Jan 2020 Weather Station Update

As many of you have noticed, the weather station feed from our cameras/weather apps at the field are currently down, and have been since Jan 11th.

The systems at the field are working fine, as is the local network at the field (all devices are connected and up on the network at the field).

Our internet service from the field is provided by TMobile, and that service is how the weather data and camera images are uploaded to our website.  After speaking with TMobile’s technical support, we discovered that they are upgrading the towers that allow our devices at the field to connect to the internet; due to that work, we do not have internet connectivity for the field.

TMobile expects to complete the upgrades and restore our service by Feb 2nd.

As Joe mentioned, you can use the NREL weather station as a stand-in for the time being:

NREL Flatirons Campus weather station:
 
Thank you for your continued patience while we wait for TMobile to restore our field internet service.
 
Dewey Garwood
AAM Webmaster

Silent Auction #6

Silent Auction #6 will begin at 12 pm, Wednesday, 1/6/2021.  The Auction will run for 10 days, ending at 12 pm, Saturday 1/16/2020.

TWO WAYS TO VIEW ITEMS FOR AUCTION

  1. Items will be posted with pictures here
  2. Item will be available to see, evaluate, and “kick the tires” as-is in the U‐Haul shed on the eastside of the east field canopy. (Right next to the Sani‐Can).

NOTE:  THERE IS NO BIDDING VIA THE WEBSITE, BIDDING CAN ONLY BE DONE IN PERSON at the field (see below).

Instructions for Bidding

ALL BIDS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE FIELD via the bid sheet on the item.
Each item will have a bid sheet with a brief description, an established STARTING BID, and a BIDDING MINIMUM INCREASE AMOUNT. The bid sheet will require your name, email address, phone contact, and your bid amount. To bid, remove the bid sheet for the item from the plastic cover and enter your information. Replace the bid sheet back in the plastic cover. Please be sure the bid sheet remains attached to the item.

HOW TO PAY (if you win)
Each auction will end on the designated Saturday, at 12 pm. All items must be picked up and paid for NO LATER than 2 pm. Items cannot be stored. A designated person will be near the U-Haul shed to accept your payment. We can only accept CHECK or CASH‐in the EXACT amount.  Checks should be made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers.

OTHER ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES FOR SALE
In addition to the items that will be sold through the bidding process, there will also be other items for immediate sale. These items are RC airplane and building accessories. The items are available for sale/payment anytime during the auction, no bidding required. To purchase, deposit the amount indicated on the price tag in the “Donations” receptacle in the U-Haul shed. This can be done anytime during the auction. Again, no bidding required. You will need EXACT CASH amount or CHECK made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers.

PLEASE ONLY 1 PERSON IN THE SHED AT A TIME and be sure and LOCK the SHED when you leave!!!

If you have any questions please contact Mark Stensonand good luck!

Silent Auction #5

Silent Auction #5 will begin at 12 pm, Wednesday, 12/2/2020.  The Auction will run for 10 days, ending at 12 pm, Saturday 12/12/2020.

TWO WAYS TO VIEW ITEMS FOR AUCTION

  1. Items will be posted with pictures here
  2. Item will be available to see, evaluate, and “kick the tires” as-is in the U‐Haul shed on the eastside of the east field canopy. (Right next to the Sani‐Can).

NOTE:  THERE IS NO BIDDING VIA THE WEBSITE, BIDDING CAN ONLY BE DONE IN PERSON at the field (see below).

Instructions for Bidding

ALL BIDS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE FIELD via the bid sheet on the item.
Each item will have a bid sheet with a brief description, an established STARTING BID, and a BIDDING MINIMUM INCREASE AMOUNT. The bid sheet will require your name, email address, phone contact, and your bid amount. To bid, remove the bid sheet for the item from the plastic cover and enter your information. Replace the bid sheet back in the plastic cover. Please be sure the bid sheet remains attached to the item.

HOW TO PAY (if you win)
Each auction will end on the designated Saturday, at 12 pm. All items must be picked up and paid for NO LATER than 2 pm. Items cannot be stored. A designated person will be near the U-Haul shed to accept your payment. We can only accept CHECK or CASH‐in the EXACT amount.  Checks should be made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers.

