hosted a Section Meeting in a while now is your chance to step to the plate. Look what Bakersfield has done in a year. Believe me you do have time to get it done. Fall 2014 will find us in Reno. More information on that meeting will be coming.

I’m off to OKC for the Spring Meeting. I hope to see you all in Bakersfield!

Penny