President’s Message for Sep 2024
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It’s been a hard couple months for the group at the lake. Lots of sunshine but then they lower the water level making the weeds a problem. Well the weeds are no longer a problem and the water level is up; and I have been told they are planning to import more water. This works in our favor, with the water level up it just makes the weeds that much further below the surface. Our Use Fee has been payed till the end of the year for the lake. It would sure be nice to see as many of you as possible in the coming flying days. I sent out an email for flying on the 23rd, I guess it did not go to all members or maybe the rest of the members just did not see it. So, next time, I will try and send it earlier in the week. With that said, this coming Monday, September 30, I would like to do a make up day. Weather should be on the cooler side for those that are looking for those up-coming; “too fast for me” Winter days. So charge up those batteries and be ready to enjoy the lake with your model. If you check the website there is a float fly at Lake Perris in Oct. I have flown there a few times and it is always a good time. It’s good to get out there and enjoy other areas to fly your models. See you soon, Curtis K. |
Bob Says for Jan 2024
Gents:
2023 was another good year as we added several new members and activity in general was on par with previous years. Our Monday flying sessions generally had 5 to 10+ members and we are averaging 2 flying dates a month. Two sessions a month seems to be the sweet spot for decent attendance. So, we will continue to schedule 2 sessions a month and add dates on occasion based upon member interest. Let’s keep it going!
Bad weed conditions (due to fish breeding season and dam maintenance) shut down our boating/flight operations during July and August for a longer period than usual. However, things are back to normal and lake conditions for the last 4 sessions have been excellent.
AMA has re-submitted our FRIA application for Skimmers flight operations at Lake Poway.
Our first attempt was denied due to some public use/safety concerns that we have addressed in our second FRIA request. The first one was denied pretty quickly (less than two weeks), it’s been over a month since the last one was submitted. Status on FRIA web site is listed as submitted so maybe this one’s the charm.
Once again Ferdinand, Cutis and Arthur have been handling site setup/breakdown with myself as backup when required. Please continue to assist them with setup & breakdown of the site perimeter as required. This is greatly appreciated by the field safety and setup crew.
Special thanks to our web editor in chief Steve B. for all the work he does maintaining the Skimmer web site. If you have anything you would like to contribute to the newsletter, please contact Steve. Input is always appreciated.
1. I would like to ask all members to please take a moment to visit the club web site at www.powayskimmers.org and review the club and Lake Poway rules/guidelines that we all must follow when at the lake.
2. Please note that anything we operate on water or in the air must be buoyant even if swamped with water. While this is generally not a problem for our foam/wood models some of the fiberglass planes and/or boat may/will need some help with the addition of foam or internal floatation tanks. Again, all models should be buoyant enough to be retrieved from the lake even if swamped with water (it should not sink).
3. Please do not discard/trash batteries, fuel, or any toxic items at the lake. When fueling (non-battery) craft please be sure to capture overflow and spillage.
4. As stated in the club rules and by agreement with Poway we are granted access/use of the lake on listed Mondays and at stated times 1-4pm (after site setup). The club and its members are not permitted use of the lake for RC activities at any other time. Lake Poway Park staff has noted people using the lake for RC activities at other times (sometimes stating they are with the Skimmers). We have clarified/assured them that this usage of the lake is not authorized and/or associated with the club and its members. Members caught breaking our usage agreement with the city will have their membership revoked.
Lastly by club policy free advice (usually good, on any topic) is still available in the pit area without an appointment on a walk–by or sit-down basis. Warning, advice is often offered without prior request and not always within ear shot of the recipient.
Thanks to everyone’s efforts in keeping the Skimmers going!
Bob
Bob Says for July 2023
Gents,
Due to expected high temperatures and the bad weeds conditions at the Lake we will be canceling the July 31st make up session
Poway lake staff indicates weed control will resume within the next few weeks. So we will suspend all fly sessions until August 21st,.
as I assume the weeds issue will be address by then. If things look good sooner, we could start up again on August 14th.