OTHER ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES FOR SALE
In addition to the items that will be sold through the bidding process, there will also be other items for immediate sale. These items are RC airplane and building accessories. The items are available for sale/payment anytime during the auction, no bidding required. To purchase, deposit the amount indicated on the price tag in the “Donations” receptacle in the U-Haul shed. This can be done anytime during the auction. Again, no bidding required. You will need EXACT CASH amount or CHECK made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers.

PLEASE ONLY 1 PERSON IN THE SHED AT A TIME and be sure and LOCK the SHED when you leave!!!

If you have any questions please contact Mark Stensonand good luck!

Silent Auction #4

Silent Auction #4 will begin at 12 pm, Wednesday, 11/4/2020.  The Auction will run for 17 days, ending at 12 pm, Saturday 11/21/2020.

TWO WAYS TO VIEW ITEMS FOR AUCTION

  1. Items will be posted with pictures here
  2. Item will be available to see, evaluate, and “kick the tires” as-is in the U‐Haul shed on the eastside of the east field canopy. (Right next to the Sani‐Can).

NOTE:  THERE IS NO BIDDING VIA THE WEBSITE, BIDDING CAN ONLY BE DONE IN PERSON at the field (see below).

Instructions for Bidding

ALL BIDS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE FIELD via the bid sheet on the item.
Each item will have a bid sheet with a brief description, an established STARTING BID, and a BIDDING MINIMUM INCREASE AMOUNT. The bid sheet will require your name, email address, phone contact, and your bid amount. To bid, remove the bid sheet for the item from the plastic cover and enter your information. Replace the bid sheet back in the plastic cover. Please be sure the bid sheet remains attached to the item.

HOW TO PAY (if you win)
Each auction will end on the designated Saturday, at 12 pm. All items must be picked up and paid for NO LATER than 2 pm. Items cannot be stored. A designated person will be near the U-Haul shed to accept your payment. We can only accept CHECK or CASH‐in the EXACT amount.  Checks should be made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers.

OTHER ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES FOR SALE
In addition to the items that will be sold through the bidding process, there will also be other items for immediate sale. These items are RC airplane and building accessories. The items are available for sale/payment anytime during the auction, no bidding required. To purchase, deposit the amount indicated on the price tag in the “Donations” receptacle in the U-Haul shed. This can be done anytime during the auction. Again, no bidding required. You will need EXACT CASH amount or CHECK made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers.

PLEASE ONLY 1 PERSON IN THE SHED AT A TIME and be sure and LOCK the SHED when you leave!!!

If you have any questions please contact Mark Stensonand good luck!

Silent Auction #3 – Jets!

Silent Auction #3 will begin at 12 pm, Wednesday, 10/7/2020.  The Auction will run for 10 days, ending at 12 pm, Saturday 10/17/2020.  You guessed it… the theme is JETS!

TWO WAYS TO VIEW ITEMS FOR AUCTION

  1. Items will be posted with pictures here
  2. Item will be available to see, evaluate, and “kick the tires” as-is in the U‐Haul shed on the eastside of the east field canopy. (Right next to the Sani‐Can).

NOTE:  THERE IS NO BIDDING VIA THE WEBSITE, BIDDING CAN ONLY BE DONE IN PERSON at the field (see below).

Instructions for Bidding

ALL BIDS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE FIELD via the bid sheet on the item.
Each item will have a bid sheet with a brief description, an established STARTING BID, and a BIDDING MINIMUM INCREASE AMOUNT. The bid sheet will require your name, email address, phone contact, and your bid amount. To bid, remove the bid sheet for the item from the plastic cover and enter your information. Replace the bid sheet back in the plastic cover. Please be sure the bid sheet remains attached to the item.

HOW TO PAY (if you win)
Each auction will end on the designated Saturday, at 12 pm. All items must be picked up and paid for NO LATER than 2 pm. Items cannot be stored. A designated person will be near the U-Haul shed to accept your payment. We can only accept CHECK or CASH‐in the EXACT amount.  Checks should be made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers.

