So those are the simple facts about how we got here on this wild, expensive, and frustrating insurance ride.  What can I do about it?  I have to do what is best for the Club, and what is best for the CSS is to have coverage that we can afford, coverage that insures our actual activity, and adequate insurance that won’t leave us hanging out to dry in the event of a claim.

Myself and Jamie Shelden (Secretary) have spent the better part of the last two years rebuilding trust with both USHPA and RecRRG.  It hasn’t been easy, it hasn’t been fun, and certainly wasn’t done without due consideration from the entire BOD.  I know people have some very strong feelings about the ‘establishment’, but let me assure you that we didn’t go into this trying to spite anyone’s feelings or experiences.  It boils down to this simple question;

Should the club continue to pay over $26k per year, or would you rather pay $10K?

We have to be the adults in the room, and we have to do what is best for the Club… the ENTIRE Club Membership. We have spend CSS funds on a policy we can afford and one that also provides legitimate protection from legal actions. Its. That. Simple.

Another issue that is like a dark cloud looming on the horizon, and will be for the foreseeable future, is the Developer that has purchased all of the land to the east of the LZ.  Several CSS Members outside of just the BOD attended a meeting last year where the a representative of Encore University Hills showed us the draft concept drawings for the 300 plus homes they intend to build directly next to us.

Let me be very clear about this – while it is not the end of the world that homes will potentially be built in the area where we make our landing approaches it is, at the same time, probably the most serious issue we face.  What we DO NOT want to do is to turn this into a hostile situation with the Developer, that is the most sure way to lose.

Now please understand that the Developer does not have approved plans or building permits from San Bernardino County… yet.  We are not sure how many years it could take, or if it could take a turn and rapidly accelerate.  What we know for sure is that a special committee of the Club’s most dedicated and experienced members are keeping on top this and making sure we take all the right steps in this process.

We don’t have a general time-line right now… the bureaucracy is slow moving.  All I can say for sure right now is that, again, this is the most serious issue we face and it will take the cohesiveness of our Free-Flight community along with every resource we can muster to make sure we preserve what so many people have worked so hard to build at CSS.

I accept the nomination to run for CSS President and I appreciate the gestures of confidence posted above.

I’d like to take a minute to bring you all up to speed on some the issues that the BOD has been dealing with over the past year and share how that will shape the board’s agenda going forward.  Please keep in mind that there is some heavy stuff on the horizon, so I’m not speaking in terms of just what I personally see as my own agenda if elected, this what the CSS Board will have to tackle no matter who has the job in the coming year (and possibly for several years to come).

I’ll split these into more digestible bites, one thread at a time.  In no particular order;

The LZ and the grass – In December of 23 we spiked for aeration, spread two truckloads of fresh topsoil, and spread out 34 bags of fertilizer.  During 2024 we fixed or replaced every sprinkler head in the LZ.  The result was the greenest, healthiest LZ we’ve seen in years and made for some amazing landings in the spring through early summer.  Unfortunately we eventually lost the battle in late summer to the heat and some plumbing issues.

We were losing water in the pond and it got to danger low levels in July and August.   We couldn’t find any leaks at the time but after countless sessions of testing zones, fixing smaller problems, replacing some parts, we finally isolated a leak in the South-East corner.  We recently dug it up to get a plan for repairs.  It’s a cracked ‘T’ fitting in the 3 inch supply line and explains a lot about why we were slowly losing water without ever seeing as serious blow out.  We will get those PVC parts and get that fixed as soon as possible, hopefully before the end of March.

We did have ‘blow out’ of sorts in November… The pressure relief valve blew off at the south side of the LZ and almost drained the pond.  I was able to get that fixed in December/January with the help of a few volunteers.  The new parts are a little more ‘hardened’ and there is a new shut-off valve adjacent to the pressure-relief valve in case it needs to be isolated or secured faster in the future.

I fully expect the LZ to be as green and vibrant this spring as it was last year.  With a little luck and a few more fixes I think we will do better keeping it green longer into the summer this year.

So I’ll kick off the nominations with this;

Jana & Kathy have decided not to seek re-election for their board seats (Vice President & Events Coordinator respectively).  On behalf the entire BOD I’d like thank them both profusely for all of their effort and accomplishments this year as CSS Officers.  Jana & Kathy have been on the BOD this previous year and many other years before, their contributions to the CSS cannot be overstated.

So, I would like to formally nominate Ben Kanselbaum for Vice President and Mimi BowQuay for Events Coordinator.

Ben is a P4 PG Pilot and has been flying for 9 years.  He is one of the friendliest and most even-keeled Pilots in the air and hanging out in the LZ.  I believe he would be a great addition to the CSS BOD for his communication skills, judgement, and character.

Mimi BowQuay is also a P4 PG Pilot and has been part our CSS family for the past 5 years.  She has one of the brightest personalities in the LZ so if you haven’t met her yet, well I guess you don’t fly much!  Mimi actually has significant professional experience as an Events Planner & Business Owner so I believe she’s the perfect fit for our new Events Coordinator.

Hey CSS Members.

I just got back to the U.S. from flying trip to Oz.  There are no superseding orders or amendments to the previous closure order, so it is expired as of 1 December 2024.

I will double check with the Superintendent’s Office tomorrow morning, but I’m pretty certain we are free to fly without restriction.  I’ll update this thread with results, but I think we are fine either way.

Mid NOV Update:

I’ve been checking in on the status of the Line Fire and NFS Closure Order every few days.  I had anticipated a modification of the closure map around the 1st of November but that didn’t happen.

I checked in with NFS Administrators and there appears to be no talk or known effort to modify the closure map before the current order expiration date of 30 NOV.  With that date only just over 2 weeks away it appears that the SB NFS Supervisor intends to go the full span of the closure period.

We can still fly, and many people have been flying the past few weeks west of the 18 with few incidents (a visiting pilot violated the closure order and claimed ignorance), and pilots are having great flights despite the closure and limits to normal routes.  I do appreciate the cooperation and supportive nature of CSS Club Members.

The NFS Ranger told me the gliders are still there at the location pinned above.  He hasn’t confirmed yet but I offered to help get them removed, I’ll see what he says.

Does anyone know if Steve Corbin has any next of kin that we could notify?  I doubt they would want those gliders back, but it doesn’t hurt to ask first.  Otherwise, the CSS would be doing a kind act of community service by helping clean up the mess.  We’d probably just have to trash the sails but I know Tom is looking for airframe tubing for his GOAT project.

Anyone want to take the lead on this?

This is the location that they were found:

Click the link for Google Map Pin