Due to a conflict on October 21, I moved the Whiteplains Young Eagle Day to the following week, October, 28th at 9 am. Rain day is the following saturday. Still looks like we have ten to fly.

As of today, I have only one, maybe two people that offered to fly. With myself, that would be three. Two more would be nice. If your interested and a EAA member, just drop me a line or a phone call.

Thanks,
Don Cook
Whiteplains Young Eagle Director
803-808-1993

Fuel Price Checker

I added a link on the right hand side of the blog "100LL.Com". Click on it, and then enter the airport code. Such as KCAE. If you look at the bottom of the screen it shows the lowest price found for that area checked. Give it a try and save a little CASH on gas.

Or click here: http://www.100ll.com/

Whiteplains UNICOM#10

The time for elections to the 2007 Board of Directors is almost upon us. There will be two vacancies to fill. The time commitment isn’t as great as you might imagine, and it is a great opportunity to give something back to your community. I would urge everyone to consider it. Ken


Whiteplains UNICOM #10: The Election Process

At its meeting on September 29, the Board of Directors voted to adopt a four-part elections process and to create an Elections Committee to oversee it. The Board’s objective was to draw from the best practices of organizations similar to ours, and to ensure openness, fairness and accountability. Membership on the Elections Committee will exclude current Board members, current Officers, and those standing for election. This year’s committee will be composed of: John Gardner, Larry Ross and Linda Demaray.

Part 1: Nomination

The Elections Committee will collect nominations for election to the Board of Directors. These nominations can result from a general call, by approaching specific individuals, or by accepting self-nominations from interested residents. There should be at least one more candidacy than there are vacancies. Individuals who are interested in standing for election are requested (but not required) to prepare a 100-word statement for inclusion in the balloting material. This statement might include the candidate’s qualifications, goals/objectives, views on issues pertinent to the community, or anything else that might assist the voters in making an informed choice. Nominations will open on October 15 and close on December 1.

Part 2: Balloting

The Elections Committee will design and prepare ballots which include the candidates’ statements (if provided). The ballot design will incorporate a procedure to allow for the identification of the Lot number of the incoming vote (to provide integrity) while still preserving the anonymity of the voter. [Example: use of a return mailing envelope identified by lot number containing an otherwise unidentifiable ballot.] The choice of US mail or e-mail is left to the Elections Committee, but ALL property owners must receive ballots no later than December 15. Persons owning multiple lots have multiple votes, in accordance with our by-laws.

Part 3: Tabulating

The Annual Meeting of the Whiteplains Plantation Association is scheduled for January 16, 2007. The Committee may begin to count ballots one week before that date, and will create a provisional tabulation at that time. The first order of business of the Annual Meeting will be to close the balloting process so that any recently-received ballots may be added to the provisional totals. When called upon to do so, the Chair of the Elections Committee will read the names of the individuals who have been elected. The total number of ballots cast will be reported, however the number of votes for each individual candidate shall not be reported.

Part 4: Challenge and Audit

If a member of the Association wishes to challenge the election, he/she has one week from the date of the Annual Meeting in which to do so. If a challenge is received, the Board of Directors will appoint an Audit Committee to review the work of the Elections Committee and render a decision. If no challenges are received within the allotted time, the Elections Committee will destroy all balloting material and disband.


Ken Plesser, President

Whiteplains Plantation Association

Across the RockiesDate

From: "Lee Van Wormer" To: "Vicki,John Gardner" Subject: Across the RockiesDate: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 23:34:47 -0600

Salt Lake City and a steady, pouring rain - that's almost an oxymoron, isn't it? Be that as it may, that's what we encountered as we ended our two day trek across incredibly wondrous expanses from Fort Collins, CO, where my sister lives to my brother's on his 59th birthday. Today, October 4th. We pondered over which way to cross the Rockies out of the Denver area but with the help of a few locals who had taken several different routes we opted for route 14. This two lane highway would be vitually free of traffic and wind over Cameron Pass at just over 10,000 feet , Rabbit Ears Pass at a titch over 9,00o feet and then connect with route 40 east of Steamboat Springs, on past Dinosaur National Monument , through the Wasatch Range at Park City, Utah and down into the Great Salt Lake Valley.
At long last, Lee would realize a dream that he thougth might never come true - to drive his Dodge Ram pulling his rig up over some challenging mountains. Mind you, the one ton Dodge diesel would have done a very adequate job of doing just that, but Lee is a man's man, a guy. He wants all the bells and whistles and as if 350 horses are not enough he had to have a "chip" installed which would give him 450 horses!! Now he sold me on the deal saying that we would get better gas mileage and what do I know about such things as chips and torque and horse power? So while in Fort Collins we dropped a little cash at a local performance shop and on the day of departure he flashed a bigger than ordinary smile as we waved goodbye to family. I later learned that it is not the icreased gas mileage that was so great but MORE POWER. You remember the old Men are from Mars......well, later on, in low gear in a mountain area parking lot, pulling a fully loaded 28 foot fifth wheel, he peeled rubber:) I tried to act impressed. He said words like," and it even has limited slip rear differential." This is the same guy who notices every bump in guardrails and even makes out-loud noises like BAMB BAMB BAMB as he relives the poor fellows fate who banged those guard rails. Did you ever notice the tire rubber on concrete barriers on extra sharp turns? You gotta be kidding! So does Lee!! Oh, and as I'm all agoggle over the Red-tailed hawk I see circling overhead he's telling me about the extra reinforcement on the road signs in this high-wind area of the trip.Keeps them from fluttering. We laugh at each other and wonder at our differences but also appreciate how those differences make for a more enjoyable whole.

