Positivity Soars in Lawrenceville, NJ - South Jersey Kite Flyers

South Jersey Kite Flyers
Number 82
September 2009
The newsletter of the South Jersey Kite Flyers
Volume #5 2009
On August 18 at 5 o’clock Dave & I hooked up the kite
trailer and took off for the Lawrence Nature Center,
where we were scheduled to do a kite making workshop
and kite display. We weren’t sure how many participants we would have because it was a very hot, muggy
evening.
We were invited to the Lawrence Nature Center to be
part of their Summer Family Nights program that meets
on Tuesday evenings during July and August. The Center was originally the home of Carl and Lucille Runck
and is part of Drexel Woods which is a 36 acre woods in
the southern end of Lawrence. The township purchased
the land in 1998 for open space, nature study and passive recreation. In the summer program, the children
learn about New Jersey birds, butterflies, insects, plants,
and living sustainably.
Positivity Soars in Lawrenceville, NJ
by Sue Cioi
Is this what kite flying is all about or what! How can anyone not
get happy when this gaggle of smiling faces comes running toward
you in pure joy. We sure couldn’t. Who needs an open field to fly
a kite?
We set up a variety of kites large and small inside the
Center, and then organized the kite building area on
some picnic tables outside along with an array of
ground balloons. By 7, there were about 25-30 kids and grownups ready to start kite making and having some fun. We showed
everyone how to assemble the kites, and then we headed out to
the open field area. The energy and exuberance of the kids caused
the kites to launch easily and everyone had a great time. It was a
great success and we’ve been invited back next year!
Page 1
South Jersey Kite Flyers
September 2009
Presidential Ponderings,
What and Bear Dropping
By Mike Dallmer
Hello Fellow Kite Flyers, I’m going to
start off completely different and give
you a state of SJKF. As of 7/31/09 we
had $3467.10, a little less than I had
hoped but this is the first full year of
memberships expiring on October 1st.
This compares to an average of the last
3 years being $4123.29. Our membership stands at 125, with 7 lifetime
members, 39 individual memberships
and 31 family memberships. If everyone was to re-up, we would get $1205.00,
putting us right where we should be for the
year. My purpose for this little exercise is to
ask you to please re-new your membership!
Everything else is looking fairly good, we have
a workshop hosted by Drake Smith coming
up on 11/7/2009 and your choice of many
interesting kiting events, check the calendar. I
hope to see you at one of these events. The
only thing that is bothering me is the dwindling number of people attending meetings. I
know it was summer but it isn’t only then, it is
getting to be all year. This concerns me because! we are getting input from only a few people and to have a better club we need to
hear from all members, or are we having too many meetings?
!
The results of the room raffle for the Anniversary Bash are in, the
winners were chosen at the Fort Mott Meeting in August by a family having a private picnic. The winners are: Trudy Hooven and the
Dallmer Family (that’s right, I finally won a room for the Anniversary Bash Weekend). We also had OK ticket sales, we sold 32 out
of a possible 60 meaning we recovered almost the entire cost of 1
room.
Speaking of the Anniversary Bash, this year’s is looking to be as
exciting as ever with 2 new auctioneers, Thom Mc Adams and
Andy Selzer have stepped forward to fill Scott’s shoes. We will have
food a plenty, was there ever any doubt and many fabulous items.
Want a little preview of what will be up, these all came from Scott,
some are used, some brand new, how about an Engel HSGM Hot
Cutter-Pro Package, strip cutter made by Phantom Star Designs.
At least 1 sewing machine, a few of Scott’s Handmade Kites and
some kite making supplies. There are a few ways you can help
SJKF, we are always looking for Auction Items for this event but
we are also looking for you to open your pockets to bid early and
often and open your pockets. What does it cost to get in, of course
it is free as usual!!! This is SJKF’s major Fundraiser of the year and
where we need your help the most. Think about coming on 10/
25/2009, a Sunday to SJKF’s 15th Anniversary Bash, noon at the
Montego Bay Motel 1800 Boardwalk, North Wildwood, NJ 08260
(800) 962-1349 or (609) 523-1000
http://www.montegobaymotel.com/ Contact
Mike Dallmer for more information
[email protected] or 215-722-4092
December 13, 2009 is SJKF’s 12th Holiday Party
at Rosewood Caterers, 8888 Frankford Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19136,
http://www.rosewoodcaterers.com/default.aspx
. For more information Contact: Cel Dallmer
[email protected] or 215-722-4092. You
will be getting a RSVP form with all the information along with the election ballots shortly
after the Anniversary bash.
