[Lyle]

In 1986, I found myself between jobs and a bit of cash in my pocket, so I decided to head up to Rhinebeck to see the Jamboree. This was my first visit there, something I had wanted to do ever since I was a kid. Anyone remember the National Geographic article from 1970 or so about the Aerodrome? That was the catalyst for my love affair with this place. So, I bought a train ticket from Tampa FL to Rhinecliff NY and absolutely had a ball up there. I got to meet Cole and told him where I was from, and he said how glad I made the trip just to see the planes and models. Man, I felt ten feet tall after that...he truly had that quality to make you feel welcome, friend or stranger.

If some of that quality were to exist in the current board, then these major problems wouldn't exist. Joe Gertler was right, Cole ran the place for years and managed just fine, thanks to the volunteers and other unsung-heroes that helped keep it alive. With so much hostility from the volunteer pool towards the ruling party now, how can it survive? Some clear-thinking must be done on the part of the Board now before it's too late.