As I revel at the beauty of the scenery I find myself feeling wholly inadequate when thinking of how to describe the beauty of the land. I need to hire a poet to put together a string of words in such a beauteous way that anyone reading those words could envision what I was seeing. Take the trees for instance. The Aspens cling to the valleys of the green pine covered hillsides wearing such bright golden colors that they shout out to all. As the wind blows through their leaves it scatters them like yellow snow flakes across the road and into the streams. In the higher elevations where the leaves have fallen, it's as if they have shed a golden petticoat on the ground below their outstretched branches. Take each individual tree - golden is just one word. Some are light gold, others bright yellow, others amber. One would need an entire jewel bag full of color words to describe the individual hues. Then there are the Cottonwoods that line the stream and river beds - they have fat brown trunks, unlike the lithe white trunks of the Aspen, and they,too, need words of many shades to describe the yellows and golds that they wear with such grace. From a distance, as I glance up to the high mountain slopes, it's as if an artist has taken a paint brush and splashed the green forest canvas with bright flashy colors, a last hurrah before the bland, monochromatic colors of winter. I think about all the artists and poets and song writers who have written and painted in an attempt to capture what their eyes behold, and convey that vision to the rest of the world. Shops and books and recordings are filled with such attempts. No wonder I am struggling.

Up out of the mountains, on to the vast high plains of western Colorado and eastern Utah the landscape changes. For endless miles I see no one in the rear view mirror and no one up ahead. Signs warning of antelopes crossing cause my scan to widen for signs of danger. I sight herds of the white and brown beauties far off on the sage colored hills but fortunately none crossed the highway as I passed. Colors now are muted in shades of mauve, putty and bronze. Just grab a color chart at any Lowes paint department and chose a Laura Ashley palette- those are the colors of the high desert. Mixtures of beige and rust, maroon and cafe au lait all paint the colors of the rock formations that loom on the horizon, layers of old lake beds hardened into sedimentary rocks and lifted up by gargantuan forces that have turned them into grotesque forms, then eroded into sensuous, smooth undulations of solid rock. What a magnificant sculptress Mother Nature is!

As the sun sank lower in the sky we needed a place to stop and sleep. The Barbed Wire Campground was easily accessible and we were tired. Lee hopped out and went into the office. As I glanced around I became more and more uneasy and quietly locked the doors to the truck. Tough looking, long haired cowboy types milled around some ratty trailers and I knew instantly that I would be as out of place as a Lady Di in a strip joint. Lee came out of the office carrying an envelope and my heart sank. How could I tell a tired and weary traveler that I wanted to move on? His first words to me were,"We're out of here!" Besides his own intuition, the sign in the office saying No Drugs, No Guns raised his protective instints and we drove on into Dinosaur National Monument. It was at the end of a 10 mile paved road that we found a spot that will rank in the top 5 places I have ever camped. Split Mountain Campground. Located on the Green River flanked by towering red sandstone cliffs, we parked the rig and began settling in. There were no services but we were prepared so I cooked a gourmet dinner which we ate by candle light. By nine o'clock the stars were dotting the sky like pin points and we slipped under the covers and snuggled until we were warmed. The thermometer read 44 degrees in the camper by morning but as the sun rose over the rocks it warmed us up and I took an early morning walk to discover the campground was full of rabbits! After a breakfast of hash browns, eggs and sausage we took my kayak to the river and Lee helped me launch into the brown silted waters of the Green River. I was in HEAVEN!! I LOVE the Green River and had white water rafted down a section known as Desolation Canyon years before. So I paddled upstream, caught some light rapids and floated down, crossed to the far side and explored some caves. It was a wonderful treat and as I marveled at the beauty surrounding me I stored the images in my mind for tough times ahead.

The sky turned grey as we headed west towards Salt Lake City . Lee no longer had to slow for my photography requests . We ate lunch at a rest stop and I drove on in pouring rain down 6 degree grades into the Great Salt Lake Valley. In total contrast to the night before we are camped in a KOA campground in the middle of the city with a few hundred other rigs. All safe, all manicured and green and close to my brother. My son flies in on Friday and will be our companion for the trek to Seattle.

Hope all is well and safe with each and every one of you.
Love,
Nancy and Lee



Click on Photoshow to see full size. Enjoy...Don

Mile after mile after mile

Did you know that one Kansas farmer feeds 128 people plus YOU? Grain elevators,trucks and prairie dog holes were the scenes for the day. We've made it across the plains!

Breakfast Send Off... Photoshow

Click on SEE SHOW below to view PhotoShow of Lee and Nancy's Breakfast Send Off that took place this morning. They are on the way to the west coast for a 30 day ADVENTURE!

SEE SHOW

Pilots Needed!

Attention: All Whiteplains Pilots!


I just got a call from Col. Tucker, with a request to fly 10 young eagles from the Lexington HS Jr. ROTC Cadet program in October. The date is October 21, 2006 which is a Saturday. If we are unable to fly (due to weather) on the 21, October 28th would be our backup date.

This is a good opportunity for you to share in the excitement of flight with a young person that is interested in flying. If you have never flown a Young Eagle before this is your chance, and if you have, then you know the excitement that is seen in the face of the cadets after a flight.

The cadet program reimburses pilots for a portion of fuel used.

Please consider this so we can get all 10 cadets flown next month.

Thanks! Looking forward to hearing from you.


Don Cook
Whiteplains Young Eagle Director
email: duckey123@hotmail.com
Phone: 803-808-1993

Runway Work in Progress!

Thanks to Jim Wheat for the use of his rented John Dear Tractor, and with the help of Jim, Bill Como, Don Cook and Rick Miller we were able to remove many of the R/R ties on the north side of the runway. Micah Froese donated some dirt that was used to fill in areas of the runway shoulder that was in need of filling. We also were able to dump two loads of dirt behind the Van Warmers lot that was erroding due to water run off from the runway. Micah also blew down the taxi way in the area we were working at. Jim Wheat leveled the pile of dirt that was along the taxi-way that was used as a stop-gap for water errosion in that area.
All of the R/R ties were removed in front of Neal and Nancy's home, and all of the lower ties down by runway 9's end. Low wing airplanes can now safely use the taxi way.
Thanks again for all the hard work. Much more needs to be done, but this is a good start in the right direction.