It is getting close to that time of year, 101-09, where most of your memberships
will expire. Dues are $15 for an individual and $20 for a family for 1 year. Check
your membership cards and beat the
rush. A membership application is on the
second to last page of this issue.
On a personal note, we are almost moved
into the new house, still have few things
to move, then the old one needs a fresh
coat of paint and be put on the market. The really big news how-
!ever is the new sewing area should be complete by the time you
read this, we had to move the light table board by board then reassemble it.
Good Winds
Up With Kites, Down With Bears (But only with a chute)
!
PS: what is that a picture of where my ugly mug is usually, it is of
Cliff Quinn’s inside of his large Cellular Kite.
Page 2
South Jersey Kite Flyers
September 2009
Gomberg Kite Productions International Inc recently settled a suit
in Federal District Court to protect the PL Octopus
Kite from infringement by Chinese counterfeiters.
Great Flying In the Great White North
Kite designer Peter Lynn of New Zealand commented, "It is never fun to go to Court over kites. But
if we don't take steps to defend ourselves when people
start buying and selling copies, we might as well stop
working on new designs and simply close up shop."
It’s not difficult to get to Dieppe. Get on I-95,
head north (oddly, you have to go through New
Brunswick, New Jersey, to get to New Brunswick, Canada), and when the road ends in
Maine, turn right. Or, as I did, take the daily
flight from Newark to Moncton. Moments before takeoff, Ben Dantonio and Jose Sainz
rushed aboard, late arrivals from San Diego.
Their luggage wasn’t so lucky, and for the first
36 hours they had no kites or clothes.
But the airline finally delivered Jose’s
bags to the hotel lobby in the middle of the
night, and being the kindhearted soul that I am,
while Jose slept I took
it upon myself to lighten his burden. With
the help of numerous other kiters – okay,
it was an international conspiracy involving France, Germany, Britain, Switzerland, Canada, and Haiti – we removed
Jose’s kites from his bag, then left for the
festival field. Upon waking, Jose discovered his luggage, headed out the door, and
noticed that his bag was underweight.
From what I hear, he blew his stack and
was on the phone to the airline when
someone finally told him the truth.
Practical jokes
weren’t the only way to have
fun in Dieppe. In a nearby
park is TreeGo, a series of
high ropes challenges and
ziplines through the treetops.
I harnessed up and went aloft,
spending a morning balancing on Burma bridges, skinny
logs, rickety planks, and
swinging ropes, with the occasional high speed zipline plunge through the canopy to mix
things up. That was the easy part. Moving from element to element
often involved climbing up and down log ladders, and after more
than 20 ladders my arms were screaming. It was a good time, but
more of a workout than I’d intended… and I still had to spend 10
hours on the kite field!
Daily rok battles for bloodthirsty spectators are another
Dieppe staple. As the announcer, I
got to tease kiters for any number of
perceived offenses, from poor taste
in clothing (kilt-wearing Scotsman
David Nicholls) to excess bravado
GKPI President David Gomberg added, "We really
have no choice in these situations. And we worked
hard to give people plenty of warning that a suit like
this would be likely."
Gomberg explained that GKPI has a contractual obligation to Lynn to protect his brand in North America.
He has a similar obligation to consumers who have
purchased expensive kites not to allow their investment to be devalued by counterfeits.
Under US copyright law, GKPI has a cause of action against the
manufacturer, seller, or buyer of counterfeit designs. Statutory
damages of $30,000 per kite, plus lost income and legal costs are
provided. Damages increases to $150,000 when there is evidence
the defendant knew the design was a copy.
The defendants in the suit originally contacted GKPI in December
to ask about Chinese Octopus copies being offered for far below
their normal retail price. They subsequently brought six illegal
copies into the country. Suit was filed several weeks after.
If GKPI does not defend their property against infringements,
they may lose the ability to protect it in the future. "We had to
act now", said Gomberg, "before our business and our industry
was irreparably harmed".
The suit was settled in August. "All I am allowed to say is that all
six of the infringing kites have been destroyed by GKPI, and any
monies that may have been paid to us which exceeded our legal
costs will be given to non-profit kite groups", said Gomberg.
