Click on to Lonestar Mensa & visit their web page

Go Visit the web site of the I.S.P.E. & view some pages of members

On December 7, 1998, I was "SWORN IN" as a member of the
City of Leander "BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS" which meets only as needed.

The Term of the Member of the Board is for two years. My first term expired in December of 2000. However, on "Opinion" of the City Attorney, I, along with other members, was used Through late 2001.
However, on a more recent opinion, the members were solicited to re-apply for swearing in as a new two-year term. That did take place. Then, on the 6th of January 2003, along with three other prior members, I was sworn in for another term of two years.

"Thinkers International" is another affiliation. It is no longer moderated by Bill Brown of Ohio. He, along with stu Lucas of Lucastan fame, started it in February of 1997.

And Now - A More Political Background

An activity that was more serious, and political, WAS that of being an Original Member of the First LEANDER CITY CHARTER COMMISSION. We completed a Charter for the city of Leander on April 23, 1998. Work on this document started in August of 1996. The Charter was completed and presented to the Leander City Council at their regular meeting on May 7, 1998. The Vote, by the voting residents of Leander, was on the standard election date of the 8th of August, 1998. Thirty days before this election, the city sent a copy of the complete charter, in both English and Spanish, to each registered voter in Leander. At this election, the voters had the choice to either "Accept" or "Reject" the charter.

The Result was A vote to "Accept" Which DID make Leander a "HOME RULE" city.

LEANDER is now a "HOME RULE CITY" in the state of Texas.

Regardless of what you may have heard, I have not yet entertained the thought of running for President of the United States (to occupy the White House) in the election of 2008. None of the major parties have approached me (at this time.) That issue is still Open for now anyway.

Next get ready For Some Really DULL Reading.

It could be a blessing For readers With Insomnia

The text was so DULL it even bored me. SO, I have deleted it.

Aviation and Flying oriented clubs I have been a member of is too numerous to list. Most, other than the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) are now extinct. The same is true of most of the photography clubs of which I was a member.

I'm the little one in front of the 1st Anderson Airplane. The grown up adult is my Dad.

The Yellow J-3 Piper Cub had a name too: 'JOSEPHINE'

I came across a 1942 photo of my Dad leaning on sweet ‘Josephine’ holding a slip of paper. That paper was the sales receipt when it was conscripted, along with ALL OTHER PRIVATE or Personal Aircraft in Texas, by the Government, after the entry of the United States into World WAR TWO.

I have found a photo of the 2nd plane the family owned. It was a 1942 model of an Aeronca TAC. It WAS shown earlier back up on this website until I removed it for cleaning and a new paint job.

Meanwhile, here's a photo of another 'TYPE' plane I've flown.

I joined Toastmasters International and that membership was a pleasant experience. However, a surprise was in store when I enrolled in the Dale Carnegie Course. I found that the philosophical approach to public speaking of these two organizations was just nearly exactly opposite. The learning of both approaches to holding the attention of an audience was effective. Although diametrically opposed in concept and theory, both worked well as long as the user kept in mind the limits of each premise.

I taught flying part time for about eight years in the seventies and touching into the eighties. My first student was at Aviation Training Centers (the Fixed Base Operator at what was then Tims Airpark.) I quickly found an opportunity farther North, at the then Georgetown Flying Service ( the "FBO" at Georgetown Municipal ) and then back to Aviation Training Centers. I additionally had some individual students at the Austin Municipal (Robert Mueller) Airport. The students at Austin Municipal were people who owned their own aircraft. I kept my own machine at Austin Municipal (Robert Mueller). This was mainly because of the better Instrument approaches available including a complete ILS (Instrument Landing System) which included the Glide Slope along with the outer and middle marker. It also had a DME Approach, a Localizer Back Course and an NDB Approach.

As you read this today, both Tim's Airpark and Robert Mueller airports are just footnotes in history. They are now closed to air traffic. They are now both Industrial and Commercial Trade Centers. These are two of the changes from the last century.


Some Former and Current avocation activities include:

Some of my former activities included photography (still and video.) I still carry a digital and at least one 35mm still camera with me. Sometimes I even snap a picture, but I'm not as attentive to it (engrossed/consumed by it) as I once was. I am not currently active in any video work.

Here are a couple of photos taken with one of my digital cameras.

Maybe the first and Purple Power is dedicated to the 2002 Bowl Game Win by the Horned Frogs of TCU. I went there once upon a time, in a land not so far away.

While the Yellow Sunflower reminds me of those which grew wild across the street in my barefoot years.

Here is another photo

These are a couple more taken

with one of the digital cameras

MORE WILL FOLLOW

Here is a photo I took during the early part of the time when I was in Italy.

A Memorial Service Passes the Leaning Tower of Pisa on a rainy day

The Dark weather accentuated the Somber Mood

Once again, putting Color back into the pictures, The Mounted Italian Carabiniere Honor Guard in Their Full Dress Ceremonial Uniforms, lead the Opening Parade of A Moch Medieval Tournament

It is Held In the Thick Walled Fortress City of Arezzo, about 70 kilometers (~50 miles) South of Florence, in the Alpine Mountains of Central Italy

While watching, I thought My Demise was upon me,
and I wasn't even a contestant in any of the Games
The flimsy Bleachers nearly collapsed when the frenzied crowd
became excited and started Jumping, Hollering and nearly Rioting

According to the tour guide, In ancient times, there were four walled cities, in the center of Italy, who had wars each year.
This was like the US has a Football season every Autumn. Theirs were more serious

This Photo was taken in 1955. Then, and in earlier years, each of these cities sent competing teams to a mock Tournament held in Arezzo.
Each city sent a team of many Knights in Chain and regular Armor.
Many Lances, Battle-Axes, Cross-bows and Far Too Many Arrows flying about.
Just being an innocent, paying spectator was physically risky

On the way home from Italy, Europe and other interesting adventures, I stopped in Africa.

This is Downtown Casablanca. Depending on who's assessment you adopt, this is either the Near East or just North-West Africa.

This is a street scene from the sidewalk in front of a department store looking across the street to a shoe store.

I took a lot of photos in and around Casablanca. I never could find Rick’s American Bar there. When I find one of my better shots, I'll replace this one.

Another hobby I once pursued was Training Drovers to Herd Cats

These are two of my student cats

These two Pupils did quite well

Some of my former (or previous?) interests were: