Minutes LISA General Membership Meeting November 14, 2025 9:00 AM Attendees: A Apicos, R Jacobellis, C Rhein, W Betts, M Hanson, S Simms, M Holmes, D Newitt, R Bedi, D Kalugin-Balashov Guests: James and John Fallon Please remember that Checks may be sent to Long Island Soaring Association 222 Grand Ave Shirley, NY 11967 New Business Annual Holiday Party and Elections were discussed, an email containing details will be sent out. Please RSVP Save the date Friday January 16th. Members are reminded to use the LISA app to indicate their intent of attending an operation Raj thanks everyone for participating in the food drive The process for changing the clubs status to a 501 ( C) (3) was discussed and that more information will be emailed and made available shortly. The LISA slate for the next board are as follows Katelyn Erthal President Vice President Needed Treasure Brez, Operations officer Pierre Chief Pilot Brian and Maintenance Officer Craig The duties of maintenance officer were discussed along with the need to formalize the job description Glider captains have been appointed for the 1-34 Gerry I and 1-26 Jacob. Captains are still needed for the other gliders and power planes. Individuals appointed to captain become the point person that will help to maintain/keep track of needs and basic care. A reminder that Associate dues have been changed to a once a year payment of $140, $80 of which is SSA and the remainder being club dues. This will be billed each January. The motion was made by Ryan and seconded by Aidan, all were in favor Many thanks to Jerry P for creating a club brochure that we hope to have available at the terminal to attract new members. Maintenance costs were discussed, and the Board and membership should be aware that these costs may need to be examined as it pertains to our fee structure and dues. It was discussed that we, LISA, have a below average monthly dues as compared to other clubs in the eastern U.S. As we no longer have the benefit of certificated mechanics as part of our active membership, it is very likely that dues will need to be increased. Members are reminded to pay their balances promptly, as we have bills that we need to pay promptly. All members please check and pay any balances. According to club rules, regulations and policy as stated in our handbook any member in arrears more than 60 days will have privileges suspended this will include access to the app. Temperatures are decreasing and 172 pilots are reminded to use the nose blanket and the heater needs to be in use when the temperatures are below 40 degrees Power pilots are reminded to please use one log sheet for each month, blanks are in the clubhouse on the desk in the vertical organizer. Both Glider and Power logs books must be filled in legibly with all fields filled in. Thank you for your cooperation in this as accuracy makes Andrew’s, John’s and Mike's efforts a lot easier when doing the billing The idea of having safety meetings at least once a year, whereby tow pilots, instructors, 172, would meet separately which would be followed by a general safety meeting was greeted with a positive reception more details to follow The importance of ‘training up’ was discussed. All members are encouraged to continue with their fight training by adding commercial and instructor ratings, not to mention earring a tow pilot endorsement.. The LISA app now includes the ability to manage the up/down status of any aircraft, if a power plane is out of service all future bookings will be notified of the change. Additionally, a message will appear on the booking page. Attention all Students, study materials, preflight worksheet, and logbooks are needed on the flight line before flight lessons can begin. 2. Maintenance – Ryan 172 has a new battery, and the annual is complete pilots are reminded to check the air pressure before flight especially as it pertains to colder weather. 2055T needs its instrument panel installed and an annual inspection Craig reported that he has completed a second tail stand for N65918 and that he is awaiting somewhat warmer weather and help to pour the concrete. Glider Captains have been selected and they will be able to give extra special attention to their respective gliders. Gerry has agreed to adopt the 1-34, Jacob 1-26 4. Chief Pilot – Brian Power Pilots MUST Log Landings!! Accurately & Clearly! 1 month turnaround for landing fees handled by Mike Hanson, depart fee, clear, grass 5. Operations Officer Pierre Members should use the LISA app to schedule their intentions to fly. Also, they should check the app for the status of an operation before leaving for the airport. SSA Badges – Give Shawn dates of accomplishments Please remember to send Andrew a picture of the log sheet at the close of the operation, legible, completely filled in and accurate 6. Safety Board and at Large/Mike WEIGHT AND BALLAST Glider pilots are reminded to check for ballast especially under the seat as we have several younger members who not only use the ballast bar but also need extra weight placed under the seat. Attention all Students, study materials, preflight worksheet, and logbooks are needed on the flight line before flight lessons can begin. All vehicles are required to have a yellow safety light on when operating on the airport grounds. All students and new members are required to take the SSA wing runner Ground Handling | Soaring Society of America | Wing Runner Training course and be field trained by other club members on how to prepare and launch gliders into flight. See Joe Grossmann about scanning QR code (in the clubhouse) with your phone for SSA wing runner course. Take the course, pass the test, earn a badge. 7. Other/Old Business – Club mail is delivered to the side door and falls into a box. If you happen to see mail in the box, we ask that you Please Place the Mail in the top left draw of the desk. Thank you. 8. Good and Welfare Kensho Acrcari a recent graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is now flying jets out of Teterboro airport. Congratulations! 9. Membership (Prospective members/Readings/Votes) John Fallon attended his first meeting along with his father James. John, a student , is interested in learning to fly gliders and eventually learn to fly power. He has taken his introductory flights and is looking forward to becoming a student member. The meeting adjourned 10:05 am, a motion was made and seconded; all were in favor.