Gomberg elaborated that his only goal is to stop the copyright
abuse and the importing of counterfeit kites. "We will not take a
penny out of these cases" he said. "
Crowell Ing, LLP, one of the leading intellectual property law firms
on the West Coast, represented GKPI. Founding partner Carl
Crowell was the first chairman of the AKA Kite Art Committee.
Questions should be directed to Crowell Ing, LLP.
***
Gomberg Kite Productions International
www.GombergKites.com / www.GKites.com
By Phil Broder
Page 3
South Jersey Kite Flyers
September 2009
Dieppe.
(Haitian Wadson Michel, who cut down David Gomberg two
years ago and won’t let anyone forget it). I also get to make up
rules, including herding all the
flyers into smaller and smaller
areas of the field as the battle
progressed. By the end, everyone
stood in the soccer field’s faceoff
circle, hopelessly knotted. Beware Robert Trepanier, who cut
every line in sight with his “runrun-run-yank” technique.
Battling mosquitoes
was another favorite pastime. It’s
been a wet summer in the Canadian Maritimes, and the skeeters,
while not necessarily big, are
numerous. Add the summer heat,
and every day we had to scrape
off layers of sunscreen and bug
repellant. The night fly brought
out long sleeves and pants, despite the heat. Toronto’s Gary Mark had a full headnet and
gloves, and still shed blood.
The night fly coincides with Acadia Day, a major
regional holiday. The bleachers are packed with spectators
as we flew through spotlights and machine-generated
smoke, and an eerie ground display by Christine McGee
and Daniel Remillard lights up. The Governeur-General of
Canada – appointed by the Queen, and the commander of
Canada’s armed forces – is scheduled to make an appearance. She’s Haitian-borne, and Wadson Michel is ecstatic.
Security precautions are taken, schedules are rewritten, and
in the end she doesn’t show. Instead, the hottest FrenchCanadian bands jam on stage, and the beer tent does a brisk
business with thirsty kiters.
Almost unnoticed one afternoon, Barbara Birnman walks along the edge of the field with a film canister.
She shakes something out of it, scattering the contents
among rows of banners. Some of Scott Spencer remains in
With all the fun down below, it would be easy to overlook the incredible show above. Dieppe invites many of the world’s
best, and there’s no shortage of incredible appliqué, intriguing
shapes, and abundant color. Jose Sainz has recovered his bag’s
contents, and puts up a new set of lacy banners each day. Several
kiters are using organza, in wispy banners and flowing tails. Britain’s Karl Longbottom unveils a pair of doves, flying side by side
on a horizontal spreader, while wife Sara has fighter-like pterodactyls for everyone to play with. Trepanier goes canine, with several
dog quadlines as well as a Big Bad Wolf. Scott Skinner debuts a
long geo-pointer, in his usual patchwork style. Robert Brasington
spends two days on a plane from Tasmania, then pulls train after
train after train (five in all) out of his bag. Australia’s Michael Alvares launches multicellular creations, as well as doing candy
drops from stuffed moose and koalas. Philip Jones of Bermuda has
a massive flying ring, Germany’s Axel Kostros has Viking ships,
and the kitemaker’s competition is a three-way appliqué battle
between Dutchman Bas Vreeswijk, Aussie Bill Farber, and
Swiss Olivier Reymond. There’s also plenty of color from the
Toronto and Dieppe kite clubs, as well as Kites Over New England. The two hour sport kite show includes the Windjammers,
France’s Crazy Drivers, Quebec pairs sensation Dipt’r, and the
inevitable Rev megateam. And I have to admit being tickled
when Trepanier and Brasington compliment my new fish delta.
(My photo album is online at
http://picasaweb.google.com/KitePhil/Dieppe09).
The flight home boards at 5:30 am. The money exchange
kiosk is closed, but the live lobster stand is open for business.
I’m stuck with a wallet full of Canadian cash, but at least the
crustaceans are cheap. Next year the fun moves to Dieppe,
France, but I’ll hold onto that cash until we return to New
Brunswick in 2011.
Photos by Phil Broder
Page 4
South Jersey Kite Flyers
New York Kite Festival
at Rockaway, Riis Park
By Mike Dallmer
I’d like to thank Sky
Festivals Productions
(Beatrix and Angelo)
along with The Chamber of Commerce of
the Rockaways for
putting together this
event. It was a great
time where we got
together with old
!
friends to fly kites, reminded me of why I chase the winds!