OTHER ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES FOR SALE
In addition to the items that will be sold through the bidding process, there will also be other items for immediate sale. These items are RC airplane and building accessories. The items are available for sale/payment anytime during the 10 day auction, no bidding required. To purchase, deposit the amount indicated on the price tag in the “Donations” receptacle in the U-Haul shed. This can be done anytime during the 10 day auction. Again, no bidding required. You will need EXACT CASH amount or CHECK made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers.

PLEASE ONLY 1 PERSON IN THE SHED AT A TIME and be sure and LOCK the SHED when you leave!!!

If you have any questions please contact Mark Stenson, and good luck!

Notice of Annual Business Meeting and Elections

By:  Joe Pirozzoli, President

Introduction

Members, each year we are required to have at least one (1) Business Meeting.  The purpose and agenda of the Annual Business Meeting is always announced in advance so that members will be encouraged to attend and so that a quorum is assured.  There are many issues that may be attended to at a Business Meeting, but most typically, that meeting is held for the purpose of electing Club Officers (and is usually held in November). 

This has been, without question, an extraordinary year for each us (as individuals) and for our Club.  I cannot recall a time such as this in the 35+ years that I have been a member, nor could I have even conceived of this last November when I ran for office.  As we approach the time when the election of our Club Officers should occur, provisions and alternative procedures must be considered.  They must be considered because there is a very real probability that we will not have an Annual Business Meeting or Elections in 2020.  Regardless, we are still preparing as if both will still occur this year.

The following Notices and Provisions are provided so that we may adequately navigate our uncertain future, but also so that we may preserve the obligations and requirements prescribed in our Bylaws.

Notice of Annual Business Meeting

It is my obligation to schedule and announce our intent to hold an Annual Business Meeting (“ABM”).  As such, it is our intent to hold the ABM on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 7 pm.  Location, at this time, to be determined.  The only (official) Club business that is scheduled for this year’s ABM will be the election of Club Officers (i.e. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Safety Officer).

It is also my obligation to appoint a person to Chair a Nominating Committee.  The purpose of the Nominating Committee is to seek out and put forth at least one candidate for each elected Club Officer position.  The Nominating Committee Chairperson this year is Dr. Gil Schmidtke (“Doc”).  Doc accepted the appointment in late August.  Elsewhere in this Newsletter, the Committee is presenting the current slate of candidates for elected office.  If you are interested in running for elected office, please contact Doc as designated in the enclosed advertisement.

ABM and Election Provisions and Alternative Procedures

Some of you may be questioning the wisdom of holding the ABM in November given the current situation with COVID.  We are not oblivious to that concern, nor will the Board approve to have any meeting if it presents a health risk to our Members.  However, the Board is under certain, specific obligations according to our Bylaws.  As such, we have determined a path forward that is compliant with these obligations and requirements.

As I mentioned above, “it is our obligation to schedule and announce our intent to hold an ABM”.  It is also the obligation of the Nominating Committee to conduct elections at said meeting.  However, the ABM may be rescheduled for another date (i.e. it does not have to occur in November).  Further, the ABM may also be “cancelled for Cause”.

Therefore, this is how things will work this year.  This is the logic and progression that has been formulated and unanimously agreed upon by the Board of Directors and which conforms to Club Bylaws:

  • October Newsletter – President to announce intent to hold ABM & Elections on 11/3/2020 (that is this notice).  Nominating Committee to also present a slate of Club Officer candidates.
  • October Board Meeting (10/14) – Board will determine if November ABM will take place or be postponed until December.  If postponed, the ABM will be rescheduled for 12/1/2020.
  • November Board Meeting (11/11) – Board will determine if the ABM in December will take place or be CANCELLED for CAUSE.  IOW… if we don’t have the ABM in December then the 2020 ABM is effectively cancelled.
  • The Board will then schedule a Business Meeting in 2021, at the earliest possible date, for the purpose of holding an Election of the 2021 Officers.

That’s it folks, that’s what we’ve come up with.  We realize that it is highly unlikely that we will have the 2020 ABM and Elections in this calendar year, but we are planning for it (regardless) as required by the Bylaws.  However, the Bylaws do also have a provision that Officers and Directors may continue in their current positions until such time that newly elected Officers and appointed Directors can assume their roles.

PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT ALL CURRENT OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS HAVE AGREED TO CONTINUE IN THEIR CURRENT POSITIONS UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT THE SUCCESSION OF DULY ELECTED OFFICERS AND APPOINTED DIRECTORS MAY OCCUR!

2021 Nominating Committee Report

By:  Gil Schmidtke, Chairperson

A Nominating Committee has been formed to seek out candidates for the 2021 Elected Officers.  The Committee consists of myself and Jim Hagberg.  We are seeking individuals that wish to run for the elected offices of Club President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Safety Officer.  The current list of candidates are as follows:

President:          Joe Pirozzoli
Vice President: Bruce VerWest
Secretary:          Jerry Higgins
Treasurer:          Ian Isaacs
Safety Officer:   Duane Gall

Anyone seeking to run for office or wishing to nominate someone else, please contact the Nominating Committee or see one of us at the field.  If you are nominating someone else, please be sure and ask that person if he or she will accept the nomination.

Thanks,

Gil and Jim

Silent Auction #2, COVID Style

As many of you know, from attending meetings, we frequently have donated items to auction off.  We haven’t been having meetings, but the items are still coming in, thanks in large part to our Donations Coordinator, Mark Stenson.  Mark is running out of storage space, so we’re going to try having silent auctions out of our U-Haul Trailer.  
 
Auction Format

Each auction will be announced via a club‐wide email with the designated starting date/time and ending date/time. Each auction will last over a period of 10 days. Each auction will begin on a designated Wednesday and will end 10 days later on the designated Saturday at 12 pm. We will be having several of these auctions.

Silent Auction #2 will begin at 12 pm, Wednesday, 9/2/2020.  The Auction will run for 10 days, ending at 12 pm, Saturday 9/12/2020.

TWO WAYS TO VIEW ITEMS FOR AUCTION
1. Items will be posted with pictures and a short text description on the classifieds during the entire 10 day bidding/auction period.  All Auction items are listed as: Club Auction Item.
 
2. The item itself will be available to see, evaluate, and “kick the tires” as it is displayed in the U‐Haul shed on the eastside of the east field canopy. (Right next to the Sani‐Can).
NOTE:  THERE IS NO BIDDING VIA THE WEBSITE, BIDDING CAN ONLY BE DONE IN PERSON at the field (see below).
 
Instructions for Bidding
ALL BIDS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE FIELD via the bid sheet on the item.
Each item will have a bid sheet with a brief description, an established STARTING BID, and a BIDDING MINIMUM INCREASE AMOUNT. The bid sheet will require your name, email address, phone contact, and your bid amount. To bid, remove the bid sheet for the item from the plastic cover and enter your information. Replace the bid sheet back in the plastic cover. Please be sure the bid sheet remains attached to the item.
HOW TO PAY (if you win)
Each auction will end on the designated Saturday, at 12 pm. All items must be picked up and paid for NO LATER than 2 pm. Items cannot be stored. A designated person will be near the U-Haul shed to accept your payment. We can only accept CHECK or CASH in the EXACT amount.  Checks should be made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers

OTHER ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES FOR SALE
In addition to the items that will be sold through the bidding process, there will also be other items for immediate sale. These items are RC airplane and building accessories. The items are available for sale/payment anytime during the 10 day auction, no bidding required. To purchase, deposit the amount indicated on the price tag in the “Donations” receptacle in the U-Haul shed. This can be done anytime during the 10 day auction. Again, no bidding required. You will need EXACT CASH amount or CHECK made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers.
 
PLEASE ONLY 1 PERSON IN THE SHED AT A TIME!

Silent Auctions COVID Style

As many of you know, from attending meetings, we frequently have donated items to auction off.  We haven’t been having meetings, but the items are still coming in, thanks in large part to our Donations Coordinator, Mark Stenson.  Mark is running out of storage space, so we’re going to try having silent auctions out of our U-Haul Trailer.  
 
Auction Format

Each auction will be announced via a club‐wide email with the designated starting date/time and ending date/time. Each auction will last over a period of 10 days. Each auction will begin on a designated Wednesday and will end 10 days later on the designated Saturday at 12 pm. We will be having several of these auctions.

