They came for all different reasons, but 53 came and it was a great meeting! 

Some came to celebrate the kick-off of the 25th Birthday year of OAOA and renew friendships from earlier days.   We were honored to have past members Lois and Dana Batey, Brent and Judy Kitchen (who flew in from Missouri), Don and G. Kay Powers, and Pauline Richardson make an extra effort to join us.

  (Above left are the original secretary Don Powers and two of the Co-Founders, Peter Van Pelt and George Hargett admiring the 25th Birthday cake.)

(In the picture above and to the right are charter member Terry Leard, Past President Pauline Richardson, charter member David Lankford, Dana Batey, original secretary Don Powers, Co-Founder George Hargett, past member Brent Kitchen, and Co-Founder Peter Van Pelt.)

Still others came to network with other airport professionals and participate in the business meeting discussing the upcoming conference and the proposed constitution changes.   Members may go to the "Members Only" section of the website and see the proposed changes and are then asked to send any comments by way of the  "Contact Us" tab.  These comments will then be considered, distributed to the membership and discussed before any changes are presented for a vote at the January Quarterly meeting.

(Pictured above starting from the left are Steve Mushrush of RL Jones Airport, Terry Hall of Ada Municipal Airport, Tracy Yoder of Clinton Regional Airport, OAOA Treasurer Bob Williams of TAA, OAOA Vice President Schellon Adkins of OU Max Westheimer Airport, Barbara McNally of Lawton-Ft. Sill Regional Airport, and OAOA President Jim Thrash of Will Rogers World Airport.)

(In the picture to the right are Past President Jeff Hough of Tulsa Airport Authority, past member Brent Kitchen -formerly with TAA, and Jeff Mulder of the TAA.)  

Among the attendees we welcomed were new members  Darrell Boucher (MGR/FBO of Mooreland Municipal Airport) and Brian Henderson (City Councilmember of the Sayre Airport).  Tim Whitman, the new Airport Manager of Wiley Post and C.E. Page airports was also introduced.   Included in other visitors was FAA employee Dave Doerner, a new transplant from Alaska, who came to meet us.

The afternoon sessions consisted of three excellent training powerpoints.   The first was AIRPORT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, UPDATES AND CHANGES by Derek Blackshare, CEO and President, Blackshare Environmental Solutions.  The second powerpoint was presented by Walt Strong, AAE, Airport Administrator, University of Oklahoma Max Westheimer Airport on the topic of  KNOW YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATING THEM ON AIRPORT BASICS.  The final training of the day was entitled DUTIES AND HISTORY OF THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT and was presented by Drew Hamilton, Wiley Post Oklahoma Highway Patrol Aviation Troup “O”.