PhotoShow Pilot's Meeting

Click below for short Photoshow of last Pilot's meeting.

http://www.photoshow.net/watch/Qh2Mk3sn

WHITEPLAINS PILOT'S ASSOCIATION

Monday September 18, 2006
Ray Hill, VP
Hosting Hangar, Jim Wheat
AGENDA
Welcome Pilots and Guests
Statement of Purpose
" The purpose of the Whiteplains Pilots Association is to promote aviation safety, camaraderie among the Whiteplains pilots and promote
communications with the pilot community."
Sign in Sheet with e-mail addresses
GUEST SPEAKER
Maj Brent Sprouse, Chief, Flight Safety USAF

Acceptance of August 14, 2006 Minutes
Old BusinessNew Business
Announcements
Treasurers Report; Terry Yon
Airside Report; Don Cook
Safety Report; Todd Falstad
Residential Side Report; Bill Como
Whiteplains Board Report; Ken Plesser
Cash Drawing

PILOT'S ASSOCIATION MEETING

Pilot's Meeting Reminder

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

JIM WHEATS HANGAR

JUST A REMINDER !

IF ANYONE HAS AN AGENDA ITEM PLEASE CONTACT ME BY SUNDAY PM.

Board Meeting

There will be a regular meeting of the Whiteplains Plantation Association Board of Directors and Leadership Team on Thursday, September 28, at 7 PM in Ken Plesser's hangar.

Please advise ASAP if you are unable to attend. We will do our best to accommodate everyone's other plans to the maximum extent practicable.

If the meeting runs over two hours, or if the 28th is unacceptable to a large number of folks, the backup date is Monday, October 2.

Agenda coming later.

Ken

PILOT'S ASSOCIATION MEETING

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

7:00 p.m. Jim Wheat's Hangar

Our guest speaker will be Maj. Brent Sprouse, Chief Flight Safety Officer at Shaw AFB. We will also have door prizes and a cash drawing.

If anyone has an agenda item for this meeting, please contact me this week.

Labor Day 2006

Today was a fun day at Ray and Laurie Ackerman's place located on lake Murray. Many of Whiteplains residents were out in force to enjoy the day, with lots of food and fun for all. I'll post a few of the pictures that were taken. Pictures by James Wheat and Don Cook. I'll put a Photoshow together later.
Click on photo for full size.

Whiteplains UNICOM #9: The Saga of the Beacon

The mission of the Whiteplains Pilots’ Association includes a commitment to aviation safety. One of the possibilities that has been under discussion for many years is the installation of an airport beacon to facilitate visual recognition at night. This UNICOM will discuss the background (thanks to Nancy Van Wormer for the history lesson) and then go on to discuss what we are currently doing.

Ray Elam, former hangar owner and pilot, was an active member of the Pilots’ Association. He often flew at night and found it difficult to locate SC99 in the dark especially when arriving from the north. Before his untimely death in April 2003, he proposed that a beacon be erected at Whiteplains on his hangar (which is now owned by James and Joann Kiesler). After Ray's death, Lloyd Krueger donated the present tower and, under the direction of Lee Van Wormer, the tower was erected. An aircraft wingtip strobe was placed at the top of the tower; it operated for some months before failing.

The next opportunity to revisit the beacon issue came in 2005 when the State Division of Aeronautics offered us (at no cost) a surplus beacon in need of refurbishment. After some engineering analysis, we concluded that we could restore it to operating condition for a few hundred dollars but (at over 100 pounds) it was too heavy for the present tower’s structure. It was also much too bright (two 1000 watt bulbs), creating the potential for light pollution for residents and nearby neighbors.

Later, a search of available commercial devices revealed a six-pound airport identification strobe designed for private airports. It flashes alternating green and white, just like a rotating beacon, has a clear night visibility of 15 miles, and consumes only 250 watts.

In the Fall of 2005 the members of the Pilots’ Association voted to endorse the acquisition of a beacon. The plan was that the beacon would be pilot-controlled, would only operate for ten minutes at a time, and then only when a pilot manually turns it on with five clicks of the mike.

In the Spring of 2006, the Board of Directors voted to scrap the plan for a beacon, feeling that it was of limited usefulness and therefore not needed. Given the vocal support from a number of pilots who offered to donate money toward the $895 installation, the Board reversed its decision a few months later, agreeing to support the installation if the pilots would make donations equal to the purchase price.

At the August meeting of the Pilots’ Association, Vice-president Ray Hill showed a photo of the proposed beacon and renewed the Pilot’s Association support of purchasing and installing it. That evening, $130.00 cash was raised by auctioning items donated by Ray, along with $35.00 in cash pledges. Another Pilot’s Association meeting is scheduled for September 18 where discussion of the beacon will be on the agenda; hopefully, we will have a good turnout.

All pilots, particularly those who fly at night, can support this community effort with a donation to the beacon project. Ray Hill is coordinating the fund-raising effort.



Ken Plesser, President
Whiteplains Plantation Association


Lee Van Wormer, President
Ray Hill, Vice-president/Secretary
Whiteplains Pilots’ Association

New Veterinarian near Whiteplains

Here is the information regarding the new veterinarian that we met this week.

