Latest newsletters from the
AKA
| AKA President Gary Engvall, president@aka.kite.org | AKA Region 4Directory Terry (teecee) Cornell, region4@aka.kite.org |
| Hi everyone; Wow, it's December already. Where did the time go? For anyone who might be wondering what to get for the Kite Flyer on their gift list, a Membership in AKA is just the right size for everyone. If there is someone you miss seeing on your favorite kite field, giving them a Membership in the AKA might be a great way to get them back in the fold. We have a complete Board of Directors including a complete slate of Officers. There are still some Committee position opportunities. Check out the AKA web site <Home/Members/Committees/Executive Committee> and see if there is an opening that calls to you. If there is, please contact the Chair of that committee and offer your services. Kudos to the Members of the AKA Board who are bringing up Board topics on the Kite Talk Forum. It is great to see discussion taking place where all the Members can see it. This is your AKA. The Officers and Regional Directors want every AKA Member to be as informed and involved as that Member wants to be. Please contact your Regional Director with concerns or questions. Just a reminder that many folks have promised to e-mail me directly with concerns. Please do. Every AKA Member is encouraged to contribute to Kiting Magazine. The submission deadline for the next issue of Kiting is January 15, 2008. Stay safe, be well, and have a great holiday season. See you out there somewhere.
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good heavens; gary engvall
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Greetings of the season to all!
Well, it's been a busy first couple of months here in
the RD seat, and I'm having a pure-d blast! Thanks for giving me
the opportunity to serve our Region!
First up, Admin notes.
As of November 27 we have a full BoD seated; got all
of our Directors-at-Large, got a Treasurer, and got a Secretary.
With a full crew we're ready to answer all bells so flank speed Mr.
Sulu, warp factor 9!
BoD teleconferences cost our AKA a little over $1,000
a shot, so we're looking into ways to get the same results at a
reduced cost if not outright free. A collateral benefit of this
process; the entire BoD is now using the free VOIP application
called Skype. I invite everyone in Region 4 to check it out; my
call sign is akaregion4. I'd love to talk to you about your next
kiting event, be it Festival or Fun Fly!
Festivals, Festivals, Festivals!
October and November were pretty active up in
North Carolina; Outer Banks Sport Kite Championships, the Cape
Fear Kite Festival, and the Carolina Kite Fest all finished
solidly in the WIN column as I've been told. CKF is noteworthy
as it was the 20th Annual, so I've included as an attachment a
very nice write-up that I received for your reading pleasure.
Good Stuff!
Coming in January; the 12th Annual
Treasure Island Kite Festival. Hooo boy, where do you
even start when talking about this one? iQuad is coming; Dodd
Gross is bringing his acclaimed and always welcome Flight
School; our AKA President Gary Engvall will be there with his
big show kites (but I doubt we can keep him pinned down on one
piece of beach for very long); Gumby and fighters; and many
others.
Of special interest for you multiline folks;
there will be a Rev mega-fly seeking to break the World's
Record. Come and be a part of it!
There will be an AKA Information booth set up,
and I'll be on watch Sunday. Be sure to drop by and say howdy!
On an adjacent section of the acclaimed TI beach;
the St. Augustine Sport Kite Classic (SASKC)! Saturday Jan19th
will be the AKA Sport Kite Competition, and Sunday the 20th is
the Tricks Party USA event. Sport Kiters, you've heard about
it. Now come see it for yourselves! Participate as a
Competitor, help out as staff or field crew, or just come and
talk to Ron Graziano, Shawn Tinkham, or any other legends!
Competition Rules Changes
Rokkaku battlers, Sharon Champie has submitted an
edit to your rules; check your Rule books before your next
battle.
Sport Kite Competitors, of particular note is the
rule effective as of July; mp3 players are no longer acceptable
media for ballet disciplines. Turn to the AKA Appendix for the
complete rule before SASKC.
AKA Kite Talk Forum
Planning on going flying this weekend and you'd
like some company to share the joy of kiting with? Tell us
about it in the new Region 4 area of Kite Talk Forum. Has
somebody in Region 4 done something noteworthy to improve your
kiting experience recently? Nominate that special person as
Region 4 Kiter of the month! We tested it out in October; Ken
McNeill and Mike Agner tied as the inaugural Region 4 Kiters of
the Month. Congratulations to both of those gents, and
nominations for December are now open!
