On the 27th of July, 1972, the LAKE COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION was incorporated (as a Not for Profit organization) in the State of Illinois with the purpose:
"To encourage, aid, promote, and engage in aviation and aeronautical education, research, and science. To purchase, own, lease or possess real estate, machinery, devices, and personal property of any description in connection therewith".
The duration of the corporation was stated as "Perpetual". That's certainly good to hear! A handwritten letter dated April 25, 1972, was received by the EAA on May 1, 1972.
It read:
|
Dear Mrs. Cox: Enclosed is a list of the charter members of our "provisional" EAA Chapter No.414. I'm really happy that all things are rolling along as well as they've been doing. Hopefully our chapter will be able to maintain this sparkplug momentum. Looking forward to meeting your and the other people of HQ in the future. Sincerely, FRANK GATTOLIN
|
|
The names of the original charter members of Chapter 414 were: |
|
|
|
The first Chapter Officers were: |
|
|
The Lake County IL Chapter 414, of the Experimental Aircraft Association, was finally chartered on October 11, 1972 and was officially born.
The Chapter originally met in various member's homes. In the later part of 1979, the Chapter was joined by another group of EAA members meeting at the Lake County Area Vocational Center. The Chapter continued to meet at the LCA Vocational Center until 1997, when it moved to the Waukegan Regional Airport for the summer. In November of that year, the Chapter moved to its next home, at the State Bank of the Lakes, in Grayslake, IL. It stayed in Grayslake for over 12 years until moving, in April of 2010, to the Home of the Warbird Heritage Foundation on the west side of the Waukegan Regional Airport.
To the initial members that began the Chapter, we all owe you a debt of gratitude. But more than that, we owe you a robust and growing Chapter that will continue to grow and pass on our love of aviation, through events such as Young Eagles, and the passion of homebuilding, for many years to come! Thank you!
Copyright © 2010, EAA Chapter 414, Lake County, IL webmaster@eaa414.org