Dr. Tim Loonam has very recently opened the Grace Animal Hospital and Pet Lodge at 147 Charter Oak Road, Lexington. His phone number is 803-808-7387, with the website of www.gracepets.com. Dr. Loonam was educated at the University of Georgia and treats both small and large animals. Dr. Loonam's first career was in the Army, initially as an infantryman, then the Army facilitated him obtaining his veterinary education, and he then was member of the Army Veterinarian Corps. During his military career he served in Iraq, participated in both battles of Fallujah, and was a survivor of a roadside bomb. He is now setting up his own fulltime practice in Lexington. His office is very well organized and his staff are friendly, helpful, and concerned about animals. Dr. Loonam provided a comprehensive physical exam, with lab work, at a very reasonable fee for our less-than-vet-friendly cat, Katlee, earlier this week. Katlee has had many previous unpleasant vet experiences, but Dr.Loonam was sensitive to her history, managed her fear with in a soothing manner, and let her warm up slowly to the new environment of his office and with him. Dr. Loonam and his staff are interested in not only providing quality care, but also in educating their patients' owners.

Ken and I were most pleased with Dr. Loonam and the Grace Animal Hospital, and want to share this positive reference with our neighbors.

Peg

New Private Pilot, Jackson Murphy

Larry Ross is proud to annouce that his student, Jackson Murphy, passed his Private Pilot check ride on August 26th. Jackson is the son of Bob Murphy who has a Kit Fox in his hangar here at Whiteplains. Congratulations, Jackson!

Steve Mestler and his Republic Seabee

Every time Steve Mestler takes his Republic Seabee out of the hangar, folks turn out to watch! This morning Steve arranged for Lee to have a flight. Lee landed this beautiful ship three times on Lake Murray and came home grinning. Jack Fastnaught, who did the annual on N9042N also took a turn at the yoke. When Steve is not at work flying a 737 around the country , he enjoys sharing his passion with fellow pilots.

Thanks, Steve, you made our day!

Ray Chaplin - New Mower Helper.

A Couple of shots of Ray Chaplin giving the mower a workout today. He was checked out last week and got the hang of it in about 30 minuets. Great job Ray. Thanks for the help.

Whiteplains Salutes the Hogan Family

Kevin,Sabrina, Devon and Kevin Hogan were honored at a cook out hosted by Jim Wheat, Sherri Murphree, James and Joann Kiesler and Larry Ross. Many families showed up to honor and thank Kevin for his patriotism as he prepares to leave for Kuwait to serve his country.

Roadways Are Clean Again

Thanks to 11 hardy folks who turned out to support the Pilots' Association Adopt-a-Highway
pick up program. Diane Fastnaught served a delicious breakfast before the pick up. Thanks Jim Causey and Jack for driving your trucks to pick us up and make the pick up speedy . We had three guests, two elders from Jack and Diane's church, and Spencer Falstad , 7th grader, who was doing service work for his community. A local neighbor who witnessed our efforts gave us her number and wants to be a part of the fun in October.

DON'T FORGET ! ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY PICK-UP

SATURDAY MORNING - 8:30 A.M

AT FASTNAUGHT'S BACK PORCH

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

Minutes of the Whiteplains Pilots’ Association

August 14, 2006
Ray Hill – Vice President
Dennis Ramsey - host


The meeting was called to order at 7:03 P.M.
1.Ray Hill read the statement of purpose of the Pilots’ Association.
2. Self – Introductions were made
3. A moment of silence was observed in memory of Frank Skenes
4. The next Pilots’ meeting will be September 18th, 7 P.M. Location to be announced

Ray Hill introduced guest speaker Mike Flack, Executive Director of Columbia Metropolitan Airport who made the following points:

1. CAE has a master plan for the next 20 years which includes
a. Extension of runway 29 by 2400 feet
b. New tower on south side of airport
c. New fire house and National Weather Service buildings
d. Parking structure for rental cars
e. Expansion of terminal building
f. Adding other airlines to serve Columbia

2. For aviation, in general, outlook is strong and new light jets will make impact.
3. Day to day operation of CAE is self sufficient with NO state or local funds. Money comes from fuelage, landing fees and federal moneys. There is NO plan to charge landing fees for GA.
4. Wildlife, esp. deer, coyotes and birds are an on-going safety concern but they due have a plan that has been implemented to manage the problem.
5. The ASR-11 radar upgrade is installed and is up and running.
6. CAE is aware of Whiteplains Plantation and has no problems with our operations.
Mr. Flack complimented Whiteplains’ pilots and said we “are doing it right.”

Jim Wheat made a motion and Dennis Ramsey seconded the motion to accept last meeting’s minutes as is.

Old Business

1. Windsocks – The Board paid for a new windsock which was installed in the center of the field.
Several west end residents bought and installed a new windsock on top of Jack Fastnaught’s hangar.






New Business

1. Strobe for Elam Tower - $895.00
A little history:
Ray Elam, former hangar owner and pilot, was an active member of the Pilot’s Association. He often flew at night and found it difficult to locate SC99 at night especially when arriving from the north. Before his untimely death in April 2003, he proposed that a beacon be erected at Whiteplains on his hangar (-which is now owned by James and Joann Kiesler). After his death, Lloyd Krueger donated the present tower, and under the direction of Lee Van Wormer the tower was erected .
The aircraft strobe, which was erected at the top of the tower, operated briefly and then failed. Rotating beacons were procured from the South Carolina Division of Aeronautics, at no cost, but were determined to be too heavy for the present tower’s structure. At that time, the six pound, $895.00 airport identification beacon was selected as the proper equipment. In the Fall of 2005 the members of the Pilots’ Association voted in favor of erecting a beacon.
In the Spring of 2006 the board voted to scrap the plan for a beacon and then reversed it’s decision a few months later. Some felt it was not needed, others felt it would be a “light pollution” to the neighborhood. There was vocal support from a number of pilots in favor of the beacon with offers of donated money in May of 2006.
Given the fact that the $895.00 beacon will be pilot controlled, it will illuminate the environment for a maximum of 10 to 15 minutes and ONLY when a pilot manually turns it on with five clicks of the mike. The VASI light will come on simultaneously.

