By President Randy Leys

About this time two yearss ago Lisa and I were having coffee on our deck in south Texas considering the possibility of moving to California to join our son Jason. Four months later we loaded up our Jeep said, “Good-bye” to family, friends and corporate flying and with some apprehension headed west to “Cali”. After getting settled in, I was ready to check out the local airport. I could not believe how many airplanes and hangers I was seeing. I walked into Sunshine Flyers, to check on an flight instructor job and Diane Hammer hired me right away. Mike Duncan took me under his wing providing me with many opportunities by introducing me to his many aviation friends, getting me involved with Friday Fly Days and AAA. It did not take long to feel at home in Auburn in the beautiful Sierra Nevada foothills.

Recently, I had a cool opportunity to meet a nine year old young lady who traveled with her mother and father from Austin, TX to attend Col. Bud Anderson’s 98th birthday party. I had the honor of giving Toni her first flight, gifted by Michael Brown. I presented her first log book that was also signed by Bud Anderson, her hero, as well as others. She told a story that on one of her visits to meet Bud she brought airplane cookies that she had personally baked. The cookies did not travel so well on the flight. She was sad at first, but then had a great idea that the broken cookies would be the airplanes that Bud shot down.

A huge thank you to our VP Doug McDougall for stepping up to the plate for conducting a great meeting while I was cloud dancing in Arizona last month.

I could not have imagined that a year and a half later, I was asked to represent Auburn Aviation Association as their president. I am amazed and humbled to be welcomed and accepted by such a wonderful community. It is an honor and a privilege to support a great organization that provides training, leadership, mentoring and scholarships to future aviators!

One last note, the end of February is the deadline for submitting applications for the AAA scholarship program. So spread the word.

Regards,

Randy Leys

President