Section News

Spring 2004 IFFR newsletter for the Americas

Promoting World Understanding & Goodwill
Through Rotary Fellowship

Diana and I have just gotten back from a snowshoe hike but I thought it was time to take the Christmas card off the Web page and update you all on the happenings for spring. Spring must have sprung somewhere. It is snowing here.
Fellowship: Hawaii: May 30 to June 7, 2004

Diana and I did a survey trip to Hawaii in December. I may be an Alaskan sourdough but I will put the snowshoes away in May. Viva La Hawaii. Our airplane is on the ramp in Kona but we will be in Honolulu for the kickoff. The schedule, dates, and registration contacts are on the web page or contact Joe Keifer kiefer@lava.net 808-261-4734.

News Items:

Membership Dues: IFFR Americas Secretary Treasurer has enclosed an invoice and an audit information request below to, (1) collect IFFR Americas dues, and (2) authenticate our mailing list. Dues are supposed to be collected by the division (Americas-Europe-Australia etc.) and then forward the IFFR International override. This has not been done in the last couple years, which has complicated the accounting for the Fellowship. Our Treasurer, Diana Livingston will square this away with your cooperation. I have been married to this young lady for a long time. When she does a job she wants it right. Please, get back to her with dues and audit as soon as possible. Box 580, Girdwood, Alaska 99587- dstoneliv@livingstonalaska.com 907-783-2128.

From IFFR Americas PVP, Brian Andersen: "RI has a new breed of fellowships surfacing that are tied to the medical field such as members that have had heart surgery. These types of groups are causing great concern on the RI Board of Directors. …Thus… the board thought to impose insurance requirements on all new fellowships. IFFR is not (currently) included in the group…There has never been an incident in which a recreational fellowship brought a claim against RI.

Brian goes on to say that though the RI Directors tabled the issue until July 1, 2005…we all need to contact our RI Director to assure that recreational fellowships do not end up being included in these insurance requirements. Even if group insurance was available, we can't afford the cost. Goodbye recreational fellowships.

From IFFR Americas Angel Flight Coordinator Rob Kirkpatrick: Amendment to the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 pending in the U.S. Congress. This amendment is needed because certain provisions of the 1997 act specifically kept out liability protection for the various entities involved in public benefit flying. I highlight only one item from the proposed amendment: Volunteer pilots will be exempted from any liability over and above the amount of liability insurance coverage that they carry. The full text of Rob's letter will be posted on our web page

From AOPA: FAA held a virtual meeting of the Charity Flying Rule on March 5, 2004 The FAA held the chat session in lieu of real public meetings, despite calls from Congress and AOPA for the face-to-face sessions. AOPA encouraged affected pilots and operators to let the FAA know how the proposed rule will hurt their businesses. Check the AOPA web site and the FAA's Web site for an update on the results.

IFFR Angel Flight Update: The Memorandum of Agreement between Angel Flight America and IFFR Americas is signed and sealed. Read the MOU on the web www.IFFRamericas.org

Section Chair Peter More is President of his Rotary club and a pilot for Angel Flight. He also has his club working as Earth Angels. I know there are a lot of you out there, I just don't know who and where. If you are currently a participant in any part of the Angel Flight program, or want to be, Contact Rob now rob@kirkpatrick.net.

Airport Support Network: AOPA President Phil Boyer just left Alaska after his one man circus act. How does one guy fly an airplane from Maryland to Alaska then put on town meetings in Juneau, Fairbanks, and Anchorage? Phil must change into his flight suit in a phone booth.

All of you get the AOPA magazine, so I don't need to tell you that general aviation and GA airports are under attack. I was out of town when a high priced, condominium project was approved by city zoning and our town council- right off the end of our runway. What do you think will happen next? AOPA statistic: one GA airport closes every week.

I talked with Phil and told him about the IFFRAmericas Memorandum of Agreement with Angel Flight. He asked me to follow with him to put together similar ground rules with ASN. IFFR Americas can be a tremendous asset to AOPA. If you are a current ASN representative let me know: livingston@chugach.net.

Young Eagles: Winter flying in Alaska is a sport all its own. By the time my airplane is warm and free of snow I am too tired to fly. But the EAA Young Eagle program is something Section Chair, John Spalding, wants to support. Come spring Alaska we will start flying kids. I know there are a lot of you out there who participate in the Young Eagle program. How about some stories from members?

MORE NEWS? SEND YOURS TO phil@philyoder.com for posting on the web page