Maple Leaf: Ninetynines

THE NINETY-NINES, INC., is an international organization of licensed women pilots from 35 countries - we currently have over 5,300 members throughout the world. We are a non-profit, charitable membership corporation. Our International Headquarters is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Although there are other female pilot organizations in various states and nations, virtually all women of achievement in aviation have been or are members of The Ninety-Nines.

The Maple Leaf Chapter encompasses the 519 calling area of Southern Ontario CANADA. Our centre is London CYXU but we spread across the region from Windsor-Tobermory-Burlington and in-between.

The organization came into being November 2, 1929, at Curtiss Field, Valley Stream, Long Island, New York. All 117 American female pilots had been invited to assemble for mutual support and the advancement of aviation. Louise Thaden was elected secretary and worked tirelessly to keep the group together as we struggled to organize and grow until 1931, when Amelia Earhart was elected as first president and the group was named for the 99 charter members.

Today Ninety-Nines are professional pilots for airlines, industry and government; we are pilots who teach and pilots who fly for pleasure; we are pilots who are technicians and mechanics. First and foremost, we are women who love to fly!

The Maple Leaf Chapter is an active group and fulfills the mandates of the Ninety-Nines by participating in air rallies, promoting fellowship through flight and providing air education. Our upcoming events are listed at www.excel.on.ca/mapleleaf/calendar.htm We welcome your inquiries Eva Adams eadams@golden.net

2009 In Review

The annual East Canada Section meeting was hosted by the Maple Leaf Chapter this year. The time and place yet be finalized although we discussed the first weekend in May in Kitchener/St. Jacob's. We need volunteers to help organize this. Please contact Eva if you are able to help.

(see ed. note)

Also suggested was a day air rally. Time and place are open for discussion. Please give us your thoughts.

Late January: meeting to discuss the upcoming East Canada Section Meeting

February 23rd, 2009 is the Centennial of the first flight in Canada - Let's get together and celebrate!

May 2^nd: the 40^th anniversary of the chapter

May 2nd East Canada Section Meeting hosted by Maple Leaf Chapter   Best Western, St. Jacobs Country Inn http://www.stjacobscountryinn.com/index.html

Kitchener

May 23rd, First Canadian Chapter Poker Run

June 21-23: Gold Cup Air Rally, Rockcliffe CYRO to St. Anthony, Newfoundland CYAV

July 22-25 99’s International Conference, Chicago

July and August: fly-in to Leamington and Pelee Island

Labour Day Weekend: Gliding with the Air Cadets

November 2, 2009 - 80th anniversary of the Ninety-Nines

November 7: AGM Diamond Flight Centre, London

Mentioned as possible locations for fly-ins      - Owen Sound, Wiarton, Colllingwood, Midland Huronia

2008 Dates In review

December 7/08   Annual Christmas Brunch, Ramada Inn, London, ON

The AGM, Nov 15th was a great success this year. Thanks to Diamond Flight Centre for the use of their meeting facilities. Congratulations to Marie Spence for receiving the GSA, Governors Service Award.   Janet once again ran a great meeting.

Also, introduced was Jessica Buscher Mahon, from Parkhill, who recently completed her private pilot licence at Crosswind Aviation at the London airport. She is a teacher at a London high school, where she is also in charge of an aviation club.   Welcome, Jessica!

Synopsis of minutes of the meeting follow.....
Last fly-in was to Sarnia on Oct 31st. Janet, Jocelyn, Anna and Eva flew in along with some friends. The recent weather has kept us from our impromptu lunches lately. Hoping for better soon.

October 15/08:   Fly-in to Peterborough for lunch 11:30 a.m. A great success with 99s attending from Maple Leaf, First Canadian and Eastern Ontario Chapters.

Sept. 17 Goderich CYGD Fly-in Lunch   Jos, Eva, Anna and Janet along with 3 friends were able to fly to Goderich for a get-together. On the way back from the Park House Restaurant, we enjoyed a brisk walk along the lakefront and across the old railway trestle.   With fall in the air, the view over the river,along the parkland was breathtaking.   A a great place to fly!

Sunday August 30,2008 Thank you Anna Stromenberg and Lucy Hinton for arranging a great day of gliding at Chatham airport on Labour Day weekend.   This is something everyone should try.   Eva, Kim and Janet were able to take advantage of the Striker 3 Squadron’s invitation!