The venue for the 2 days is a nice beach with restrooms within
walking distance and if you were lucky
enough, parking so that you could fly out of
your vehicle. The buildings that are there
aren’t too tall so they didn’t affect the wind
too much the day the wind came over
them. What the Duck still inflated. Saturday was very cloudy with rain predicted but
kites went up anyway. Around 3pm the
rains came and there was a bunch of very,
very wet ripstop, for me it was an 80 foot
windsock and 40 foot Bol. Poor Gomberg !
and crew had at least 3 large Octopi and a large Red Devil to contend with. Fortunately for everyone, Sunday started out beautifully
with a nice breeze and plenty of Sunshine to dry everything out.
For the Dallmers, it was a weekend to pull out some old stuff. We
flew Camelot (our 3-d dragon), and a 40 ft. diameter Bol and an 18
ft. long inflatable Killer Whale Kite. Some people were amazed of
what is in the trailer, I know sometimes I am as well.
SJKF members in attendance were Don and Mike, Andy and Vi,
Cliff Quinn, the Dallmers and of course Beatrix and Angelo.
Everyone stayed at the Surfside 3 Motel in Howard Beach, NY.
This motel is remarkable in that not only does it have daily rates
but it also has 6 hour rates (I wonder what that is for, a short nap
;-)) With that said, it really wasn’t too bad, we have stayed in worse
and the location from the beach isn’t too far, about 15 minutes. I
just need to copy something from their website, this is how they
describe themselves, “Queens Premier Boutique Waterfront Motel”, those that have ever stayed there, think about that.
September 2009
The most fantastic thing about this event was the meal we had
Saturday night. Our hosts, The Chamber of Commerce of the
Rockaways took the Kiteflyers to a place called Carosello, and I’m
telling you, I never had a better meal at a kite fly. A few were close
but nothing like this, we had: beer, wine bread, pasta with red or
white sauce, tomato pie, antipasti with salad, choice of 3 entries
(chicken, breaded eggplant or veal parmesan) and for desert cookies and cappuccino, what a meal.
This was a great festival and I recommend attending if you get a
chance.
SJKF’s 15th Anniversary Bash
Date: Party; meeting, Food, Auction to be Sunday, October 25th.
Location: Montego Bay Motel 1800 Boardwalk
North Wildwood, NJ 08260
(800) 962-1349 or (609) 523-1000
http://www.montegobaymotel.com/
Time: Meeting and Food start at High Noon.
Food: Plans call SJKF to provide the main entrees
with members supplying whatever their specialty
is!. Give Cecilia a call to make this happen again!
Without your help, where would we be?
We are looking for food donations; Cecilia Dallmer is the Hostess
and organizer for this, please contact her at [email protected]
215-722-4092 as she is our food chairperson and in charge of
Hospitality. Cecilia will have to go shopping to complete the list so
please try to let her know what you bringing by October 21nd.
Anyone with special needs please inform us ahead of time so we
can try to accommodate you.
Auction: As this is our main fundraiser we are looking for contributions of anything related to kites or kiting. There will be an
Engel HSGM Hot Cutter-Pro Package, strip cutter made by Phantom Star Designs, at least 1 sewing machine, a few of Scott’s
Handmade Kites and some kite making supplies. Also, don’t forget
the most important thing, BRING MONEY, as without your support this event won’t happen.
