Fall Kiting News - Busy End to the 2005 Kiting Season

There is lots of news to relate as the 2005 kiting season comes to a close.

1. NWKA Event Dates and Plans for 2006:

At today's September club fly several decisions were made by the flyers in attendance which gave approval to our schedule for 2006. You may wish to mark these dates on your calendar:

January 29, 2006 - NWKA Winter Kitemaking Workshop:

• Join us to make a terrific single line Butterfly Kite (or two or three) to help push winter out of your mind. This project will use ripstop nylon, carbon filament whisker rods, dacron and will include skills of "hot cutting" and some modest sewing. A whole group of NWKA members with sewing skills will be there to help you make your kite if you do not have a sewing machine or if you tremble at the thought of running one. The costs will be for materials only and will be very modest.
  
• In case of bad weather, the alternate date is the following Sunday, February 5, 2006.
• The event will be held at Humberstone Hall (our usual indoor location) in Port Colborne.
• Detailed information will be provided well in advance of the event.
• A call for registration will go out in advance so we can have all necessary materials on hand for this workshop

March 24, 2006 - Annual General Meeting and Spring Kite Building Workshop:

• Join us for the Annual General Meeting to select a new Board of Directors for 2006 and to develop plans and work teams for the 14th Annual Canal Days Kite Festival.
• The Kite Building Project will be to make a large kite train that will belong to the club. We will select a type of kite that we can make multiples of to give us a completed kite train for the 2006 season. It is our hope to have a project that will give each member a personal kite to take away as well.
• Detailed information will be provided well in advance of the event.
• A call for registration will go out in advance so we can have all required materials on hand.

Club Flying Dates at Lakeview Park in Port Colborne:

• Sunday, April 30, 2006
• Sunday, May 28, 2006 (includes a special event for two of our members)
• Sunday, June 26, 2006
• Sunday, July 30, 2006 (final on-field planning meeting for Canal Days Kite Festival)

14th Annual Canal Days Kite Festival:

• Saturday, August 5th: Field Setup and 'Spectacular Night Fly'
• Sunday, August 6th: Festival Fly for Club Flyers - special events, awards, prizes and barbecue
• Monday, August 7th: Kids-n-Kites Kitemaking and Flying (5th annual free kitemaking!)
  

• Sunday, August 27, 2006
• Sunday, September 24, 2006
• Sunday, October 29, 2006 (Annual "Hot Cider" and Fall Treats Event!)

2. Niagara International Kite Festival:

A big event is happening in our "back yard" as the Town of Lewiston. NY will be hosting a special kite festival at Artpark. Following on the heels of the huge American Kitefliers Association National Convention in Ocean City, MD this event will have several prominent kiters in attendance with some great kites in the air.

All the details are found a the Niagara Kite Festival web site. Be sure to visit and register.

One of the features of this event will be the Homan Walsh "spanning the Niagara Gorge by kite challenge". The Niagara Windriders have entered a team in this event. If you wish to join the team just drop a note to: info@windriders.niagara.com

A brief team meeting was held today and a practice flight was undertaken which showed great promise for our kite and principal "Kite Meister" Vaino Raun. Vaino will be accompanied by a fabulous team composed of: Kite Line Reelers, Kite Spotters, Radio Signal Personnel, and Kite Landers.


3. Other News from the September 25th Club Fly:

• We welcomed another new member today: -a hearty welcome to Russell Wade of St. Catharines.
• Jennifer Hindson, long time club member, and husband-to-be Zenon Lewycky of Ottawa were out to say their goodbyes to our club. Jen and Zenon will be residing in the nation's capital very soon. Jen - everyone here will miss you greatly; you were a 'spark' of good fun at every single event and a strong supporter of our club and our Canal Days festival. We will all have to fly a little bit higher so that you can see our kites from Ottawa. All NWKA members wish you folks much happiness and hope that the two of you will come back from time to time to be with us!
• Wind was light and not many kites stayed up for long.
• Sixteen members were in attendance.
  
• Vaino Raun got help in repairing his large Canada flag Sutton Flow Form kite. It seems that the bridle got cut by the kite of the Prez of the Toronto Kiteflyers at a flying event in Fruitland this past spring. Now that it is repaired Vaino can fly it at the AKA Convention this week in Ocean City.
• Several members were checking on plans to be sure that we had "Hot" apple cider for our October flying event on Oct. 30, 2005. It seems everyone remembers the "c-o-l-d" cider that was served at the 2004 event!
• Derrick Jeanes gave us a quick overview on finances. His report indicates that club finances are very sound. Can a large club kite be very far away???

More news and communication will come out prior to the Niagara Falls International Kite Festival.