Conference vmszoo::rc

The Free flighters in Western Mass hold monthly contests at Westover which is
still active, somewhat. Since Devens Annex in Sudbury was used by the CRRC club,
I don't see too much problem talking to them. The biggest problem is the fact
that they're going to turn it over to someone in the private sector at some
point.

It would be nioce to get some organized use out of it.

    One thing at a time. CRRC is trying to get use of the Drop Zone back.
    Somebody who knows somebody is talking with the general, but it's slow
    going. I think it might complicate matters to start bringing the
    airport into the negotiations. At least, from the CRRC side. Maybe if
    it's initiated by another group it wouldn't be a problem.
    

    
    Jeff,
    
       If your talking about Ft. Devens in Ayer, some of us members of CMRCM
    have been talking about this a little bit also. What we thought about was
    getting some clubs in the general area together to talk about a mutual
    site/secondary site. Your idea of engaging Mr. Kraft is excellent.
    
    George

    I certainly don't want to jeopordize the drop zone negotiations.
    
    Dave, is there a CRRC member that I can contact to coordinate?
    
    George, who in CMRCM has been talking about it?  I want to touch
    base with them too...
    
    cheers,
    jeff
    

    
    Jeff,
    
        Dan Snow, myself and a couple of the other BOD members have brought
    it up a couple of times. Nothing really serious. Just tossing around
    the idea. You might want to contact Dan.
    
    George

Dave and I heard about it from a kite flyer that's also the groundskeeper for
St. Mark's. He claimed there was a parade ground out back that is huge. The
kiters go out there and there's nobody around. It's available for public use
but I don't think they ever asked permission...

    The current President of CRRC is Ruane Crummet. I can get you his
    phone number, if you'd like.
    

    RE:0
    
    Jeff, this sounds like a great idea. If you need support from our club
    like signatures for a partion or something let me know. I mentioned
    what you were doing to a few club members and they were very
    interested. Keep us posted with updated.
    
    Dennis
    N.H. Flying Tigers
    

    Allow me to reiterate Dave's comment. The quickest, sure fire way to
    kill evrything for everyone, is to enundate the base commander with 
    phone calls, letters, and petitions.
    
    Don't forget were dealing with Gov. red tape here. If negotiations are
    already underway, let them take their course.
    
    On a side note, if the current talks fail to get the drop zone back, I
    think it's possible that what may be needed is a club letter to our
    local congress person asking for his/her help in securing the flying
    site. I think the drop zone could be EASILY justified as being of no
    use to the military seeing as how it's a toxic waste dump.
    
    Moore Army Airfield might be more difficult, but a request/ok from
    Congress may help sway Army officials.
                                                             

    The likelyhood of getting long term use would be pretty low in my
    opinion.  Space like that is not going to be sitting unused long term. 
    It would be great to have use of it in the short term if it does not
    take lots of effort to make it possible.
    
    I hope CRRC gets the Drop Zone back - it's a nice flying site.
    
    Charlie
    

    Yes, Dave, please send me his number...
    
    At this time, that will be the only call I make...
    
    jeff
    

    The current negotiators for the Drop Zone should use a simple
    negotiating ploy:  ask for the use of both it and the airport.  That
    way, at least one or the other may get approved.
    
    -Joe 

    We already DID get our congressman involved in resecuring the Zone. At
    that time, the general's response was an unambiguous "No". They didn't
    even want their own people on a Super Fund site, much less civilians.
    (Nevermind that people have been there for decades previously).
    
    So, it appeared to be a dead issue. Then, one of the CRRC members
    discovered that a non-RC friend was using the Annex (as a jogging area,
    I think), and had permission to do so. Or maybe he personally knows the
    general. Something. In any event, they are once again talking to the
    general about use of the Zone. I'll call Ruane this weekend and get the
    latest scoop. I'll also mention the regional flying site idea.
    
    Dave
    

I would rather see Don Kraft and the AMA involved than the politicians. You're
just as likely to tip our civil leaders off to a resource THEIR buddies could
use.

paranoid in Southbridge

    I would let the CRRC folks handle the Drop Zone issue.  It's a delicate
    situation and the wrong move could hurt their chances.  I wouldn't
    count on the AMA to negotiate.  They can be called upon to supply
    support info if needed.
    
    Skeptical in Shrewsbury   :-)
    
    

    A Drop Zone update: CRRC is still negotiating for use of the Zone. The
    person at Devens who is working this issue believes there is no reason
    why we shouldn't be able to use the land, but final approval has to
    come from an Army organization that is located in Atlanta. Somehow, I
    think they are more occupied with Haiti at the moment, so I don't
    expect rapid decisions to be made. But the outlook appears to be
    positive, and we might even have daily access to the Zone, as well as
    weekends. But... don't hold your breath.
    
    I mentioned to Ruane Crummet and Fritz Bein the possibility of
    establishing a regional contest site at Devens in Ayer. I think they
    like the idea, but didn't want to discuss it at the general meeing, so
    I'm going to bring it up at the board meeting this Tuesday. I really
    don't know what land in Ayer would be satisfactory for a flying site,
    or how available that land may be, but maybe we can find the right
    person to contact at Devens to start things off.
    
    Dave
    

    I hope they get the "zone" back - I like flying there in the
    fall/winter/spring.  I'd rejoin CRRC if they get it back on a regular
    basis.
    
    Charlie