Charter Date: September 3, 1980

Gavilan Chapter soloed on September 3, 1980 after instruction and sponsorship by Santa Clara Valley Chapter.  Charter members were Kathryn Jean Blake, Karen L. Burgoyne, Gloria I. Caliri,  Josie Joan Fydrych, Barbara Mae Gentry, Mary Ann A. Heller, Virginia Makie McRae, Janic Perlitch, and Frances Soares Staben.   

Chapter chairpersons have been Jean Blake and Josie Fydrych-Hodges.

Women who have been members of our chapter in addition to the charter members are: Eleanor Atencio, Harriet Brin, Kay Campbell,  Merilyn Blake, Willy Gardner, Nicole Giroux, Susan MacWilliamson, Noelle Rodolari, Barbara Schwab, Mary Ann Sutton, Marjory Stone, and Karen Wilcke.  Sadly, Kay Campbell went to New Horizons in late 1993 or January 1994.  Jean Blake wrote the memorial which was submitted to the 99 News. Karen Wilcke also went on to New Horizons.

Interesting speakers that the Chapter has had are Dr. Willard McNown who had flown VIP’s around during World War II; Mr. Joe Gervis, author of “Amelia Earhart Lives”; Alice Robertson on DRF; Janet Hitt, GADO Safety Specialist showing the movie, “Stalls and Spins”; LeRhee Webster presenting a slide show on their flight to Alaska in a Cessna 170; Janice Brown, pilot of the first solar-powered airplane; Ray Leis, FAA inspector who spoke on what to expect on a check ride and what to do if you have an electrical failure while flying; and Bobbie Trout at a joint potluck dinner with Santa Clara Valley Chapter.

Activities in which members have taken part have been conducting airport tours;

• helping airmark Hollister Airport and Reid-Hillview Airport
• provided the terminus for PAR 9/18/1981
• helped park airplanes and coordinate a shuttle service with South County Airport for a fly-in event
• participated in DRF flights to Santa Barbara; had a member serve on the Airport Ad Hoc Committee of  Gilroy Chamber of Commerce to help draft a “Good Neighbor Policy” for South County Airport
• flew 13 women who participated in the NASA Bed Rest Study in 1981 to a reunion at the Nut Tree July, 1981
• held familiarization flights
• static plane familiarization program given to 62 students; had a member help with timing at the PAR terminus in Provo, UT fall 1981
• presented an aviation unit to 32 fifth grade students; presented an Amelia Earhart unit to 30 gifted 4th-6th grade students
• Virginia McRae led her 5th grade students through an aviation project lasting several weeks culminating with a field trip to the airport and a chance to sit in an airplane and move the controls
• helped with the USPFT meet in Hollister in November 1982 as flight and spot landing contest judges
• had a Women’s History Faire booth in March 1983 showing the film “For the Fun of It” and held a free raffle for a free airplane ride which was won by a 12-year-old girl
• volunteered help at a Section meeting and helped with another one
• hosted the U.S. Precision Flight Team Rallye in May 1986 at which Verna West and Jean Blake flew to photograph checkpoints and Gloria Caliri and Ginny McRae helped 5 contestants
• Jean Blake participated in the Amelia Earhart Peak climb June 28-July 4, 1987 to commemorate the 50-year disappearance of Amelia Earhart
• helped park and move aircraft and do people control at the open house of the California Antique Aircraft Museum in October 1992
• Merilyn Blake gave Young Eagle flights to 7 Boy Scouts
• and possibly our most innovative activity was to build a one-third scale model of a very early bi-plane which was entered in the 1996 100th anniversary Fourth of July parade in Morgan Hill and won third place.

Members also presented programs to Service Clubs and nursing homes; attended Pilot Clinics and Safety Seminars; attended Southwest Section Board Meetings; donated books to 3 local libraries; donated funds to South County Airmen’s Association to purchase materials for airport lights at South County Airport; purchased and donated a windsock to Frazier Lake Airpark; donated funds to help with Port-a-Potties at Spring Section meeting, 2003; and through the years the Chapter has made donations to NIFA, Amelia Earhart Museum, AE Scholarship Fund, the Endowment Fund, and the 99 Museum.

Honors and awards received included a “Good Egg” award given to Jean Blake on June 17, 1981 by the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce for her participation in the NASA test; Jean Blake was appointed Chair of the Forest of Friendship for the Southwest Section in September 1988; and in 2002, the Chapter received the Southwest Section’s Small Chapter PR award for participation in community programs dealing with aviation.

Fundraising activities included helping sell souvenirs at the Watsonville Air Show; having a pasta party to raise funds for scholarships; having a fly-in luncheon; selling programs at the Gilroy Garlic Festival and helping in Security; and the longest-lasting fundraiser—providing shuttle service to and from South County Airport to the festival grounds.  In 1995 they transported 104 people for a donation. By 1996 the numbers had dropped almost in half.  In 2001 there were only 22 visitors that flew in but were still very appreciative of the service.  Besides the donations received for the shuttle, the Chapter also received funds from the Gilroy Garlic Festival Committee for the hours put in by the Chapter members.

Efforts to publish a monthly newsletter were launched in September 1983 but only a few issues seem to have gotten off the press.

Membership was never static but never did become large in number, eleven in 1983 being the largest.  The current membership is 6.  Officers are Josie Fydrich-Hodges, President; Willy Gardner, Vice President; Harriet Brin, Secretary; and Gloria Caliri, Treasurer.

The Chapter meeting places were varied, ranging from members’ homes, to community room at the Monterey Savings and Loan in Gilroy, McDonalds in Morgan Hill, the Antique Aircraft Association’s clubhouse in San Martin, and the South County Airport Manager’s mobile office.

International Conventions attended by Willy Gardner:  1973—Milwaukee, WI; 1975—Coeur d’Alene, ID; 1977—San Francisco, CA; 1979—Albany, NY;  1981—Boston, MA; 1984—Anchorage, AK; 1991—Orlando, FL;  2000—San Diego, CA; and 2001—Calgary, Alberta, CAN.  Jean attended 1977—San Francisco, CA; 1986—Honolulu, Hawaii; 1990—Las Vegas, NV; 2000—San Diego, CA; and 2001—Calgary, Alberta, CAN.  Josie went to 1990—Las Vegas, NV.

Sectional Meetings attended were:  Santa Monica Spring, 1982—Jean Blake; Santa Rosa Fall 1982—Jean Blake; San Jose Spring, 1983; Sacramento Fall, 1983—Ginny McRae, Sue MacWillliamson, Jean Blake; Concord Fall—1985; Clear Lake, 1988—Jean Blake; Sacramento, 1989—Nicole Giroux and Merilyn Blake; Albuquerque, NM joint Southwest and South Central,1991—Jean Blake; Sacramento Spring, 1993; Columbia Spring, 1996—Jean Blake and Josie Fydrych; Big Bear Fall, 1999—Jean Blake; Columbia Spring, 2003—Jean Blake; Lancaster Fall, 2003—Jean Blake and Willy Gardner.

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