Modeling Spoken Here - 2003/02
Motivated individuals and insightful local governments working together can produce amazing results ...
Among the most enjoyable aspects of my job are the not-too-infrequent trips that allow me to meet and get to know modelers from around the country. Whenever I can, I combine AMA business with some flying at a local club or at a contest.
This past month (October for me—remember lead times...), I was fortunate enough to be in Northern California on AMA business and had the opportunity to visit with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Phil Granderson. Phil invited me to stay with him and his very charming wife, Kathleen, in their beautiful home in the Oakland Hills that overlooks the bay. (You really have it rough, Phil.)
Phil picked me up at the Oakland airport and gave me a quick tour of the area, and he capped that off with a visit to his local Control Line (CL) flying field in the adjacent town of Alameda. That field has quite a story behind it. It seems that the Alameda Aeromodelers began to fly on a nearby field in the mid- to late 1940s. One of the members of that club was Bill Osborne. The club moved to the present field soon after that, and Bill took personal pride in maintaining the field and in teaching new modelers to fly.
The fact that this field has survived all these years is impressive, but more impressive is the fact that Bill has continued to nurture new modelers and maintain that field through all the years since it was established, contributing large amounts of his personal funds for upgrades at the facilities, including barbecue pits, tables, landscaping, and a recent repaving of the circles. Bill has also continued to work closely with the Alameda Town Council and Parks Department to keep this field alive and active.
This is a special brand of involvement to be sure, but there’s more. Bill sees to it that every youngster who comes to the field to learn to fly—and there are many—gets a model and an engine. For those who come with parents, Bill makes a package of an airplane, engine, lines, and handle available for a very reasonable amount. For those kids who have no parental help, he supplies the materials to them at no cost. Here’s a man who loves this sport to be sure. Bill’s only rule for the many Alameda and surrounding towns' modelers who use the facility is to be friendly to anyone and everyone who stops by to watch. Very little to ask and a great way to entice potential modelers to join the fun. Interestingly, this is one of the only model fields in the country that appears on official road maps!
As I write this, Bill is in the hospital battling a serious illness. I salute him for his efforts in Alameda and send my best wishes for a quick and complete recovery. We need this man and many more like him!
Phil also invited me to go with him to attend the 24th edition of the famous Golden State Stunt Championships, which is contested each year in Clovis, California. This event marks the last major CL meet in the Golden State each year, and it is a veritable spectacle. The field on which this meet is held is absolutely stunning—at least to this East Coaster who is not used to such beautiful field conditions as are afforded by the sports fields of Buchanan High School. Apparently this is a town school system that recognizes the tangible advantages of working with groups that bring large numbers of people into their town for recreational purposes.
The moving force behind this meet is Bill Swan, who is the contest director. Bill is ably assisted by his brother Bob and his assistant contest director Phil Juarez. This is a family affair, with wives and even grandkids helping out. I was made to feel very welcome, and I’d like to thank everyone present for the genuine reception. I’d also like to thank Phil for the great time and especially for the loan of his Diva Stunt model with which I competed. The Diva is soon to be presented in these pages as a construction feature. It’s a good one!
Have you noticed the two common threads in the stories related in the preceding? Motivated individuals and insightful local governments working together can produce amazing results in terms of finding a place to fly and bringing new people into the hobby.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