August 26/08 Sportys' Pilot Shop www.sportys.com in Cincinnati was another successful fly-in for August.   Janet is using her new planemover, Jos, her handheld radio and Anne Starret is no doubt looking fashionable in her aviator sunglasses! THX to Betty Huck for driving us around in her convertible and treating us to a Cincinnati Skyline lunch.   Later, Jos and Anne enjoyed a relaxing island sunset and the documentary "Flygirls" on Pelee.   We hope to meet up with our US contigent again soon.

Sunday, August 10^th   Last Pelee Island Breakfast Fly-in 8:30 – 11:30 Thanks to those who came out to the 3 fly-in breakfasts on Pelee Island.   A total of $340 was sold in raffle tickets of which 1/2 goes to our MLC chapter and the other 1/2 to Pelee Airport Improvement fund. Congratulations to Pierre Richard, winner of the Stearman Ride, Perry Burford, winner of the flight jacket and Fred Simpson of the gas. ALSO thanks to Denis Schryer, Excel Realty and Leamington Airport for donating the prizes.

August 6-9, 2008 Anchorage Alaska USA International Conference.   ECS Governor, Laureen Nelson Boutet is planning to brief us on the new changes from the business meeting.

August 2/08 Flyin Wiarton for Eileen Vollick Day.   (1^st CDN Women Pilot) on the 100^th anniversary of her birth. The terminal building was dedicated and named after Canada’s first licensed female pilot. It will also be the debut of the one-of-a-kind Eileen Vollick commemorative stamps.   A fitting tribute for Eileen who paved the way for all women flying today in Canada. Although Susan Begg and I tried to attend this event on the way home from OSH we had to do a 180 at Sarnia because of Thunderstorms.

July 28-August 3, Oshkosh WI: EAA AirVenture 2008. Susan Begg (Eastern Ontario Chapter and I were able to enjoy camping under the wing on the Oshkosh field with Wendy Gluhushkin and her family. We took part in the Women in Aviation celebration and had our picture taken with somewhere between 400-500 women pilots. We are the back row on the right waving. The Raptor was my favourite airplane and Julie Clark my favourite pilot. Amazing! If you go next year be sure to attend International Night.

Friday July 25^th Muskoka Thanks to cottager Ninety-Nine, Mary Woodall, who offered her van for Maple Leaf Chapter members when we flew into Muskoka.   Eva, Kim, Janet, Karin (Ken) and Mary enjoyed lunch with ECS Governor, Laureen Nelson-Boutet at the Gravenhurst marina where we watched a floatplane doing circuits.   Jocelyn joined the group and lingered for a boat ride with Mary.    It was another picture perfect flying day around the beautiful lakes.

July 11-13^th COPA Convention, St. Thomas:    MLC was able to put together a self-serve 99s recruitment display at the COPA registration desk.   THX to COPA for their support of the Ninety-Nines. Thanks also to Marie for rounding up the promotional material from our membership secretary.    CYQS was a great place to hold such an event with an efficient shuttle from the parking area although the weather was convective...again.

July 6^th, Pelee Island Fly-in     Great to see 99s, Suzanne Wiltshire, Mollie (Jeff) Richards in their matching Cessnas and Bonnie (Jerry) Rempel flying out to the alluring island on a perfect blue sky day. 55 planes registered for the day.

June 15-18^th Gold Cup Air Rally    The rally experience is one that you will never forget.    COPA’s September issue and the next Ninety-Nine news will publish the story. Congrats to Gold Cup winners Susan Begg, Maureen Egan and Sharron Lutman of Ottawa!   This year’s event included travel into Vermont, New York and Quebec.

June 13-14^th East Canada Section Meeting, Montreal:   THX to all of Montreal Chapter, especially Alice Redahl, for a well run meeting. Your warm hospitality was much appreciated.   Hotel St. Paul, in downtown Montreal, was a great place to experience city life.    Transport Canada’s investigation report of Swiss Air at Peggy’s Cove was interesting.   The gavel was passed to Laureen Nelsen-Boutet, our new governor.   Thanks to Anne Starret for her years of past service as governor ECS.

May 25^th, Pelee Fly-in    62 planes enjoyed breakfast. MLC sold raffle tickets for a ride in the Stearman

May 5, 2008: Burlington Airpark Monday proved another great flying day for Jocelyn, Eva, Kim, Anna and Janet to drop in on MLC Pauline Haig and little Helen, now nine months old. Helen was interested to see the aviatrixes at her dining room table where Mom Pauline served up a delicious lunch. THX for a delightful time. We hope Helen likes her summer outfit with bandana and limegreen sunglasses. The Airpark is conveniently located to the GTA, has no landing fees and has a great price on fuel at their self serve. Also, new member Anna had a chance to meet up with Marie Spence (still in a foot cast) at the Highgate Airstrip while she was waiting for her air taxi GAGV. Marie is looking well and looks forward to seeing us soon. The Highgate airstrip is in great shape as always for landing.