Current Action

Ray Hill shared a photo of the $895.00 beacon and renewed the Pilot’s Association support of purchasing and installing the beacon.
Ken Plesser, President of the Board, stated that the Board has money for all supporting costs such as wiring and labor but not for the beacon itself.
$130.00 cash and $35.00 in pledges was raised tonight by auctioning items donated by Ray Hill.
Pledge coupons were passed out for folks to donate money to the fund.
Checks may be made out to Pilots’ Association treasurer, Terry Yon, and mailed to him at 309 Whiteplains Place, Gilbert, SC 29054


2. There was no treasurer’s report as the treasurer was not present
3. Don Cook – Airside Operations
a. Don reported that the sides of the runway have been sprayed to keep the weeds down.
b. Don reports water erosion and damage from truck traffic on the runway.
c. A large pile of sand/clay was dumped at the side of the taxiway to stop erosion and poses a potential safety issue for low-winged aircraft. An e-mail of this potential hazard was sent to all pilots
4. Todd Falstad - Safety Coordinator
a. Todd reminded pilots of hazards of the dirt pile beside the taxiway
b. Todd spoke about Density Altitude and our need to be vigilant when flying in extremely hot weather. RUN YOUR NUMBERS. Your aircraft may not be running as efficiently as it did when the stats were written for it. You may have added extra weight in avionics and wiring not removed with upgrades. There is a slope in our runway and tall trees at the end. MAKE SURE YOUR AIRCRAFT WILL LIFT OFF IN THE DISTANCE WE HAVE HERE AT SC99. SAFETY FIRST.

5. Bill Como – Residential operations
a. Bill thanked Lee Van Wormer for the many, many hours he devoted to
mowing in the past .
b. Bill thanked Don Cook, Hal Clark, Jim Causey, Micah Froese and john Gardner for the many hours they donated to testing new equipment and for keeping Whiteplains mowed this summer.
c. Bill stated that the SCAG mower is exceeding the expectations they
had for it and welcomed additional volunteers to be trained and to donate and hour or two of their time for mowing and keeping our community beautiful. Call Bill at 951-0773 to schedule a 15 minute training session.

d. Memorial Park – Bill introduced an entirely new project and solicited
volunteers to serve on a committee to develop the idea of a memorial park which would include benches, and possibly stones with names of deceased residents, to form a patio. The benches could be erected in the larger of the two islands, under the Pecan trees, on Cirrus Lane and could be welcome places for people to gather or sit as they walked around our neighborhood.
The idea of a flag pole was mentioned but the final plan would be left up to a committee. Bill received a number of volunteers who will begin to plan. He mentioned that a conduit, or sleeve, already exists running under the roadway for electrical or water needs.
Funds for this Memorial Park would be allocated by the Board.
e. Lighting at the main entrance to Phase I has been fixed.
f. The sprinkler system at the entrance to Phase II still has not been fixed.

6. Nancy Van Wormer – Communications Coordinator
a. Don Cook was thanked for the outstanding job he has done on the
Whiteplains Blogspot. He has kept it up to date and it is a place any resident can go to find out current information, meeting minutes, upcoming events, birth dates and photos. Be sure to add this to your list of favorites: whiteplainscommunity.blogspot.com . If you have any appropriate postings please send them to Don.
b. Peggy Como was thanked for her recent work in organizing
donations for flowers for Frank Skenes’ funeral. In addition to the
beautiful flower arrangement a check for $102.00 was sent to
Odyssey Hospice in Whiteplains’ name. Thanks to all who made a donation.
c. Peg Peterson’s committee has had no new residents to welcome
d. At the next Pilots’ Meeting, an October date will be announced for group photos for the 2007 Whiteplains calendar.
e. Adopt-A-Highway – Diane and Jack Fastnaught will host the pick up on Saturday, August 19th. Gather at their home at 8:30 for goodies. Pick up at 9:00 A.M.

7. Lee Van Wormer stated that Ray Hill, Vice-President, will continue to run
Pilots’Association meetings while he remains on medical leave.

Auction

In lieu of the raffle of aviation items, an auction was held and all moneys donated to the fund for a beacon. A total of $130.00 was raised by this simple auction that was “called” by auctioneer, Bill Como. This activity produced much laughter and fun for all involved.
Foggles - $5.00 Dennis Ramsey
Windshield Cleaner $4.50 Todd Falstaad
Windshield Cleaner $4.00 Ro Lucas
Fuel tester $2.00 James Kiesler
Multi-tool $8.50 Nancy Van Wormer
Flight desk $10.00 James Kiesler
Sam Lyons print $35.00 Michael Benton
Sam Lyons print $40.00 Dennis Ramsey

Don Cook won the $21.00 raffle and donated it to the beacon fund. Thank you, Don.
Neighbors enjoyed the delicious sandwiches and cookies provided by Ray Hill.
Ray thanked Dennis Ramsey for hosting the meeting and asked for a volunteer for the September meeting. Call Ray Hill to offer your hangar.


Meeting was adjourned at 8:25 P.M. Notes taken by Nancy Van Wormer 8/18/06

Pilots Meeting - 8-14-2006

A few pictures of the pilots meeting that was held monday night. Report to follow.

SeaBee Flying Again!

Pictures that Nancy Van Wormer took the other day of the SeaBee heading out for a flight. Great Pictures Nancy. Also one taken from my front yard!

Reported by: Don Cook
Photo by: Nancy Van Wormer and Don Cook

That time again folks!

When? Next Saturday, 8-19-2006.

Where? Jack & Diane Fastnaugt's home.

What time? 8:30 for Breakfast and Vest hand outs!