Seriously, folks; the Kite Talk Forum is there
for you as a Member Benefit. Take advantage of it, use it as a
communication resource to talk with kiters from all around this
AKA, but use it. Tidbit of information; there are 977
registered Kite Talk Forum members right now. Wouldn't it be a
grand indicator of Regional dominance if the 1,000th Member
hailed from Region 4? I'm thinking it'd also be pretty special
if the 22 people joining in front of # 1000 were
also from Region 4... ;-)
And with that, time to sign off for this month.
Take care of each other during this joyful holiday time, and may
there be plenty of ripstop found under your tree!
Be well, and go fly something!
TeeCee
Att: 31 October 2007 Kites Unlimited, PO Box 2278, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 The 20th annual Carolina Kite Fest was held on October 27th and 28th at the Sheraton Resort in Atlantic Beach. The event was very successful even with a slow start due to badly needed rain on Saturday morning. As the rain cleared the flyers came out to join the hardy Ben D’Antonio of Revolution Kites, who had defied the elements and flew in the rain. Truly a model for us all. Ben was joined by Randy Tom and Ray Wong who flew their art kites to everyone’s enjoyment. Special thanks to Randy and Ray for conducting a sewing seminar on Friday where a dozen sewers made hatas in a fish design intended to expose them to all the opportunities to be found in appliqué technique. The attendees affectionately called the all day session “The Sweat Shop”. A special mass ascension was held on Sunday where 6 of the 12 kites were flown. Great job everybody! Saturday was a low-key fun fly day with little structure and lots of fun flying to the enjoyment of the growing crowd. Al Sparling got the Octopus up with very wet tails due to the small beach and unfavorable wind direction. We still loved it. Frank Morril of Go Fly A Kite flew the Giant Randy Tom SpongeBob Squarepants kite beside the Octopus; both in the air and the ocean. The Bay Area Sundowners flew a nice routine and everyone got some center stage time. Hunter and Paul from Blowing in the Wind in Wilmington stopped by and gave a great demo of their new dual line kite. Saturday night, the awesome night fly was dry and windless. The Sundowners did their best and we all enjoyed the pleasant evening of trying to fly in winds gusting to 1mph. Doug L'Hommedieu of Charlotte outdid us all, flying a cube with lively lights inside. Frank Nosal’s Big Black made a great ground display. Most of the rest of us just looked cute with our kite lights on our bodies. Sunday was wonderful. The sky was blue with an assortment of clouds to enhance viewing and picture taking enjoyment. The offshore wind was mostly adequate and sometimes bumpy. Mass ascensions were held for 9 different types of single line kites plus quadline kites. The Sky Skimmers by Jeri Dixon set a new record of 16-19 kites flown (depending on who was counting). Six of the workshop fish hatas flew with one wearing a custom eye patch. Al Sparling flew the Octopus and the Big Grey Cat with assistance from Bob Snow and his Triangulation pilot. To celebrate the 20 years of the festival, a call was made to fly the vintage kites and many came forward. Peter Powesls, Trilbys, Hawaiian Team and North Shore Radicals, Lots of White Cloud Dragons, Kites of the Four Winds feather deltas, a Go Fly a Kite Octopus from the early 1980’s, Neptune Fish from Joel Scholtz, A Pumpkin Skywave from Shanti, Hyperkites from Randy Tom, Custom Kites from Rick Tuttle, plus many, many more. Unfortunately we lost a vintage 16 foot Jerry Sinotte Big Black Delta in a line crossing accident. “Big Black” was watched by all as it sailed over the horizon with tails, flag and windsock line laundry proudly displayed. Thanks to Frank and family, this kite had been flown at 19 of our 20 Kite Festivals. We will miss “Big Black.” The Bay Area Sundowners flew several routines including a new one to the delight of the crowd. With the exception of the candy drops nothing is as popular as the Sundowners. Beginning and advanced quad line lessons were held by Revolution’s Ben and dual line lessons were held by Frank of Go Fly a Kite. Thanks to all who attended and participated in this event. The volunteers make the event possible. Special thanks to Ross King for 20 years of wonderful assistance and invaluable help and counsel. The new location at the Sheraton worked well, so thanks to the management and staff. See you next year on the 25th and 26th of October at the Sheraton!
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