JUNE '01 PRESIDENT's CORNER
By Gordon Anderson

Dave Phipps and Doug Larson have agreed to pick up the field maintenance work from Terry Hane. Terry has done an outstanding job for more years than I can remember. Please join me in thanking Terry for his efforts. Doug is going to take care of the mowers and Dave will take care of the field. If you notice any field problems please give Dave or Doug a call.

Here are a few field care items we should all try to do:

• Pick up the carpet and hang it on the fence when you are    finished. If you notice other pieces of carpet on the grass, please  pick them up as well. The wind tends to blow the carpet off the  fence.
  

• If you use a wire spool for setting up your plane, please store  it by the fence when you are finished and be sure its placed on  its side, to save the grass.
  

• Use a catch bottle when you are fueling your plane, this will   keep the fuel from spilling on the grass when you fill up.

A gate lock issue was mentioned on listbot and it bears repeating. Please make sure you lock the gates when you leave the field, if youıre the last one out. When you unlock a gate insure that the numbers on the combination have been changed, else anyone can read the combination from the lock! There is a park schedule on the inner gate, please check the schedule to see if you need to lock the inner gate when you enter the park. Remember the park is closed on Thursdays and Fridays. This is very important; we must properly manage the gates. If you have any questions please give me a call.

Safety! Please be careful! We discussed field safety at the last club meeting. Think about what you are doing, its easy to get distracted and thatıs when accidents happen. One of the most dangerous tasks is starting and tuning our engines. We do this in the pits and often with spectators watching. Here are a few things to remember:

• Make sure no one is standing in line with the prop, it would   be much safer for the spectators to be behind the model.
  

• Use caution when you are running your engine at full  RPM, for tuning reasons, the fewer people around   the better. A prop coming off at high RPM can be   very dangerous.
  

• Holding the model vertical to test the fuel draw can  put your head, or the head of others, in line with the  prop. Not a good thing. Try to hold the prop above   your head and do this away from spectators.
  

• When reaching around a running engine its very easy  to forget where the prop is and stick your finger in   its path. How many of us have done this?
  

• Be very careful with your transmitter, when your engine is running, at idle, and if you fumble your    transmitter, it could result in an out of control model.

This is a short list of hazards. Most accidents happen when we lose our concentration or get in a hurry, so take your time and do not get distracted!

On a personal note, Iım going to compete in my first pattern contest in Auburn next week! Come to the next club meeting and Iıll tell you all about it!

See you at the field!