Great News! MLC Anna Stromenberg, who recently aced her PPL written has been accepted as winner of the Amelia Earhart Future Women Pilot Scholarship. She received $1,500 toward the completion of her training as PPL. Thank You to the Ninety-Nines!

Brantford Airport, May 1st Jocelyn took part in a day event from 9am to 3:15 pm, when over 100 grade seven students from schools in the Brantford area came to the Brantford Airport to learn about planes and airports. We had a power point presentation and then the students went outside to experience sitting in a plane. It was cold and at times rainy, but they were not discouraged. Many expressed a keen interest and asked many questions. It was a long but very enjoyable day for all who participated. THX Jos for fulfilling the 99s mandate on education.

April 29th Pelee Island: Thanks for the support ladies! Janet was happy to see Eva, Jocelyn and Sue on the Pelee airfield. The gals took a look at "The White House" and enjoyed another great lunch at the Anchor Inn. We hope to enjoy many great times over the summer on serene Pelee.

April 27th, Hanover. MLC Peggy, Jocelyn, Eva, Bonnie, Janet, Karin and 49 1/2 Ken attended the Hanover (Saugeen) Airport's Transport Canada Safety Seminar. Over 100 planes flew in on a beautiful April morning to hear talks on the new ELTs, Survival, Human Factors, Transport Canada Services, etc. As always Hanover airport provided a tasty lunch and we had a chance to network with some potential new members. On the way home, Janet and Bonnie dropped into Centralia to meet with gliding instructor (and winner of the 99s New Woman Pilot Award 2008) Anna Stromenberg who was busy with her many student cadets. Keep soaring Anna!

April 1, 2008 Fly-in to Brantford CYFD to finalize plans for the GCAR 2008. Eva will be the rally secretary, collecting registration forms. Insurance application is filled out and route has been finalized. Eva/Sue/Karin/Kim/Jos and Janet

February 17, 2008 Windsor Flying Club, EAA: 30 aviators enjoyed the informative talk by COPA Director Harold Fry. Subjects included the attributes of SPOT Satellite Tracking Device, an amazing tool for aviators and landlovers. Unfortunately NAV Canada will not allow the use of this device in place of the new ELT due in 2009. www.findmespot.com The Platinum Triangle Poker Run will be held from Aug.17-23rd with great prizes. Terminus Kincardine Airport. Also, Mr. Frye invited everyone to the dedication of the Wiarton Airport Terminal in honour of Eileen Vollick, the first CDN woman pilot. Festivities to place on Aug. 2/08. THX to Windsor Flying Club for the hospitality! F.Y.I. Windsor is looking for a new C.F.I.

January 19, 2008 St. Thomas MLC Planning Session Jocelyn, Karin, Lucy, Marie, Janet met to plan and firm up dates for 2008. Thanks Dale Arndt from St. Thomas Airport for arranging the meeting room. It was good to see Sue Kime busy flying.

MLC is excited to marshall the GCAR southbound stateside on June 8^th out of St. Hubert, P.Q. (departing after ECS Meeting with Montreal Chapter) Terminus scheduled for June 11^th Mont Tremblant, P.Q. If any of you speak French we could use the help arranging the accommodations, etc. Let JC know mailto:jchester@wincom.net
Scholarship applications are due to MLC on Feb. 29^th for Future Women Pilot $2,000.US. Apply at www.ninety-nines.org
Let’s put together a booth for the COPA convention in St. Thomas. July 11- 13, St. Thomas,ON: COPA Convention, watch for details at www.copanational.org
Lucy is arranging for 10 glides. We look forward to working with Striker 3 Air Cadets this spring.
Pat’s article in the 99 News is great PR for MLC. Janet is going to write a story on the Spence Family and submit for publication. Let us know of your flying stories. I hear Mollie and Jeff may have a tale from their tandem flight out west.
Membership packages will be put together to send to all women pilots in our area. 150 brochures and 25 extra copies of the last 99 news are ordered to be left in airport lobbies. The Ninety-Nine mandate is to “promote”.
Marie won the 50/50 draw.
MLC NEXT MEETING: April 26^th: Fly-in to Pelee Island 12 p.m. April 26^th, 2008. We have a vehicle at the airport. Meeting will be at “White House”. Potluck. 491/2s welcome!