Hope to see you all there…Mike Dallmer, President, South Jersey
Kite Flyers
Page 5
South Jersey Kite Flyers
Schedule of Kite Events, SJKF
10/3/09 Kite Fly for City to Shore Ride for MS on the beach of
Ocean City NJ from noon to 3pm at the beach between 5th and 6th
streets. For information Mike Dallmer [email protected]
215-722-4092 or Sheila. Casey [email protected] 1
215 271 1500
10/3/09 FALL FAMILY FISHING DERBY and Kite Fly sponsored by Father Time, for information Jeff Johnson at 908 433
7388 or [email protected]
10/5/2009 – 10/10/2009 32nd Annual AKA Convention, Rochester, MN
10/10/2009 Day of Kiting, at Pennington Park on Creek Road in
Delanco, NJ from 11am-3pm. With beautiful 140-acre Pennington
Park on the scenic Rancocas Creek as the setting, A Day of Kiting
will feature single line kites of varying shapes, sizes and colors that
will soar, dip and weave through the sky. Plan to catch the enthusiasm and test your kite-flying abilities at the park by bringing your
own kite, making a free kite, or buying one of the kites that will be
available for sale that day. The rain date is Sunday 10/11/2009. For
more information, call Ernestine Booker at 609-265-5068 or
[email protected]
10/25/2009 (Sunday) SJKF’s 15th Anniversary Bash, noon at the
Montego Bay Motel 1800 Boardwalk, North Wildwood, NJ 08260
(800) 962-1349 or (609) 523-1000
http://www.montegobaymotel.com/ Contact Mike Dallmer for
more information [email protected] or 215-722-4092
September 2009
11/7/2009 SJKF Kite Making Workshop Given By Drake Smith
at the Gloucester County Library, Mullica Hill, NJ Contact Andy
Selzer [email protected]
11/15/2009 (Sunday) SJKF Meeting, 1 pm, Gloucester County
Library, Mullica Hill, NJ Contact Mike Dallmer for more information [email protected] or 215-722-4092
11/15/2009 Deadline for submissions of article for next issue of
WindWriters. Send to Dave Ciotti [email protected] 100
Sixth Ave., Hamilton, NJ 08619
December 13, 2009 SJKF’s 12th Holiday Party at Rosewood Caterers, 8888 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19136,
http://www.rosewoodcaterers.com/default.aspx . For more information Contact: Cel Dallmer [email protected] or 215722-4092
Visit www.easternleague.net for more information on Eastern
League Events
President’s Note: Though these dates are accurate at time of printing it is best to check with the contact to make sure the proper
dates are listed.
Got an event that you want listed, send it: Mike Dallmer, 7204
Oakley St., and Phila. Pa 19111
[email protected]
11/1/09 The Olan and Bernice Turner International Invitational
Open Peanut Butter Cookie Kite Fly and Bake Off, will be held on
the Boardwalk in Seaside Park, NJ. Contact Cel
[email protected] or Mike Dallmer [email protected]
or 215-722-4092
Page 6
South Jersey Kite Flyers
September 2009
S J K F M E M B E R S H I P A P P L I C AT I O N
Fill in the form below. Return this application along with your check payable to SJKF and you’re in! Welcome to the club!
Name ________________________________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________________________________
City: ________________________________ST:____________ZIP:______________________
Phone(H):____________________________(W)____________________________________
E-Mail Address:_______________________________________________________________
New member________ Renewal________Type: Individual ________Family ________
(For family memberships, list additional names below. Circle name if under 10 years old)
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Favorite Kite(s):___________________________________________ Signature:_________________________________
Date:____________
Individual Membership:
Family membership:
Dues
IF YOU JOIN BETWEEN
9-30 and 12-31 pay $15.00 1-1 and 3-31 pay $11.25
9-30 and 12-31 pay $20.00 1-1 and 3-31 pay $15.00
4-1 and 6-30 pay $7.50
4-1 and 6-30 pay $10.00
7-1 and 9-30 pay $3.75
7-1 and 9-30 pay $5.00
Page 7
South Jersey Kite Flyers
September 2009
WindWriters
Is the newsletter of the South Jersey Kite Flyers and is published bimonthly by the SJKF
President
Mike Dallmer, Sr
[email protected]
1st Vice President
Sue Ciotti
[email protected]
2nd Vice President
Andy Selzer
[email protected]
Secretary
Felicia Mosery
[email protected]
Treasurer
Dave Ciotti
[email protected]
Director at Large
Cel Dallmer
[email protected]
Director at Large
Thom McAdams
[email protected]
Web Master
Russ Mozier
[email protected]
Publisher
Sue Ciotti
[email protected]
Merchandise
Don Pignolet & Mike Petty [email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Dave Ciotti
[email protected]
Hospitality
Cel Dallmer
[email protected]
Membership
Sue Ciotti
[email protected]
www.sjkf.webs.com
P.O. Box 481
Sicklerville, NJ 08081
Inside This Issue
Positivity
Presidential Ponderings
Gomberg News
Great White North
New York Kite Festival
BASH
Coming Events
1
2
3
3
5
5
6
(215) 722-4092
(609) 587-8334
(856) 728-8870
(732) 919-3676
(609) 587-8334
(215) 722-4092
(215) 444-9072
(407) 208-1455
(609) 587-8334
(215) 465-4702
(609) 587-8334
(215) 722-4092
(609) 587-8334