Historically high temperatures and bad weeds (due to fish breeding season) shut down our boating/fight operations around July and August for a period of a few weeks.
Member turn out is also generally very low during these high temperature periods. The bad weeds conditions make it difficult to taxi aircraft or run RC boats around the pier.
Operating the rescue/retrieval boat is also very tricky, trying to operate so as not to blow a fuse and de-weeding propeller often.
We will regularly update membership on lake status
Regards
Bob
Gents,
Due to expected high temperatures and the bad weeds conditions at the Lake we will be canceling the July 31st make up session
Poway lake staff indicates weed control will resume within the next few weeks. So we will suspend all fly sessions until August 21st,.
as I assume the weeds issue will be address by then. If things look good sooner, we could start up again on August 14th.
Historically high temperatures and bad weeds (due to fish breeding season) shut down our boating/fight operations around July and August for a period of a few weeks.
Member turn out is also generally very low during these high temperature periods. The bad weeds conditions make it difficult to taxi aircraft or run RC boats around the pier.
Operating the rescue/retrieval boat is also very tricky, trying to operate so as not to blow a fuse and de-weeding propeller often.
We will regularly update membership on lake status
Regards
Bob
Bob Says for December 2022
Gents:
2022 was another good year as we added several new members and activity in general was on par with previous years. Our Monday flying sessions generally had 6 to 10+ members and we are averaging 2 to 3 flying dates a month. Two sessions a month seems to be the sweet spot for decent attendance. So we will continue to schedule 2 sessions a month and add dates here and there base upon member interest. Let’s keep it going.
Once again Ferdinand and Arthur joined by Curtis (this year) have been handling site setup/break down with myself as backup when required. Please continue to assist them with setup & break down of the site perimeter as required. This is greatly appreciated by the field safety and setup crew.
Special thanks to our web editor in chief Steve B. for all the work he does maintaining the Skimmer web site. If you have any suggestion for the site or wish to help out with a monthly or quarter Skimmers new letter please contact Steve or myself.
- I would like to ask all members to please take a moment to visit the club web site at www.powayskimmers.org and review club and Lake Poway rules/guidelines that we all must follow when at the lake .
- Please note that anything we operate on water or in the air must be buoyant even if swamped with water. While this is generally not a problem for our foam/wood models some of the fiberglass planes and/or boat may/will need some help with the addition of foam or internal floatation tanks. Again all models should be buoyant enough to be retrieved from the lake even if swamped with water (it should not sink). I suggest all boats be stuffed with foam as hatches can come off filling boat with water. Secure/attach hatches with string to boat if they will not float by themselves also.
- A few members have asked about buoys for boat racing course and trying to organize some unofficially races. This is all doable but we would need someone (or several people) to step up and organize the boaters. We can add events to calendar, email-blast members and even setup a section on the web site for this activity. But we would need some organizers to oversee this activity.
- Steve is always looking for content for our web site. So if you have something of interest please pass it along. Note content or topics are not restricted to Lake Poway activities.
- As stated in the club rules and by agreement with Poway we are granted access/use of the lake on the listed Mondays and at stated times 1-4pm (after site setup). The club and its members are not permitted use of the lake for RC activities at any other times. Poway park staff has noted people using lake for RC activities at other times (sometimes stating they are with the Skimmers). We have clarified/assured them that this usage of the lake is not authorized and/or associated with the club and its members. Members caught breaking our usage agreement with the city will have their membership revoked.
Lastly by club policy free advise (usually good, on any topic) is still available in the pit area without an appointment on a walk by or sit-down basis. Warning, advise is often offered without prior request.
