They're like the energizer bunny...

If the local AOPA guy is not doing it for you, why not go over his head? I
gotta believe that SOMEONE at the AOPA would be eager to react to the
possibility of an Airport closure (even in Iowa)...

Good luck...



"Jay Honeck" wrote in
news:Pmuzc.55284$Sw.10947@attbi_s51:
snip
I know what you'll say: Call AOPA. Hell, they're no help -- our local
"representative" is a commercial pilot -- who, in 7 years, I've never
even MET -- who only wants that title on his resume. I'm at the
airport every god danged day of my life, and I couldn't pick this guy
out of a line-up... Helluva job he's doing.

We are soooo screwed.

If the local AOPA guy is not doing it for you, why not go over his head? I
gotta believe that SOMEONE at the AOPA would be eager to react to the
possibility of an Airport closure (even in Iowa)...

The former president of our airport commission, recognizing the impotence of
our current AOPA representative, tried exactly this tactic. He called AOPA,
explained the situation, and volunteered his services.

Apparently if an AOPA rep doesn't want to resign, they can't be bumped.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

Apparently if an AOPA rep doesn't want to resign, they can't be bumped.

Write Boyer personally. Show up at the next "town meeting" and bitch to him in
person. Get everyone who feels as you do to do the same.

George Patterson
None of us is as dumb as all of us.

What would it take to make the airport designated a historic landmark?


"Jay Honeck" wrote in
news:Pmuzc.55284$Sw.10947@attbi_s51:

Depression and despair rule the roost tonight in Iowa City.

After all the meetings attended, and all the editorials rebutted, and
all the interviews granted, and all the letters written -- our City
Council called a sudden, surprise joint meeting with our Airport
Commission tonight, and announced their intention of putting the
dissolution of our independent Airport Commission to a voter's
referendum on the November ballot.

This signals the end of our airport, plain and simple. The independent
airport commission was set up after World War II SPECIFICALLY to
protect the airport from the political whims and vagaries of subsequent
city governments, and now the council has indicated that they intend to
dissolve the only body that protects our airport from the land
developers and noise nazis.

I knew when I found the meeting agenda on the city website this
afternoon (posted just hours before the meeting) -- and it listed NO
topic for discussion -- that we were in deep ****. Boy, were we ever.

Upon hearing about this (almost by accident, from a connection deep
within the bureaucracy) I immediately sent a bulletin email out to the
"Friends of Iowa City Airport" mailing list -- but it was too late. We
only managed to get about ten members to attend, and there was no
opportunity for public comment. We just had to sit there and take it,
while they spewed their political lies and slanted bull crap about how
this change would "help the airport in the long run"...

I'm tired, man. We fight, and fight, and fight, and we defeat them at
every logical level, both publicly and privately -- and then they pull
together a sneak attack like this. Hell, even the airport manager -- a
city employee! -- didn't know about this meeting until last Friday, and
he didn't know what it was going to be about until he walked in the
door and was broadsided.

I know what you'll say: Call AOPA. Hell, they're no help -- our local
"representative" is a commercial pilot -- who, in 7 years, I've never
even MET -- who only wants that title on his resume. I'm at the
airport every god danged day of my life, and I couldn't pick this guy
out of a line-up... Helluva job he's doing.

We are soooo screwed.

Jay Honeck wrote:

Depression and despair rule the roost tonight in Iowa City.
snip
We are soooo screwed.

I just came home from listening to Phil Boyer speak at the Hobby Hilton
in Houston, TX. This was my first Pilot's Town Hall meeting with him and
it came across as a positive experience. At least now I can say I've
heard him in person and I can say that I believe there is an effective
machine within the AOPA

I cant say that I agree 100% with AOPA on all the party-line issues, but
they do a fair job of representing or advocating for GA (versus big tin)
interests and I would say that I agree with the majority of what they
advocate for, and have no problem with my membership fees supporting
their advocacy.

While a cynic could conclude the session was rightfully a "pat myself on
the back" session, Boyer gave some insight to the recent victory that
saved Albert Whitted Field in St Petersberg (TAMPA), Florida.

Boyer talked about finding the voting bloc that made the difference, and
targeting them HARD. Rather than paying for broadcast network TV ($$$),
they send direct mail, they played radio and cable commercials on the
targeted demographic (in this case, older women who liked their
waterfront free of any new condo development) and on the day of the
election there was a landslide victory in favor of the airport (65-75%
for, depending on the ballot item)

To back up what someone else said.. FORM AN INTEREST ORGANIZATION. Get
it chartered now. At Whitted, they had TWO separate interest groups in
support of the airport that AOPA was able to ally with. Play the
historical end of it.. Your airport has been there 75 years. Play the
angle that the airport commission's sole duty and goal is to protect
that history while promoting growth in their town.

And if you cant find the existing ASN guy... say so. Tell AOPA we dont
know who he is, he doesnt show up and that you have a replacement who is
willing to take a proactive stance with regards to the position.

Good Luck Jay.
Dave

All we need to do is write one letter each...


Maybe it would help!



"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:Pmuzc.55284$Sw.10947@attbi_s51...
Depression and despair rule the roost tonight in Iowa City.

After all the meetings attended, and all the editorials rebutted, and all
the interviews granted, and all the letters written -- our City Council
called a sudden, surprise joint meeting with our Airport Commission
tonight,
and announced their intention of putting the dissolution of our
independent
Airport Commission to a voter's referendum on the November ballot.

This signals the end of our airport, plain and simple. The independent
airport commission was set up after World War II SPECIFICALLY to protect
the
airport from the political whims and vagaries of subsequent city
governments, and now the council has indicated that they intend to
dissolve
the only body that protects our airport from the land developers and noise
nazis.

I knew when I found the meeting agenda on the city website this afternoon
(posted just hours before the meeting) -- and it listed NO topic for
discussion -- that we were in deep ****. Boy, were we ever.

Upon hearing about this (almost by accident, from a connection deep within
the bureaucracy) I immediately sent a bulletin email out to the "Friends
of
Iowa City Airport" mailing list -- but it was too late. We only managed
to
get about ten members to attend, and there was no opportunity for public
comment. We just had to sit there and take it, while they spewed their
political lies and slanted bull crap about how this change would "help the
airport in the long run"...

I'm tired, man. We fight, and fight, and fight, and we defeat them at
every
logical level, both publicly and privately -- and then they pull together
a
sneak attack like this. Hell, even the airport manager -- a city
employee! -- didn't know about this meeting until last Friday, and he
didn't
know what it was going to be about until he walked in the door and was
broadsided.

I know what you'll say: Call AOPA. Hell, they're no help -- our local
"representative" is a commercial pilot -- who, in 7 years, I've never even
MET -- who only wants that title on his resume. I'm at the airport every
god danged day of my life, and I couldn't pick this guy out of a
line-up...
Helluva job he's doing.

We are soooo screwed.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Troy Towner" wrote in message
...
All we need to do is write one letter each...


Maybe it would help!



"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:Pmuzc.55284$Sw.10947@attbi_s51...
Depression and despair rule the roost tonight in Iowa City.

Seems like Iowa City has 62K residents - just about identical with
Rockhampton (Qld , Australia) where I am. Our local council owned airport
now can handle Boeing 747s (and sometimes does) plus military stuff (our
FA-18s, F-111s, and Singapore's F4s(?)). Maybe you can pinch some
ideas/info from our council website.......