Oakland Cloud Dusters
Free Flight from the San Francisco Bay Area and Beyond

Upcoming!

April 01, 2024 11:00 AM • Harry's Hofbrau in Redwood City
April 26, 2024 8:00 AM • Waegell Field
May 04, 2024 8:00 AM • Alameda Naval Air Museum

Please support the Friends of Waegell fund with your contribution

December 10, 2019 9:36 PM | Web Master (Administrator)

In late 2000, the Friends of Waegell fund was established to financially secure the preservation of what we have had for the last 60 years or so. This is the only field currently available in Northern California suitable for holding free flight contests. After a letter was sent out that established the Fund and explaining how membership in the Fund would help to ensure the use of Waegell Field, the response was outstanding. The first year, 70 people contributed $50 each to the Fund and became members for the year of 2001. In succeeding years many continued to contribute, (some for much more that $50), and many of whom never flew a flight at the field but contributed to help support a sport they've lived and loved for a lifetime. This is even more important as the field rental has gone up $500 to $2500 a year. We need to keep a cushion in case of any serious downturn in members, (now standing at 37 in 2019), as well as for possible mowing and other site work. For example, the stiles, which allow easy access to the North field, designed and partially donated by Ed Decker. George Waegell seems to be happy with us being there; just keep the gates closed as usual. Since we do not have a real sense of how many will renew their membership each year, the decision was made to start the membership at $50 and review each year. For 2020 the first increase ($10) has been added. The FWF fee now stands at $60 and as before, members fly free and non-members will pay a field rental fee of $5 at each contest.

As a result of the very generous gift of many motors and a large number of assorted kits by the late Craig Stout, the Council now has a special fund which stands at $5783.35. At the time Craig had asked Doug Galbreath to dispose of the Motors and kits on E-Bay. After a lot work on Doug's part this was accomplished along with some assistance from Walt Ghio and Fred Terzian.

With membership in the Fund slowly decreasing, it was decided that clubs would pay for their porta-pottys during 2019 and this resulted with income and expenses holding much closer to even as opposed to the $2000 drop in 2018.

Our change to Category III seemed to work well with the slightly longer maxes (two minutes from 90 seconds) resulting in slightly longer retrieves, mostly felt by some of our older members; but now we are on the "same page" as everyone else. Flyers are extremely grateful for the support of the "Friends of Waegell Fund: As before, checks for 2020 membership are to be made out to the SIERRA EAGLES (not FWF fund or Chris Borland) and mailed to: Chris Borland, 1520 - 40th St. Sacramento CA 95819.

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