Get the word out! Do you ever wonder what's going on in the ballooning community; Minnesota and the surrounding areas? We are a good group of folks that are often separated by hundreds of miles. Often too far for meetings or regular get together's. Suggestions have been made to create a common place where information can be shared, flights can be announced, events posted. A place where the public can find you because they are interested in a balloon ride. Interested in flying in another area or you'd like to have a few friends join you in a morning flight? I will gladly post a meeting place, date, time and contact information. You take it from there. If you fly in a specific area, let people contact you before they fly in your area. Get land owner information and terrain. Did you know my area has a testing ground for explosives; land mines and such? Good to know!! If the weather doesn't work for a flight, you'll have good company for breakfast. Any feedback you have would be appreciated. Thanks-Glen

Bill Hughes of Liberty Balloon School presented a great seminar over the weekend of February 23-24, 2013. As an Alumni I needed only a one day session to fulfill my safety seminar requirements for insurance, but must assume that Sunday was as well prepared and presented as the Saturday class. I have attended many seminars in the past and was hoping I wouldn't be hitting the desk with my forehead my 9:00 am. Bills presentation was interesting and got directly to the specifics as it applies to ballooning. Throughout the presentation he emphasized FAR's, weather, judgement, pilot skills and drilled down to details that were important for general knowledge and testing. He also made note of information that rarely applied to ballooning, but may appear on a test. He was on track the entire day, hours seemed to pass effortlessly as alumni and new students alike were engaged. Bill also included many tips I found interesting such as a simple formula for determining the cloud deck or a rule of thumb to determine visibility. In the last 28 years, Bill has had over 2,700 pilots attend these Ground Schools; we were indeed fortunate to have him travel here from New York to share this valuable information with us!

Please visit his web site at www.LibertyBalloonSchool.com for additional information or you can call Bill at the number on his website.