LA 99s returned to our usual meeting spot at Barker Hangar for our August Annual Business Meeting and Tech Talk by Randy Bresnik. We had 16 in attendance, including three new members, and very special guest, the Los Angeles Deputy Mayor – Jeff Gorell!

For our Tech Talk, we were honored to hear the history of Randy Bresnik and his impressive family. His father was the personal photographer of Amelia Earhart, and almost joined her around the world on her last fateful flight. Randy became a fixed wing and rotary pilot for the US Army 1st Air Cav, completed two tours in Vietnam, and returned home to Los Angeles where he was LA County Sheriff’s Department Chief Pilot. He shared amazing photos and stories of harrowing rescues and the evolution of the Sheriff’s air presence. He concluded as a proud father, with photos of his son, Randy “Komrade” Bresnik, US Marine, Iraq Vet and NASA astronaut. We were starstruck!

We continued with our chapter meeting, with August being our Annual Business Meeting. Treasurer, Janie Thomas presented an annual operating budget for the fiscal year, and we voted unanimously to approve it. We heard from Vanessa Gibson, Vice Chair, about the success of the recent EAA/SMAA Kids in Planes event, which some of our members volunteered at. Janie recapped her trip to Oshkosh and everyone was excited to attend next year, though some of us might not fly in after hearing about landing on the ‘dot’. Committees shared reports of our upcoming ventures and growth. It’s very exciting to see our chapter expand with plans for official marketing materials, fundraising campaigns, air races, air marking, etc.

Thanks to Janie and Vanessa for providing snacks – now we have a budget for food so we won’t go hungry! And, Special Thanks to Randy Bresnik for sharing his life story and family history.