From the President

by Bob Prange

Thanks to the high level of volunteer activity in the various functions at this Chapter, the EAA has once again selected
Chapter 186 to administer a Ray Aviation Flight Training Scholarship this year. The amount for 2025 is $12,000 toward Private Pilot training. EAA and the Ray Foundation have a goal of 80% completion in the overall program. We have surpassed that as we are five for five for scholarship completions since the program began in 2019. Our past Ray
Scholars are:

2019 – Carter Allain
2020 – Seth Kissell
2021 – Tony Crupi
2022 – Juliette Burton
2023 – Grant Peterson
2024 – Kobe Kerns (Currently on track with Solo and Written Knowledge exam
completed)

We’ll begin the selection process with a questionnaire for scholarship hopefuls. This tool will help us find an aviation-motivated candidate. The scholarship allows one year from beginning of funding to checkride completion. EAA requires a current FAA medical certificate (minimum third class) to be considered for the scholarship. We cannot put forward a candidate to EAA Headquarters without an FAA medical. Find more information in the Ray article.

Following this article is a regular feature titled “Koehler’s Korner.” Dick Koehler continues to share his knowledge and experience through his monthly article in this newsletter. For those that may not know, Dick has been a Chapter 186
member for decades but resides now in the warmer climate of Florida. Hismonthly submission is just one of the many ways he contributes selflessly to the aviation community. For years Dick has been involved with the development and teaching of the Sport Air Workshops around the country and the OSH AirVenture Workshops. He has written articles for Sport Aviation, received the Bax Seat Trophy from FLYING Magazine in 2005, received the EAA’s Tony Bingelis Award in 2007 and the EAA Chairman’s Award in 2017. Dick has made more than 100 Hints for Homebuilders videos and has been a Flight Advisor and Technical Counselor for longer than anyone can remember. If you see him
working on an aircraft or teaching a class, he is not going to mention any of this, but you will soon realize the passion he has for helping the rest of us understand our machines better. We are very fortunate to know Dick and to benefit from his expertise.

We are still in need of a webmaster. The EAA186.org website needs maintenance so that we can keep our membership informed and up to date with announcements, calendar items, membership renewal screens, sign-up sheets, etc. Please let us know if you would like to help in this area. We are winding down the annual Chapter 186 membership renewal process. Chapter 186 membership is for the calendar year. If you renew now, you will reduce our postage expenses and
mailing efforts. To renew right now online and pay by PayPal or Zelle, click here: https://eaa186.org/events/eaa-chapter-186-membership-online- application-2025/. If you prefer, print and fill in the 2025 membership renewal form in this newsletter and mail it with your payment. Or bring your form  and payment with you to the Mar 22 meeting. We
also have forms there.

Blue Skies,
Bob