Club field problem

[SUPER STRICK]

WE LEASE OUR PLACE FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. WE ARE NEXT TO A LAKE. CHECK WITH THE LOCAL STATE FOLKS AND GOV AREAS. YOU MAY CAN FIND SOME EPA SUPERFUND SITES ALSO.

[rcplane]

I don't know about Canada but my club bought our land from BLM. There is or at least was a land use act available and a select few that started the club found the land then went to BLM to get it to qualify for the program which it did. We are a coorperation and all members own the land (or actually the coorperation does) but it sounds better the other way. Is there anything like this up where you are?
Oh ya. There are/were other programs where you can find a piece of property owned by joe public and the government can trade government land for it?
Most important go to your local governing officials and involve them, treat them with respect and make them feel part of it even if they arent. Get them on your side. If you find anything to look at invite them!
Last check with MAAC, that is your AMA correct? They might be able to help.
With hard work you will find something.
My 2 cents.

Mike

[airbusmech]

Hey Ramz,

Contact Maac headquarters.They maybe able to help.They have talked about helping out clubs in this situation before.

[tim]

our field/land is provided to us by Waste Managment Inc., free of charge. They even built us a really nice heated clubhouse. We just moved to a new field last year because they needed the land we were currently on. we maintain it and have a 600+ foot grass runway, gravel parking, bleachers, heated clubhouse with a roofed patio and gate with locks. they are great people. We are very lucky.

[JustPlaneCrazy]

We lost our field the 1st of this year due to just 2 **SHOLES, a councilman and a neighbor who wanted us OUT.

They got their wish.

Amazing what pull a councilman has over the entire mayors office.

Good Luck !

[BillyGoat]

Our club leases a patch of land from the state. The head park ranger likes us because we cause no problems and it’s a positive mark on his annual report to his boss regarding activities within his district. We are only a couple hundred yards from an expressway and it's that way by design. The design works… Neighbors we do have said the noise from our planes isn’t any more than what comes from the expressway.

If you look towards public land I suggest putting together a plan with some well prepared information sheets and simply meeting with people. Work the angle how a club on the property will benefit them. Plan an activity day at your current flying site and invite everyone that might give a thumbs up or down to your plan.

You never know what general public relations will do for you too. If the local town has an annual event or celebration (maybe Canada Day) if there is a parade put a float in it and pass out flyers. It’s amazing the resources that can be harvested from well placed PR.

[GMoney]

If you want to stay long term? look at 100 acres. that secures your fly b over space and doesnt let any neighbors close enough to really make a difference. I have been involved in a couple fields and the most succesful are those that own the land and the bigger the area the better chance you have at staying long term... If there is a problem down the road a developer can buy you giving you the funds to move on.

[karlwatt]

Touch base with the AMA. They not only have a flying site assistance program, but they can also provide you with statistics, facts, testimonies, safety data that they have compiled over the years. They have sample letters and information to address the concerns of landowners and public officials. They even keep a database of all the registered clubs in the US and where they are located, e.g. public land, private land, park, landfield, etc.

Good luck