Timeline of PNH
Proposed: October, 2000, at Annual meeting of Lutheran Brotherhood,
Hiawathaland Branch 8506, of Delta County
Organized: January, 2001
Project Completed: March 16, 2003
Further Background Information:
PNH actually began in February of 2000 when I proposed to our Lutheran Brotherhood,
Hiawathaland Branch 8506 Board Members that we consider NWALL for a financial
grant. (I was thinking in the $500 range, but not toward a new
plane at that time). In October we presented the idea to our entire membership
at our annual meeting and it was met with enthusiastic support.
Meanwhile, in Dec. 2000, our Lutheran Brotherhood Branch organized and held
the fund raising dinner for Jon
Creten. Charlie Lundmark attended the dinner and he and I happened to learn
at the same time about Jon needing another trip to Mayo Clinic in the family
van.
Instead, we made arrangements with NWALL and they were able to fly Jon to Mayo
the next day.
Charlie and I went to the airport the next evening to meet the pilot who was
flying in to pick up Jon. The pilot turned out to be Ted Fornetti. We were
able to visit briefly and I then stated our intention to have Lutheran Brotherhood
do something for NWALL.
When I pointedly asked Ted if there was "anything" we could do for
NWALL,
Ted smiled at me and said, "Why don't you buy us an airplane"! As
it turned out, I found out later, he was just kidding.
But after Ted left with Jon, Charlie and I sat at the airport a bit longer
and tossed the idea of a fund raiser around for a while. I then made the suggestion
that we head up an "exploratory committee" of Lions and Lutheran
Brotherhood members to help us decide if buying a new plane was even a feasable
idea.
Action: We met at the Stonehouse in early January,
of 2001, and the steering committee of 5 LB members, and one Lion's member,
(Charlie), was formed. It took
six months before we were able to get all the important groundwork laid with
an attorney, NWALL, TV 6, other media, LB and the Lion's.
First Contribution: We received our first contribution
in July of '01.
Today: March 16, 2003
With $520,000 banked in PNH Account, the Plane, a Piper Seneca V, was selected,
tested and
purchased by pilots of NWALL. First flight of plane into Delta County airport
carried Bob and Ruth Larson, piloted by Dennis Whitehead.
Timeline
submited by Al Salmi of Project New Horizons