What is it? Clean up day. EVERYONE is invited. So come on out and enjoy the morning with your Whiteplains neighbors in this worth while opportunity.

Whiteplains UNICOM #8: Memorial Park

This time around, we have a guest UNICOM author: Bill Como, our Residential Operations Coordinator. Take it away Bill…

Whiteplains is more than just a neighborhood, it is a place where people enjoy socializing with one another, taking a walk on cool mornings or evenings, jogging, riding or flying our favorite toys. It is also a neighborhood that will be here for a long time.

I would like to propose that we establish a Memorial Park located on the larger of the two islands in Phase II. This can be done as simply as by pouring a 10 x 10 concrete pad and providing two concrete benches for those who would like to rest during their walks or just a place to talk under the shade of the pecan trees. A flag pole would be erected on this site, along with a memorial of some kind to reflect the names of residents or property owners who have passed away. The memorial can be set up in a variety of ways: a large stone with names etched on the face of it, engraved brick pavers, etc. I am sure a committee would have to be established to decide! In so doing, the Elam Tower could be used for that purpose, a tower, not as a flag pole. A professional looking flag pole to fly the US flag along with the Whiteplains flag would also be part of the installation. This site would be very easy to maintain.

Of course, more research will have to go into it, i.e., check with close neighbors, get a consensus and (naturally) a vote to expend funds to cover the minimal costs. Your comments please - either for or against? Please e-mail me your thoughts.

Bill Como

KEVIN HOGAN

NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING

HOT DOG COOKOUT

IN HONOR OF


"DEFENDER OF WHITEPLAINS"

(Kevin will be leaving for active duty on August 24th, 2006)

DATE: AUGUST 19, 2006

TIME: 6:00 PM TILL 9:00 PM

HOSTED BY: JIM AND SHERRI AND
JOANN & JAMES

RSVP - 359-9517 OR 957-6663

Whiteplains Pilots’ Association

Monday August 14, 2006
Ray Hill, VP
Hosting Hangar; Dennis Ramsey

AGENDA
Welcome Pilots and Guests

Statement of Purpose

“The purpose of the Whiteplains Pilots Association is to promote aviation safety, camaraderie among the Whiteplains pilots and promote communications with the pilot community.”

Self-Introductions
Sign in Sheet with e-mail addresses

Frank Skenes July 5, 1942-July 17, 2006

GUEST SPEAKER
Mr. Mike Flack,
Executive Director, Columbia Airport
Future Plans

Acceptance of May 15, 2006 Meeting Minutes
Old Business
New Business
Auction of artwork for funding the Elam Tower Strobe

Treasurers Report; Terry Yon
Airside Report: Don Cook
Safety Report; Todd Falstad
Residential Side Report; Bill Como
Communications Report; Nancy Van Wormer
Whiteplains Board Report; Ken Plesser

Cash Drawing

Taxi alert

Because of a chronic erosion problem on a vacant lot between the Froese property and the Plesser property, we have dumped 9 tons of sand clay near the curbing as a stopgap measure.

The pile is low enough that it won't affect taxiing by high-wing airplanes, but low-wingers (Mooneys especially) might want to consider back-taxiing on the runway to avoid clipping the pile with a wingtip.

Ken

Whiteplains UNICOM #7: Help Wanted

When your Board of Directors looked at our situation for 2006 and beyond, we saw some big challenges ahead. Chief among them were: loss of many resources that the developer provided, new responsibilities coming for Phase II and for the runway and common properties, and an inequitable distribution of work, with the old Airport Operations Manager (Lee Van Wormer) doing most of it.

We realized that we needed either more volunteer labor or more cash. Paying for needed services would require special assessments and a significant regime fee increase… therefore we chose to implement a structure of volunteers to help us get our work accomplished at minimum cost.

This has worked well, up to a point. We are keeping up with maintenance, and even making some improvements. But, to move ahead, we need more volunteers. If everyone could give just an hour or two a month to the community, we could continue to make great improvements to our environment.

What kind of volunteers and skills do we need? Glad you asked…

We need more lawn mower operators for the common areas and unimproved lots. See Bill Como or Don Cook to volunteer and get trained on our fancy new equipment. We also need a weed-whacking brigade and blower operators to support the mower drivers with trim and clean-up work. Can you spare an hour or two a month for this? Again, see Bill or Don.

We also need folks with a wide range of professional/technical skills to offer their services to the community. Just to name a few: a landscaper to advise us of how to keep both entranceways looking the best at the lowest possible cost, folks knowledgeable in insurance and tax matters to help the Board with financial issues, an electrical expert to keep our lights burning brightly and our gates working, and construction people to help us maintain and upgrade our infrastructure. Perhaps you have some talent (or interest) that would benefit us all.

There will continue to be more committees formed to look at specific issues. We’ve had a Mowing Committee and an Insurance Committee so far. Right now, we’re starting a Signage Committee to evaluate all Whiteplains signage. Another couple of members are needed.

The people currently in leadership positions won’t keep those jobs forever, so we’re always looking for residents to get involved and then to step up to larger roles. This includes, obviously, serving on the Board of Directors (among other things).

The Whiteplains retirees have been doing a lot of the work because, frankly, they have more free time. Nonetheless, there are opportunities for everyone to contribute. The payoff is in meeting and getting to know your neighbors, and in making your community a better place in which to live. Please consider it. No, don’t just consider it… pick up the phone and call Bill or Don or me and say that you want to join the team working long sweaty hours with little appreciation.

Ken Plesser, President
Whiteplains Plantation Association

Whiteplains UNICOM #6: Hooray for Whiteplains

2006 is more than half-way over (only 140 shopping days left before Christmas), and a neighbor recently pointed out that it might be a good time to put out a UNICOM that reflects upon all of the good things that have happened in Whiteplains since the start of the year. The list is long.