TWO WAYS TO VIEW ITEMS FOR AUCTION
1. Items will be posted with pictures and a short text description on the classifieds during the entire 10 day bidding/auction period.  All Auction items are listed as: Club Auction Item.
 
2. The item itself will be available to see, evaluate, and “kick the tires” as it is displayed in the U‐Haul shed on the eastside of the east field canopy. (Right next to the Sani‐Can).
NOTE:  THERE IS NO BIDDING VIA THE WEBSITE, BIDDING CAN ONLY BE DONE IN PERSON at the field (see below).
 
Instructions for Bidding
ALL BIDS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE FIELD via the bid sheet on the item.
Each item will have a bid sheet with a brief description, an established STARTING BID, and a BIDDING MINIMUM INCREASE AMOUNT. The bid sheet will require your name, email address, phone contact, and your bid amount. To bid, remove the bid sheet for the item from the plastic cover and enter your information. Replace the bid sheet back in the plastic cover. Please be sure the bid sheet remains attached to the item.
HOW TO PAY (if you win)
Each auction will end on the designated Saturday, at 12 pm. All items must be picked up and paid for NO LATER than 2 pm. Items cannot be stored. A designated person will be near the U-Haul shed to accept your payment. We can only accept CHECK or CASH in the EXACT amount.  Checks should be made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers.

OTHER ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES FOR SALE
In addition to the items that will be sold through the bidding process, there will also be other items for immediate sale. These items are RC airplane and building accessories. The items are available for sale/payment anytime during the 10 day auction, no bidding required. To purchase, deposit the amount indicated on the price tag in the “Donations” receptacle in the U-Haul shed. This can be done anytime during the 10 day auction. Again, no bidding required. You will need EXACT CASH amount or CHECK made out to: Arvada Associated Modelers.
 
PLEASE ONLY 1 PERSON IN THE SHED AT A TIME!

Stay-At-Home Orders: Can I Still Go Flying?

by Duane Gall, AAM Safety Officer

Wow. When I signed up for this, I thought I’d be dealing with Band-Aids and fire extinguishers, not epidemiology … but here goes.

The “novel coronavirus,” a/k/a “COVID-19,” has changed our lives already & will keep doing so for the foreseeable future. Right now both Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado department of public health & environment have issued stay-at-home orders effective through Saturday, April 11. Both of these orders and a very complete list of FAQs can be found at the state’s Web site: https://covid19.colorado.gov/public-health-executive-orders-explained

The purpose of these orders is to slow down transmission of the virus by preventing any social contact (touching or breathing the same air) between individuals outside the home. To understand the power of social distancing, watch this amazing little movie: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

Obviously a 100% lockdown is impossible; people do have to go outside to get food, for example, or fix a downed power line or walk the dog. (Studies have shown that indoor dog poop is a pretty significant health threat. Just ask any dog who’s tried it!) So “necessary activities,” and “necessary travel” to accomplish those activities, are exempt from the stay-at-home orders.

The good news is that “necessary activities” includes “outdoor activity, … [for] example and without limitation, walking, hiking, nordic skiing, showshoeing, biking or running. … [but] the permitted outdoor activities … do not include activities that would violate the social distancing requirements … “. (Amended public health order 20-24, page 5, paragraph III.A.3; emphasis added.)

I encourage you to read the orders and decide for yourself, but the conclusions I draw are:

1. We probably won’t get arrested for being at the field, or for driving to get there; and

2. We should at all times maintain at least a 6-foot distance from each other. No sitting in a cluster at the picnic table, no stooping with our heads down in a turbine model wondering why it hasn’t exploded yet, etc.

Also, in case you hadn’t heard, this particular virus seems to last for quite a while on surfaces. So if you borrow a wrench or an electric starter (remember those?) from someone who has COVID-19 and doesn’t know it yet, you may be exposed. And up to half of the people who have the disease show no symptoms at all. So while cleaning all your gear with Clorox wipes doesn’t make sense, bringing some wipes along with you and using them on your hands once in a while certainly does.

So, even though there’s no cure for COVID-19, we can make a serious dent in another nasty disease: Cabin fever! See you at the field!

Cheers,
Duane