Saturday!

[private e-mail address]

Greetings!
This coming Saturday evening the Heart of Missouri Balloon Club pilots, crew 
members, scoring officials (or those who hang out with those who do the 
aforementioned activities!) are invited to come and decorate the skies of 
Mexico, MO with their balloons and reintroduce Mexicoans to hot air 
ballooning.  Of course, if you know of a non-member pilot who might like to 
join us, feel free to extend an invitation.  

Here's the plan: We'll meet at Fairgrounds Park for introductions of a few 
Mexico officials, flight and weather briefings at 5 p.m.  Hopefully, we'll have 
enough pilots that we can divide into teams (we have a plan for that!), with 
one of the pair launching from Fairgrounds Park and flying away and the other 
balloon flying into the park for a Judge Declared Goal (as long as you pilots 
can do it without violence and bloodshed, we'll let you decide who does which--
if violence and bloodshed is likely to occur, there's a plan in place for 
avoiding it!).  If there is an odd number of pilots, there's a plan for that, 
too, so that everyone has a chance to compete for the rather meager amount of 
prize money which is being donated for the winning team (unfortunately, at this 
time that is your only chance for travel, propane or dinner money--sorry).

There will be some publicity in the Mexico Ledger and on radio stations KXEO 
(1340 AM) KWWR-FM (95.7) announcing the event and inviting spectators to bring 
their lawn chairs or blankets and come to Fairgrounds Park to watch.  I also 
included a line in the press release reminding people if they are chasing 
balloons that are flying in the area to drive carefully and not to enter 
private property where the balloon lands unless specifically invited by the 
landowner.  Otherwise, it would be appreciated if crew try to keep onlookers 
off private property.  To my knowledge, there have been no landowner relations 
problems with any of the people who have flown here in recent years, and I'd 
like to keep it that way!  It will make a balloon event planned for 2005 in 
Mexico much easier to get off the ground, literally and figuratively.

Following the flight, the atrium (front private room) at Pizza Hut has been 
reserved for us, and I hope everyone who has come to participate will stay to 
eat.  Chad Shoemaker, director of the Mexico Parks and Recreation Department, 
will be joining us, and there may be a few other Mexico officials.  
Unfortunately, this is a "Dutch treat" meal (unless of course, you won the 
competition and have some prize money to spend!)

If you would be willing to fly a passenger such as Chad or another city 
official, it would be an opportunity to do some public relations work prior to 
the event.  However, I don't know for sure if there is anyone they want to get 
up at this time, and I definitely do not want any of you to feel obligated to 
fly a passenger.  I know some of you are behind in rides you need to give 
because you missed them due to weather problems, so if you need to do that, go 
ahead.

For you GPS people, the Lat./Long reading to Fairgrounds Park is N39*09.626', 
W091*53.823'.  The UTM reading is 15S 0595284, UTM 4334950.  The last two 
Easting numbers varied from 84-92, and the last two Northing numbers from 40-
50, but this will get you there.  Datum is NAD27CONUS.

THERE IS SOME VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION I NEED FROM YOU FOLLOWING THESE 
DIRECTIONS IF YOU PLAN TO JOIN US SATURDAY, SO IF YOU'RE COMING, BE SURE TO 
CHECK THE END OF THIS LETTER NOW!  Naturally, you can read all the directions, 
too, but I just need to make sure I get the information I need from you.

Directions for getting to Fairgrounds Park when entering Mexico from the south 
on US Highway 54:
Exit at the Mexico exit, which indicates BUS 54, 22, 15 and D.  Turn left at 
the top of the ramp and stay on that road. 
OPTION 1: 
-Turn LEFT on TEAL LAKE ROAD, just past the signs for McDonalds, Hickmans, and 
Orschelens.  There will also be a Nazarene Church on the right side of 54
-Turn RIGHT on FAIRGROUNDS STREET, where the road makes a T intersection
-Cross Lakeview Road (just past the substation and the lake on the right) and 
continue north
-Turn LEFT into FAIRGROUNDS PARK--you'll see a sign on the left and you have to 
turn or run into the YMCA building
-Turn LEFT into the first parking lot.
OPTION 2: If there is a lot of traffic and it's hard to get a left onto Teal 
Lake Road, use the following route, which is actually only a block longer:
-Turn LEFT on BOULEVARD, at the first stop light.  Signs point left for W22 and 
N15
-Continue west through the next stoplight
-Turn LEFT on MORRIS ST., at the Mexico Middle School
-Turn RIGHT on ADAMS ST., and continue straight into FAIRGROUNDS PARK
-Turn LEFT into the first parking lot.

Note:  You can also turn left on Lakeview at the Presbyterian Church and then 
right on Fairgrounds, but the other two options have wider streets, in my 
opinion.

If entering Mexico from the West on Highway 22:
-Turn RIGHT on WESTERN ST., which is the first stoplight.  Signs point right 
for S22 and both directions for 15
-Turn RIGHT on BOULEVARD, the next stoplight
-Turn LEFT on MORRIS ST., at the Mexico Middle School
-Turn RIGHT on ADAMS ST., and continue straight into FAIRGROUNDS PARK
-Turn LEFT into the first parking lot.

If entering Mexico from the West on FF:  
-Turn RIGHT on WESTERN at the carwash
-Turn RIGHT on BOULEVARD, the next stoplight
-Turn LEFT on MORRIS ST., at the Mexico Middle School
-Turn RIGHT on ADAMS ST., and continue straight into FAIRGROUNDS PARK
-Turn LEFT into the first parking lot.

If you're coming from somewhere else and need directions, contact me at 573-473-
6775.

I think that is about all I can tell you.  However, this is something vitally 
important!
Here is what I need to know from you, preferably by late tomorrow (Thursday) 
evening, but definitely no later than 9:30 a.m. Friday so I can have the right 
number of maps and other materials:
1. If you plan to come and fly;
2. A phone number or email address where you can be reached if it becomes 
obvious by early afternoon that the flight must be canceled;
3. If you would be willing to fly a city official passenger (if you are 
comfortable with the weather, etc.);
4. If you need crew--I haven't secured any and don't know of the availability 
at the moment, but would try to get some if I know ahead of time you need them.

Of course, if something happens after the deadline I gave you that you find out 
you can come and haven't notified me, give me a call at 573-473-6775 so I can 
get more copies made, or just show up, in which case I    may have to send you 
to the grocery store to make your own map copy if too many people just show up. 

I know some of you have other things planned, but this will give those of you 
who want to fly the opportunity to get in some of the flying we didn't get at 
Brookfield and to fly informally before there is an event here.  Hope to see 
several of you Saturday, and please don't forget to send me the information I 
need.

Your friend in ballooning,
Barbara Davis 
573-473-6775
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