The Tricounty R/C Club (Dunnellon FL) needs our help! If you are a Florida resident please write or call your representative about this. Destroying a fine facility, developed and paid for out of modelers own pockets and maintained at no cost to the state for a TRAIL HEAD "some day" is ludicrous at best, criminal at the worse, particularly in a time when state funds are tight. It would seem that a trailhead could be located elsewhere or even share the parking space with the Tricounty R/C Club.

Red Scholefield AMA 951
Flying Gators Inc., GNV FL


From: "Dave Small" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Lease with Greenways
Date: Monday, March 03, 2003 10:58 PM

Dear Fellow Tricounty R/C Member:

As you all know we lease our field from the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, Office of Greenways and Trails.
The lease is annual, and runs from June 30th to June 30th. The board
has been trying to negotiate longer terms for a number of years without any
success.
last week, Wednesday February 26th, the board arranged a meeting with
their representative concerning next years lease, and the possibility of
extending it for a five year period.
The Greenways representative told the board that he not only would not
extend, but he would not renew the annual lease. He informed the board that
we would have to vacate the property by June 30th as they planned to utilize
it as a trail head in future years.
This is the first indication we have had that they would not let us
remain on the site, so the members present asked about alternatives.
He stated that he had a site that the club could consider, which they
investigated and found totally unsuitable. He also said he would see what he
could do about an extension on our lease for perhaps 6 months. But a new
lease would not be considered.
Naturally this was the primary discussion at our monthly meeting, which
was tonight, March 3rd.
We all are aware of the amount of work, and dollars that we have in the
flying site. We are also aware that we are leasing at the discretion of the
state of Florida.
I was not here when the field was first built, but I do know that the
department of Greenways was always informed when we did something major. An
example being the driveway we rebuilt when we were concerned about erosion ,
that single project cost around $4000. The project had their blessings, and
assurances that the lease would not be a problem.
The membership present decided on a course of action to try and save
the field, first we will try to negotiate in good faith with the departments
representative. Second, as most of us feel this is a dead end, inform our
elected officials of what is happening to us, and ask why we cannot coexist
with their future plans.
This is where you come in.
We need to get as many letters, and e-mails to our elected officials as
possible explaining our plight, and requesting their assistance in saving
the field.
Explain to them that we are a club of about 120 people that are also
citizens of the area. One of our goals being to be a good neighbor. We
maintain the property to park like standards, and participate in various
area projects. We do not understand why we cannot be part of any future
plans for the location. Space does not appear to be a problem, they just
seem to want us gone.
We not only use the field for our own recreation, but also introduce
our hobby/sport to others. The aeronautical program with the Inverness
middle school is a good example, a number of our members work with students
building aircraft that they have the opportunity to fly with our instructors
each semester, in fact you might invite them to come out to the field April
9th, the day the school kids fly with club instructors.
Another good example is our annual fly in for the toys for tots program
that we assist the Dunnellon fire department with. Last Christmas we
collected, wrapped, and helped distribute many toys at the departments
annual party for the needy children of the area.
Listed below are the addresses for our state representatives, and our
state senator.
Write them as soon as possible, and express our concerns. Please be
polite, don't insult anyone, just let them know your feelings on our
situation.
Remember this is very important to all of us, if we don't speak now we
will lose the field for sure!

Dave Small
Tri County Recorder editor
[email protected]


Senator Nancy Argenziano
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
(850) 487-5017, Tallahassee
(352) 860-5175, Crystal River
[email protected]

The Honorable Charles S. Dean Sr.
Florida House of Representitives
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
(850) 488-0805, Tallahassee
(352) 860-5160, Inverness
[email protected]


The Honorable Larry Cretul
6333 S W SR 200
Ste. 103
Ocala, FL 34476
[email protected]

This is to let you know that the lease has been extended at our site. Many thanks to all who pitched in to help our efforts to keep it! Check out the latest news on the club website at http://www.tricountyrcclub.homestead.com/

While I missed the original post in March, I am delighted that your lease was extended. My recommendation is for you to "IMMEDIATELY" find a local boy scout troop and a school (preferably vocational) and get the kids involved in RC. The club could get several trainer kits and have the building and flying be a project for the school as well as the scouts. I would also go to the local PBS channel and donate time and an event to raise money for a local cause. Many times, clubs are unheard of and when in trouble have no one to turn to. Getting active in the community will help you have support from all sectors of life, in and outside of the RC community. (This is just one man's opinion)

This club had done all that which is probably why they have gotten some positve results after soliciting help from State representatives. The whole thing was caused by one bureacrat in the state agency that manages the property. He wanted, for reasons known only to himself, to show how much power he had.

Red S.
Friend of the TriCOunty R/C Club

I guess the old saying that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.