Hello all, As a reminder, for a LIMITED TIME, you may order LISA merch at https://forms.gle/Sm15XrZYkbbf9otH6 The form will be closing this weekend after the monthly meeting so that we may place orders! If you’re interested in ordering anything and haven’t already, this will be your last chance to join in on this order!! Below is the previously mentioned information for your convenience… thank you and happy holidays! Merchandise will only be ordered as needed; we will not be keeping extra in the clubhouse! Both Jerry Pokrywka and I will be POCs for the order. We can be reached at katelynerthal@gmail.com or pakauka@gmail.com if you have any questions. Any items placed on order will be billed to your LISA monthly invoice. Please use the provided Google form to help us keep track of what we will be ordering! The form provided in the above link will be the basis of the order. If you only filled out the form from mid Oct, you WILL need to fill out this form if you are interested in ordering. Sample images of all available merch are provided on the form.
Just a heads up before the meeting next week, the topic of reforming the club will be discussed by Andrew; here is a summary of the changes (anything not listed here will not change). To form as a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit; this allows us to offer tax deductible donations for anything, money, used planes, receive (and offer) grants, etc. Access to grants and tax deductible donations are vital to the club’s finances moving forward due to our spiked maintenance costs (we no longer have active club members that are AMTs) / avoid having to raise membership and flight fees substantially in the near future and/or a sell off of assets. Moving to electronic payments; every active and associate member must have a credit or debit card on file (note we do NOT store the number itself, it is abstracted out by our payment gateway to ensure it is secure, so called PCI compliance) but can avoid transaction fees by keeping a positive balance on the club books. Positive balances can be paid by cash, check or zelle, but you are still required to have a card on file. Note student members that don't have a card, can have their parents card on file. We cannot take electronic payments until we have reformed as a 501(c)(3) due to federal law. Anyone that wishes to oppose these changes will find themselves named as the new Treasurer ;) Move Associate members to a one time yearly payment which will include their required SSA dues; the same minimum one year requirement will remain in place. Replace monthly meetings with monthly safety meetings and remove the requirement for a new member to attend meetings (instead new members will join as probationary members which will automatically convert to active members if no objection is made). A few other smaller changes like switch to app based motions and voting, app based power plane scheduling, removal of the Secretary board member, minor operating regulation changes to be discussed.
Sunday looks like a snow day according to current forecasts. Tomorrow Saturday, meet at 9AM at the LISA clubhouse... Mike Hanson and Andrew Apicos will be instructing gliders Pierre and Wayne Betts will be your tow pilots (AM & PM) Be On The Field (BOTF) but your mileage may vary, depending on the weather...
Meet at the LiSA clubhouse at 9am Charles Flagg will be your tow pilot Shawn J Simms, Andrew Apicos, Mike Hanson have all indicated their intention to instruct, or run the line… It might be one of your last chance to soar in 2025…