With just weeks till the KR Gathering, I touched base today with Chris Collins, the airport manager, to confirm final arrangements. For those that have not attended a Gathering at Mt.Vernon I'll lay out some information points to keep in mind:
- Restaurant on the field in the terminal building serving lunch and dinner buffet with breakfast items during the Gathering. Donnie Wilkie and staff will treat you like old friends. Give them your business when possible. They will also cater the Saturday evening awards banquet. The banquet will be held in the terminal commons area at 7:00PM Saturday evening. - KR fliers: We all enjoy fly-bys but limit your pass to no closer to the terminal than the taxiways. Keep in mind the AirEvac facility on the airport and respect any emergency operations such as picking up KR drivers out of local bean fields. No low passes over the campground or AirEvac facility, main runway only. - Chris is checking the possibility of us using a computer projector owned by a friend of the airport. - Camping: Great camp site by the lake within walking distance of the terminal and the hangar where bathroom and showers are available. At the last Gathering we actually had people camping in the hangar. The pavilion at the camp ground has been updated by an Eagle scout with new roof and other upgrades. For those camping, alcohol is not allowed on the airport but "party beverages" are tolerated if done so responsibility. Enough said? A few electrical hookups were available in the past for motor homes and large campers behind the FBO hangar. I forgot to check but they are probably still available, first come , first served. Wood for fire will be available at the pavilion. - Something to sell? bring it and we'll set up a table(s) to display your ware. Tables available in terminal commons for photo albums and other display items. Bring anything you'd like to share. - It's tough asking someone to set at the registration table all day to sell hats/shirts/ banquet tickets so I will be limiting the hours to 10:00AM till 3:00PM. I'll ask John to update the web page with that info. Name tags will be available so please use them so we can put names with faces. Please purchase your banquet tickets by Saturday noon so we have an accurate head count for Donnie. _ The location for the 2017 Gathering will be voted on at the Saturday evening banquet. We presently have one offer but anyone is allowed to make a proposal at the banquet. Want to host a Gathering? Suggestions are welcome but only serious proposals / presentations will be considered. - Forums will be held in the conference room in the terminal (seating for 60+) or in the terminal commons area, location to be announced at the Gathering. - Use caution on the ramp for aircraft movements and give them clear space. Remember, us tail dragger pilots have a hard time seeing you, stand well clear. - Very friendly FBO. Walk down and thank them for their support. - A portion of an 11,900 square foot hangar should be available for the KR's at no cost to fliers unless something unforeseen comes up. Chris will move heaven and earth to make it available. I know I'm forgetting something so I'll post it when I think of it. This is my 25th KR Gathering of the last 26. I missed the one in California after turning back in Northwest Arkansas. Joe Horton continued on from there to leave an oil trail all the way to the west coast. :-) Mark Langford was unable to even leave his home airport on that run. Questions????????? Flesner at frontier.com cell 618 201 5958 Life is good............See you at the Gathering......... Larry Flesner
