News

Dear Members,

Recently, within the last week or so some scam emails have made their way to some of our members. Today, thankfully I received several inquiries about them from some of our members before acting on them. As we get closer to the holidays, scammers are getting smarter and more ingenious in their attempts to relieve you of your money or just to annoy us. 

Someone is (spoofing) impersonating me using the title of the Presidents email listed on our website. They mask their real email having it read as if it came from me, the GOPA President. It is not a hack into our system just some evil people somewhere trying to scam you by preying on your generosity and trusting nature. Please do not fall for it.

Understand that no one, from the GOPA Board will ever contact you, asking for things like, can you purchase some cash cards because I'm supposedly in a meeting, to busy, or doing something else, and take a picture and send me the numbers, or that I created some kind of incentive program and I need their help and some cash to complete. All with the catch phrase that you will be reimbursed. There has actually been more than a few scam or spam emails that just says give me a call, can we talk.

You will see a similar warning paragraph soon in the next Star, but this is too important not to address immediately. Most of you have my personal email which has my full name to identify, and or phone number to contact me. Do not hesitate to get in touch with me directly if something does not look right. Thanks to those that did exactly that today and made me aware this was happening... and now I'm making you aware. 

Blue Skies,

Dennis Oparowski

President - GOPA

It was announced at this year's convention that Groton/Mystic, KGON, Connecticut will be the site of the 2025 convention. Save the dates of September 15-18, 2025. Planning is well under way and details will be shared when completed. Some local information is available here.

I have started the Daily Coverage for this year's convention. You can access the pdf here.

CANCELLED DUE TO AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION, hopefully next year with a shiny new runway surface.

If you would like to attend any GOPA board Zoom meetings please state your intentions to exec@grummanpilots.org

The planned schedule is-
Sept. 9, 2024 @ the Port Clinton Convention
Dec. 11, 2024 @1700 UTC
March 12, 2025 @1700 UTC
June 11, 2025 @1700 UTC Board Orientation + Board Meeting

Further info will be available at GOPA2024@grummanpilots.org, in the International Grumman Star and on our website- https://grummanpilots.org/Coming-Events.

Some tourist information is here.

At a recent Board meeting a number of name/title changes were instituted to try and help with the differences in duties. Previously the Regional Director was also a Board member, under the new governance policy the Board position has been separated from the RD position and the RD is now a Regional Coordinator. A Regional Coordinator can also be elected as a Director at Large to sit on the Board.

The Program Directors are now Program Managers.

These changes are a result of the GOPA applying for tax exempt status and all that ensues to fit the mold required by the US federal laws. There have been a couple of Star articles outlining this process and no doubt there will be future articles also.

Congratulations to two recently elected Board members. Jack Maher, Director at Large and Jon Faulkner, International Director. The International Director is a new position created with the recent governance restructuring. 

Jack Maher is also the Coordinator for Europe. 

16 – 19 May, 2024, in Oban, Scotland

Meeting details here.

Registration details here.

At the Board meeting today in Palm Springs it was announced that Ann Marie Radel has been elected as VP. Congratulations, and thanks for volunteering Anne Marie.