Netters and Gathering attendees,
Thanks to everyone that helped make the 2005 KR Gathering a great success. The weather co-operated, for the most part, although it was a bit warm and hazy. Everyone acted responsibility and the result was a safe Gathering and everyone having a good time. Personally, I got to do a bit more flying this year and that was great. I had hoped to do a bit more formation flying but it didn't work out. I managed to give three rides and I'm thinking I ought to call my KR "Ambassador". Of the total of seven rides I've given to date, three have been to non-USA citizens. On the financial side, I think we came out O.K. I'll have a detailed report in the next couple of days and have Bob post it to the net. The only extra expense we had this year over last was staffing at the registration table. I felt bad last year that several people (6or 8) drove for hours or days only to set behind the registration table for hours at a time. This year I made a donation to the local EAA chapter and to a church youth group for their support in staffing the booth from 8:00am to 5:00pm on Friday and Saturday. Our attendance was down a bit from last year with 14 or 15 KRs ( 19 last year ) and 90 at the awards banquet (135 last year ). Some weather in the south as well as the recent hurricane were probably the biggest factors. Several people that attended the Gathering were not able to stay for the banquet and was part of the reason for the cutback in attendance there. We have a few shirts left over, ( large, XL, and XXL I think ) and if anyone would like an extra, let me know at [email protected]. $10 a shirt and probably $8 or so for boxing and shipping in the USA. If anyone had a special request of me at the Gathering to follow up with mailing additional shirts, hats, etc., please e-mail your request to me again. I may not find all my notes back as I go through the pile of boxes. I want to thank Wayne Williams and Dan Heath for their efforts on the invitation to hold the Gathering in Mississippi even though the attendees voted to hold the 2006 Gathering in Mt.Vernon. Personally, I'm not looking forward to the work involved in hosting the Gathering again but expect to get much more support from the city of Mt.Vernon , the tourism department, and the airport management next year. It will still be "our" Gathering but I hope to have them do much of the leg work on the details and support. I will maintain control of the finances and have the final say on planning. The only changes you should see will be the banquet at an off airport location due to construction in the terminal building, and hopefully, even better facilities for the campers. General consensus was to hold the 2006 Gathering in late September, probably the last weekend, but I'll wait to get input from anyone interested in e-mailing me at my e-mail address above with their input. The only thing I have left to do now is folllow up on requests, sort out all the Gathering boxes of supplies, write thank you letters to the folks at Mt.Vernon, and oh yea, do it all over again! That's all I can think of for now. Does anyone know if Orma made it home? The "Czech Dude " was Pavel Kulendik. He managed to bum two KR rides while here, one with me and one with Troy. He spent Sunday night with Chris Collins ( the airport manager ) and plans to visit St.Louis before heading back to Chicago for the flight home. Thanks again to everyone that helped out. Larry Flesner 2005 Gathering host.