Three houses have been completed, and we have welcomed the Souders, the Bridgers, the Nashes and the Bentons into the community. Three more houses are under construction: the Sislers, Lloyd Krueger, and the lucky family who will buy the Eastpointe spec house. Hangars are under roof for Dick Hitt and Vic Carilli, and ground has been broken for hangars for Ray Hill and Tommy Robbins.

Dennis Perry and Ray Ackerman have received their Commercial pilot’s certificate. Instrument rating training is underway for James Kiesler, Adam Skenes and Michael Cone… all under the watchful eye of instructor Jack Fastnaught.

Dennis Ramsey’s Mooney, along with the Froese/Fastnaught/Cone/Ackerman Mooney have received new instrument panels and avionics. Eric Demaray’s Cassutt got a fancy new paint job. Ray Chaplin’s Zenith and Bob Chatham’s RV-6 move closer and closer to completion… Ray expects the first flight in a month or so.

We have moved towards better landscape maintenance all around with the acquisition of a new commercial-grade mower. By cutting the unimproved lots for a fee, we are providing a service to absentee landowners while generating a revenue stream that is defraying the cost of mower acquisition.

We have devoted a very substantial $13,000 to the paving reserve this year, and we are meeting budget targets in all other categories.

We have put out one issue of a paper newsletter, and Don Cook’s blog provides a real-time update to the goings-on in the Whiteplains family.

The community has taken ownership of the Phase II infrastructure and the runway parcel from the developer. This will bring additional responsibilities and costs, but it is a very important milestone in the community’s march towards completion and self-governance.

A pretty good list for only a little more than six months. Just a few more reasons to be glad that we all live in one of the finest community of its kind in the nation.

Ken Plesser, President
Whiteplains Plantation Association

Whiteplains Calender

Birthdays - Happy Birthday to the following members:

Aug 8 - Dennis Perry
Aug 14 - Houston Smith
Aug 23 - Bill Como

SC B/C Dates:

Aug 13 - Aiken (AIK)
Aug 27 - Camden (CDN)

Other Dates:

Aug 14 - PILOT'S ASSOCIATION MEETING
Aug 19 - National Aviation Day!

PILOT'S ASSOCIATION MEETING

AUGUST 14TH AT 7:00
DENNIS RAMSEY'S HANGAR

SPEAKER: MIKE FLACKEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COLUMIA METROPOLITAN AIRPORT

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!!

Thanks again Whiteplains

Great Job

As most of you know Denise and I are working the South Carolina Breakfast Club along with other team members (SCBC).
This is a large task in it's self. Without the help of others it could not be done.
Terry Yon was cracking us up with eggs, Nancy Bonucum was on a two hour coffee break along with lemonade detail. Neil Bonucum was serving up the grits. Jim wheat whipping the yokes and cleaning up. Sherri Camp was not only looking good but kept the egg area, cook trailer and tables looking good.
Thanks again to everyone who helped.
Terry also took a lot of pictures, I hope Don can get some of them on the blog.
Thanks
Dennis

PS: Lee and Nancy Vanwormer were truly missed, they are a big part of our SCBC team.

Flowers

As you all know Frank J Skenes Jr., passed away yesterday, July 17th. In his memory, Franks friends and neighbors here at Whiteplains have sent a $150. flower arrangement to the Thompson Funeral Home in Lexington, for tonight's calling hours. We are recommending a minimum donation of $10. If we receive additional money it will be forwarded to Odyssey Home Health Service Hospice or Palmetto Hospice as per the families request. Checks can be forwarded to Peggy Como, 224 Whiteplains Court, Gilbert, SC 29054 or just stop by. Thanks ever-so-much for your continued support.


Peggy Como

Update - Frank Skenes Funeral Seating

Janet has made arrangements for Whiteplains friends to be seated directly behind the family at the funeral. Also suggested that anyone having a Whiteplains white shirt wear it.
If you will not be wearing a Whiteplains shirt, please inform the ushers that you are part of the Whiteplains family so that you will be seated with the group.

Everyone is welcome at the gravesite. Per Adam's request, Harry will do a fly-over in the Cherokee 6 at the gravesite.

Also, anyone who would like to bring a covered dish to be taken to the house after the service please let me know.

joann

Frank Julian Skenes Jr.

LEXINGTON - Services for Frank Julian Skenes, Jr., 64, of Lexington, SC, will be held at 11:00am Wednesday, July 19, 2006 in Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church, officiated by Rev. Adrian Moldovan. Burial will follow in Woodridge Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Johnny Dickerson, Charlie Dickerson, Jimmy Shealy, Mark Dantzler, David Bostick, and Don Accordini. The family will receive friends from 6-8pm Tuesday at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington. Memorials may be made to Odyssey Home Health Service Hospice or to Palmetto Hospice.Mr. Skenes died Monday, July 17, 2006. Born in Columbia, SC, he was the son of the late Frank Julian Skenes, Sr. and Mary Kathleen Amick Skenes. Mr. Skenes was a private pilot and was affiliated with White Plains Plantation. He enjoyed traveling, boating, hunting, and fishing. Additionally, Mr. Skenes was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of Jamil Temple and the Air National Guard. He was a member of Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church and was owner/operator of Skenes Construction, Inc.Surviving are his wife, Janet Kay Skenes of Lexington; daughters, Frankie Shannon Skenes McVey and husband Tracey Gerald of Lexington, Holly Wynette Skenes Moldovan and husband Adrian Emil of West Columbia, Angela Nichole Strickland of Lexington; sons, Frank J. “Top” Skenes, III and wife Kayren Lear of West Columbia, Adam Pierce Skenes of Lexington; sister, Jo Ellen Anderson and husband Butch of Lexington; brother, Kenneth Carroll Skenes of West Columbia; grandchildren, Dylan York Miller, Tyler Austin Miller, McKenzie Jordan Miller, Jeremy Payton McVey, Kaitlyn Nichole Strickland, and Garrett Gabriel Skenes.

http://www.legacy.com/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=18511574

FRANK SKENES

Frank passed away last at 2:25 last night.

