iplhistory

THE HISTORY OF THE IMPERIAL SO-LO

     The Imperial So-Lo Chapter is proud to be a Bicentennial Chapter,
receiving their charter on April 4, 1976 at the Southwest Section meeting

in Las Vegas, Nevada. The chapter is located in the Imperial Valley,

which is in the Southeastern corner of California. Most of the county is

below sea level; therefore, the name....IMPERIAL SO-LO.

     There were eleven charter members. At the first installation of
officers which took place at a member’s home, the husbands of

members declared themselves the "Alley Oops" instead of 49½ers.

During their initiation ceremony, the men stood with their backs to the

swimming pool and the women pushed them in.

     The chapter members enthusiastically participated in activities to

further aviation. They hosted FAA Flight Safety Meetings. They attended

training meetings of the DeAnza Search and Rescue to learn how to air

search for people lost in the desert. The Imperial So-Lo members

air marked most of the airports in the Imperial Valley and received the

Southwest Section Airmarking Trophy in 1978, 1979,1990 and 1991 for

painting the most square footage. In 1982 a glass showcase at the

Imperial County Airport was installed by the members which displays

the name used by the International Organization of Ninety-Nines.

the Imperial So-Lo logo in the form of a quilt. The Charter's charter the

name used by the International Organization of Ninety-Nines.

trophies are displayed in front.

     For several years the Imperial So-Lo sponsored a model airplane

contest in a junior high school in El Centro. The winners were taken to

a private air show by the Navy Blue Angels during their winter training

in the Imperial Valley.   For many years the So-Los decorated for an

appreciation luncheon for the Blue Angels to honor the pilots and their

maintenance crew.

     Individual members conducted Aviation Ground Schools, aviation

classes for "Gifted and Talented" programs in the local schools, and

aviation classes for 4—H Club members.

The So-Los have helped with spotting, timing, and setup for many air

races including:

1978 - PAR at Needles
1979 - Angel Derby
Yuma 1979 - Baja Air Race

1983 - Air Race Classic

1988 - PAR at Bard
1989 - Celebration of the       First Women's Air Derby       Yuma

1990 - PAR at Blythe

1991 - Air Race Classic at Thermal

1999 - Palms to Pine Air Race

2001 - Air Race Classic San Diego

2006 - Air Race Classic     Minominee, MI

     Presently, there are two active members who have been flying for

over fifty years. There has been at least one member at the

International Conventions since 1979. Several members have attended

every Southwest Section meeting in the Spring and Fall. The chapter

hosted two Southwest Section meetings. The first in 1981, was in

El Centro during a big earthquake. Attendees watched night time aerial

applicators as they stood high on the banks above a river valley. In 1991

they co-hosted the Spring meeting with the Coachella Valley Chapter in

Palm Springs, CA.

     The Chapter administered the Captain Rafael Semmes Aviation

Scholarship. In all, there were ten recipients. The current

Charlotte Hammond Memorial Scholarship is dedicated to a former
member who perished as a result of a fiery automobile crash. Her
parents have provided the scholarship money since 1989. The chapter
sponsored Charlotte Hammond in the Forest of Friendship in Atchison,
Kansas in 1993. In addition, Mari Hurley, first Chairman, was
sponsored in the Forest in 1995, Faye Douthitt in 1997, and Fran
Strubeck 2003.
     The So-Lo members love to fly. In their own airplanes, from the
Imperial Valley, their longest trips to the International Conventions were
Albany, New York, New York City, and Orlando, Florida. They have had
two Fly-Ins to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. There have been many trips to
Gonzaga Bay in Baja California where several members have cabins. In
the summertime they enjoy flying to Beaver, Utah to a cabin of another
member.

     We are proud to have two life members "Life Members" of the

Ninety-Nines, Inc. from the the Imperial So-Lo Chapter. We also have

three member who belongs to the "Silver Wings", of San Diego. Silver

Wings is a national organization of pilots who have been flying for 25

years or more.

     Our members actively support General Aviation by being members of

organizations such as Angel Flights, AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilot

Association), Arizona Pilots' Association, ASF (Aviation Safety

Foundation) the Baja Bush Pilots, California Pilots' Association,

Confederate Air Force, EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association), the

Navion Club and of course the Ninety-Nines, Inc., International

Organization of Woman Pilots.

     Although still a small chapter, averaging about 16 members, they

are proud of their accomplishments and of being Ninety-Nines.

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