Honoring the Missouri CAP at MOAHS

Last Sunday afternoon (19 May), the Missouri Aviation Historical Society (MOAHS) (https://moavhist.org/) had its bi-monthly meeting at Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/). This meeting honored the Missouri Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) (https://www.mowgcap.us/publicwpsite/).

After a color guard presented the colors, several officers from the Wing spoke of their missions: emergency response, youth development, and promotion of air, space, and cyber power. Although I was still a bit groggy from my long drive home from Louisville the night before, I found this a most interesting presentation.

The next MOAHS meeting is on Sunday, 14 July at 2 pm at Creve Coeur Airport.

Later.

St. Patrick's Weekend 2019

Last Saturday morning (16 March), I drove to downtown St. Louis to attend the 50th St. Patrick's Day Parade (https://irishparade.org/). This parade is held on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day. After parking in a lot just north of Washington Avenue, I walked down 13th Street and reached the parade route on Market Street, just south of Soldiers Memorial. The day was sunny and cool, and there was a great crowd as the parade marched east from near Union Station to Kiener Plaza.

I stood among the great crowds of people along the route for about two hours as the parade units passed. They had floats, marching bands, Irish dancers, historic motor vehicles, dignitaries, balloons, and costumed characters. I had never been to one of these parades in many years, and this was fun.

After the parade, I made my way through crowded streets for home. Then, after a bit of rest and dinner at home, I drove to Llywelyn's Pub in Webster Groves (https://llywelynspub.com/webster-groves). There, I joined fellow St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) for a watch party for Saint Louis FC's (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) away match with Nashville SC. (A few St. Louligans did make the trip to Nashville for the match.) We gathered by the stage, where a screen was lowered to show the match, which was streamed on ESPN+ (http://www.espn.com/watch/espnplus). The video streamed cut out at times, much to our dismay, but fortunately we did not miss the important parts of action. That included Saint Louis' goal in the 84th minute that won it, 1-0. We were one happy bunch that night. Saint Louis FC--winners of their first two matches this season--host Tampa Bay Rowdies at 1:00 pm this Saturday afternoon at Toyota Stadium.

Sunday, I went to Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/) for lunch, followed by the Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/). Ralph Goldstricker, Jr., a bombardier with the 8th Air Force during World War II, spoke of his experiences. It was quite a fascinating talk, accompanied by photos and videos projected on the screen and some artifacts he brought to show. Wonderful meeting.

Later.

Presenting IPMS/Gateway Before MOAHS

Sunday afternoon (27 January) was when the Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) held its annual Kickoff Meeting at Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/). (This was one week later than scheduled, due to weather issues the previous Sunday.) I arrived early for lunch there--chicken wings and corn.

I was there to speak for the Gateway Chapter of the International Plastic Modelers' Society (https://sites.google.com/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home), on the invitation of MOAHS President Dan O'Hara. I brought some models for display, and club member Jim Triola also brought some models. These were placed on a table at the front of the hall. I also brought some flyers for the club and its Invitational contest, which I had placed on the tables. Additionally, a binder I developed--containing a copy of the club newsletter and screenshots of our website and social media pages--was placed on the MOAHS table in the room. Club member Caleb Duttlinger was also there, with his parents.

Approximately 80 people attended the meeting, with IPMS/Gateway and 15 other organizations presenting information about their organizations and how they can interact with MOAHS and each other.

I spoke for approximately 10 minutes, using talking points on the club that I had written down in the previous days. In my talk, I invited everyone present to come to one of our meetings, and for the other organizations to work with us. (For example, these groups making presentations at our meetings, and IPMS/Gateway doing a model display for these groups.) My talk was very well received, and the model display also earned some praise from attendees.

After the meeting, representatives from two of the other groups there talked with me and were interested in working with us. I mentioned this in an email to the IPMS/Gateway executive board later that day.

I was very pleased with my efforts for IPMS/Gateway that day, and hope this marks the beginning of collaborations with other historical and aerospace organizations in Metro St. Louis for our mutual benefit.

Later.

A Saturday of Beer and Trivia

Saturday morning (26 January) found me at the Urban Chestnut Brewing Company's (http://urbanchestnut.com/) Brewery and Bierhall in the Grove neighborhood of St. Louis. This was a get together with the gtpwtw Meetup group (https://www.meetup.com/gtpwtw/). Eleven of us toured the brewery, which we found most interesting. Larry, our tour guide, was most informative.

After touring the brewery, we were treated to four samples of Urban Chestnut's variety of beers. I enjoyed this very much.

Then, many of us stayed around to have lunch in the Bierhall. I had pork & apple sausage on a bun, with sauerkraut and potato salad, washed down with Urban Chestnut's Oxnbrau beer. Very tasty.

I shopped in the merchandise store, buying two beer glasses before going home. It was a great time.

That night, I drove to Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/) to meet up with three fellow Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) members. We then carpooled to Heritage Hall in Bonne Terre, Missouri for a trivia night benefitting The Space Museum (https://www.space-mo.org/) there.

We four joined with one of the tables of fellow players and took part in the contest: ten sets of ten questions per set. I saw some others I knew at some of the other tables. I was able to help them out on some questions. Out group finished sixth best of 18 tables there.

After the contest, we toured the Grissom Center next door to Heritage Hall. This is a new wing of The Space Museum, named for early American astronaut Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom. It's a small museum, but most interesting for spaceflight enthusiasts. I sat in a leather chair used by Space Shuttle astronauts during suiting up procedures prior to launch.

Later.

Variety of Early December Activities

After a long Monday at work (3 December), I went to Firehouse Bar & Grill (https://www.firehousebarandgrillstl.com/) in Mehlville for the annual soccer referee party. I chatted a bit with some colleagues, but otherwise I was not in much mood to talk. It was nice, though.

The following Saturday afternoon (8 December) found me at Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/) for the Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) Christmas party. It was a nice time, enjoying a catered lunch and chatting with other members.

That night, I came to the The Post Sports Bar & Grill (https://thepostsportsbar.com/?fbclid=IwAR1gOULXTJdOANvT4YaRqgx4EnXuohhBt5W_1mUa2wSJsDxN1XIbvCmL0N0) in Fenton. This was for a watch party for that night's MLS Cup match being played in Atlanta. Saint Louis FC (https://www.saintlouisfc.com/) put on this watch party, with the St. Louligans (http://stlouligans.com/) there in force and #MLS4THELOU (https://mls4thelou.com/) also present. I munched on toasted ravioli and chicken wings while watching Atlanta United FC defeat Portland Timbers 2-0 on the TV screens. It was a fun evening.

I was up early the next morning (9 December) to get to Forest Park (https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/parks/parks/Forest-Park.cfm) by 5:45 am. There, I was serving as a volunteer at the Allstate Hot Chocolate 15k/5k runs (https://www.hotchocolate15k.com/), which benefitted the Make-A-Wish Foundation (http://wish.org/). I joined with some other volunteers at the finish line, before the race to set up the finishers' medals for presentation and the cups of sports drink to offer to the runners. We were all ready when the first runners set off at 7:30 am, despite the sub-freezing weather. (I handled up, yet my toes and fingertips froze.) The first runner for the 5k run came to the finish about 20 minutes later, and I was offering up sports drink to them as they passed by.

The first finishers from the 15k run came about one hour after the start, and its was a steady stream of finishers that came past my fellow volunteers and I. The last finisher came across the finish line some three hours after the run began, and I helped to tear down the tables where the refreshments were placed. After that, I came to the volunteer tent to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and a fondue of molten chocolate with mini pretzels, marshmallows, and other treats. It's quite a nice treat for helping out. I also got a nice cold weather running shirt as a thanks for volunteering.

This past week, besides work, I put together this month's issue of The Arch Scaler News, the newsletter of IPMS/Gateway (https://sites.google.com/view/ipmsgatewaychapter/home). Wednesday (12 December), after visiting some colleagues to drop off Christmas greetings and treats, I made a follow-up visit with my doctor. Generally, I am well, though I could lose a bit of weight.

After work last night (14 December), I went to a house in midtown St. Louis for the final Stress Free Fridays party. The organizers had decided to end the program after 14.5 years, and it was a nice last hurrah. I chatted with others I had not need in many months--due to my work schedule, I had not been able to attend these events--and had a pleasant time.

Later.