I will post the arrangements when Janet calls me.

Please keep the family in your prayers.

joann

Update...


The arrangements for Frank have been made.

Visitation will be Tuesday night from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Thompson Funeral Home in Lexington.

Funeral service will be at Saxa Gotha church (HWY 378) in Lexington at 11:00 am Wednesday.

Burial will be in Woodbridge Cemetary. (This is on the road behind the John Deere place on hwy 378.

Whiteplains UNICOM #5: Runway Access

One of the most significant things to have happened in the last few weeks is the transfer of ownership of the runway parcel from the developer to the homeowners association. Of course, along with ownership comes liability. The issue of liability insurance is the subject of ongoing discussion in the Board, but this UNICOM is devoted to a different aspect of liability: the recent increase of unauthorized and inappropriate vehicles on the runway. This problem doesn’t belong to Niel any more; it belongs to us.

Aircraft in the departure and landing phases of flight are not very maneuverable. For safety and liability reasons, we must tightly control the use of the runway for anything other than aircraft. The following paragraphs describe the Board’s view of the types of runway incursion issues, and what we must do about them.

Visitors’ cars/trucks. Vehicles driven by guests of property owners are of the greatest concern because, if a driver enters the runway, he/she is probably both lost and unaware of an aircraft hazard. A committee has recently been formed to evaluate signage throughout the community, and appropriate signage at all runway access points will be an important part of the committee’s agenda. This should help a great deal. We can all help by alerting our visitors (including delivery vehicles) to the presence of a runway in the neighborhood.

Construction vehicles. Construction workers are much like visitors, so property owners and general contractors should make them aware of the presence of the runway. Sometimes, a construction vehicle may need to access a building site via the runway, but this should be a choice of last resort, not a convenience. This is particularly true for heavy loads… there is already substantial damage to the runway edges from things like concrete delivery.

Property owners’ cars/trucks. There are cases where some property owners have vehicles (cars, boats, campers, etc.) stored in their hangars, and the only available entry/exit is via the runway. It has been a long-standing policy that this is fine, provided that usage is limited and the utmost caution is observed. On the other hand, use of the runway as a convenience or short-cut is totally inappropriate. If you need to drive to a neighbor’s hangar, please use the street.

Unlicensed vehicles. This includes ATVs, go-carts, golf carts, motorcycles, bicycles, RC model cars and planes, and other such “toys.” It is inappropriate to operate these vehicles on the runway surface, with the possible exception of crossing from one side to another, and then only with extreme caution.

Pedestrians. Walking along the runway is dangerous to both pilots and pedestrians. Please don’t do it. If you need to walk across the runway, please look in both directions before proceeding.

Maintenance vehicles. Access to the runway is required by maintenance vehicles to cut grass, spray herbicide, repair runway lights, and the like. Such vehicles should have headlights and flashers on and, in addition, their drivers should monitor 122.9 mHz to listen for inbound air traffic. Pilots should be on the lookout for maintenance vehicles.

A runway in the midst of a residential neighborhood presents a very real potential for serious personal injury or property damage… but the risk can be managed and minimized. Please help our community by doing three things:

1. Observe this simple common-sense rule: “Except in extraordinary cases, the runway is only for aircraft.”

2. In those extraordinary cases, turn your headlights and blinkers on, lower your windows to listen for approaching aircraft, and monitor 122.9 mHz, if you have the capability.

3. If you see a visitor or neighbor with an inappropriate vehicle on the runway, do not hesitate to offer a friendly reminder of our policies and the safety/liability issues.

Thanks for helping to keep Whiteplains safe.


Ken Plesser, President
Whiteplains Plantation Association

A Dream Come True!

James wanted to share a few pictures that were taken at McEntire AFB. Frank Skenes always wanted to see a F-16 Fighter Jet up close. His wish came true last week. Not only was he able to see one, but was able to sit in one as well. Frank said it was a bit "Tight", but managed to get in. Were going to put a PhotoShow together and share it with you as soon as some other pictures come in.

Snips & Bits at Whiteplains!

Today the new top for the mower was installed. Thanks to Bill Como, Jim Causey and Don Cook. Enclosed are some pictures of the new top after it was installed. Also a few pictures of the driveway from the Michael & Leslie Benton new house that has to be replaced due to the poor quality of cement. Over 62 yards of cement have to be removed and re-poured.

Whiteplains Calendar - July 2006

Birthdays - Happy Birthday to the following members:

July 03 - Ann C argile
July 05 - Frank Skenes & Carolyn Yon
July 06 - Terry Yon
July 14 - Darham Harrison
July 20 - Bev Harrison
July 24 - Janet Skenes
July 25 - Diane Fastnaught
July 28 - Jane Jefferson
July 30 - Kay Franklin

SC Breakfast Club dates:

July 02 - Salisbury (RUQ)
July 16 - Winnsboro ( FDW)
July 30 - Laurns (34A)

Other Special Days:

July 4th
July 17 - Pilot's Assoc. Mtg. 7 PM @ Dennis' hangar! To be resheduled.....

Bob & Elaine's New Curbing - PhotoShow

Check out the Photoshow and see how its done. Click on link below.

http://www.photoshow.net/watch/EK8cQ9dg

Don Cook

Photo Show for Ray's Plane

July 5, 2006

Ray Chaplin's plane was loaded up and sent off to the paint shop to be painted. See a short photoshow at the following link:
http://www.photoshow.net/watch/eb4Pb6ZM
Don Cook