See you at the lake in 2023
Bob
“Bob Says” for September 2022
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Gents; I was back in the Midwest this past July and part of August, so I avoided the hot weather here in the San Diego area. While the weather was hot at the lake, we still averaged 6 to 8 flyers this past July and August. That is a pretty good turnout considering we start flight operations during the hottest part of the day. Hopefully, things will start cooling off soon and we will start seeing some of our other Skimmers members again this fall. I would like to remind everyone we also support RC boating (electric only) at the lake so bring your sail and/or power boats out too, especially on those iffy days when you’re not sure if you want to fly due to the wind conditions at the lake. It’s hard to predict wind condition at the lake particularly during Santa Ana wind season, so a backup boat is not a bad idea. Our next scheduled flight session is September 12th. See you at the lake Bob |
“Bob Says” for December 2021
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Gents; We have completed three great flying sessions at the lake with a nice turn out for each outing. The weather and winds were unusually favorable for all three sessions, so let’s not get too spoiled. It was good to see the familiar faces of existing and new members again after our long hiatus from the lake. I ask all members to review the club and park rules listed on our web site. Here is the direct link for your convenience RULES: AMA, PARK & CLUB (powayskimmers.org). The next lake session is scheduled for December 20th and we will be updating the Calendar on the web site with next year’s flying dates. See you at the lake Bob |
“Bob Says” for November 2021
Gents;
Good news! The long awaited repairs to the boat dock have been completed.
We will be resuming flight operations on Monday Nov 8th 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
We have also added future session dates to the club web site calendar out to the end of the year.
If there is a big enough demand we may add an additional session dates to Nov and/or December.
It’s been a while so please review the park-lake and clubs rules listed on the club web site under
the club-info->rules-ama-park-club menu item (RULES: AMA, PARK & CLUB (powayskimmers.org)).
Remember flight/boat operations cannot being until the site around the fishing pier has been setup.
I will have 2021 membership cards for paid members and will be collecting due for unpaid member at the lake.
See you at the Lake
Bob
Bob Says’ for March 2021
Gents;
Well, it looks like things are finally starting to move back to some semblance of normalcy.
A number of us have received our shots and things are looking good for the county to give the
all clear for our Skimmers activities on Lake Poway. We are still targeting early second quarter as the target date to resume operations at the Lake. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again at the lake doing what we do.
As previously noted I have received some renewals and will be processing 2021 member cards this month. As usual you can also renew membership at the lake once we resume flying and boating activities.
Our club AMA club charter and insurance certificate with Poway has been approved.
I will update the membership as things progress.
See you at lake
Bob
“Bob Says” for Sep 2020
Gents;
Since the last update nothing has changed with the status of Lake Poway. While the Lake grounds are open for limited use, the City of Poway (per county guidelines) is not allowing boating or any group/permitted activities. Our club, The Lake Poway Skimmers, falls under the ‘group and permitted activities’ category. So flight operations at the lake are still suspended until further notice.
No one has any real idea when these restrictions will be lifted. At this point I would say we are looking at next year, assuming the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.
I will continue to update the membership of any changes to the lake status as soon as I’m notified by the city. We will collect dues for 2021 when the lake is opened for normal club operations.
Also, we have received membership requests from Steve Nelson, Ken McNeill, Robert McCurdy and George Argiris. I have added them to the Skimmers mailing list to keep them in the loop on the lake status. I ask that if you are one of the new members to please reply back to me so I know I have added you correctly to the club list.
Thanks for your continued patience
Bob
“Bob Says” for May 2020
While Poway has opened parks and Lake Poway for some access. Activities like boating, archery and any group event/activity are still not allowed. Social distancing rules apply to all persons not part of a family unit (live together).
The city’s official response is as follows;
We are highly regulated by the County of San Diego and “gatherings” or facility reservations are not permitted at this time. We expect this to continue through the month of May.
The bottom line is that we are still in a wait and see mode as to when flying will resume at Lake Poway. I’m hoping for a June time frame.
I will update the membership on any status changes as they become available to me.
Regards, stay safe
Bob