Paradise Coast chapter welcomed two new members in November!

Kelsey Mulloy CFI, CFII, MEI joined us during Page Field Days. Kelsey is an instructor on the staff of Paragon Flight Training at Page Field.  She grew up on Fort Myers Beach, and has a BS in Travel and Tourism Management from Florida International University.

Kelsey has always wanted to fly, and received her ratings from Airline Transport Professionals in Ft. Lauderdale.  She is looking forward to teaching others to fly!

Our chapter's newest member is Anne-Marie Lavallee from Cape Coral.  Anne-Marie has been a member of the 99's since 2007, but just joined our chapter at the November meeting.  Anne-Marie an her husband, George Houston, fly their A36 Bonanza from Page Field.  Welcome Anne-Marie!

Nicole Williams,who joined our chapter in August, is a resident of Pine Island.

Nicole is employed by Howe Enterprises, which specializes in aerial adult mosquito control.

  Nicole is an associate member and is hoping to begin her pilot training soon.

She enjoyed attending the section meeting in October.

Her passion is working with her non-profit corporation kill-mosquito.org, which supports the use of aircraft in Africa with the goal of eradicating malaria.

Renee is a new private pilot who did her training in her Cessna 172 at Page Field.  Gary Brown and Ed Fink were her instructors.  She will begin her working on her instrument rating in September.

Welcome, Renee!

We are always looking for people interested in joining our organization.

Who Can Join?

Membership is open to all female pilots and student pilots. There are nearly 200 female pilots in our Chapter area and we only have 10% who have joined us so far. Are you among that 90% who has not found us yet? Read on ...

Benefits of Joining

Why Join the 99s?

Top Ten Reasons for Being a 99
By Captain Karen Kahn

1.Experience: Some mistakenly think this is a social organization for older women pilots - but it is so very much more! Get to know the players, and you'll find that 99s are experienced pilots from all areas of aviation, with histories and achievements that young pilots have only dreamt of. From jet airliners, helicopters, space shuttles, and business jets, to tail-draggers, air racing, soaring, aerobatics, and ballooning - you name it and there's a 99 doing it.

2.Networking: We are more than 6000 women pilots worldwide, many of whom are doing or have done exactly what you hope to do in the future. We are eager to share our knowledge and experience with you, so contact us and we'll be happy to help you fly your dreams. Each of us can remember another 99 who helped us accomplish our goals and Pay it Forward is the name of the game.

3.Education: The Ninety-Nines sponsor many large and small educational programs, from a few members discussing a specific flying topic at a chapter meeting, to sponsoring public aviation safety meetings and conferences.

4.Friendship: Want to make friends in your new flying vocation or avocation? Meet women who share your interests by joining The Ninety-Nines. We're looking for you, too, and you'll find the new friendships to be very rewarding and enduring.

5.Scholarships: From chapter awards and Future Women Pilot Awards for beginning pilots to the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships for advanced pilot training and aviation education, The Ninety-Nines have a scholarship that can help you achieve your goals in aviation.

6.Understanding: Many of us have been through the same trials and tribulations when learning to fly or achieving advanced ratings. We have figured out ways around the obstacles and can help you with good ideas to get you moving forward. Share your concerns, ask for help, and take advantage of our knowledge and sympathetic ear.

7.Recognition: Your victories and achievements, large and small, will get the recognition they deserve from your peer group. No reason to try to be one of the guys when you can shine as one of the gals.
8.Encouragement: This natural part of women sharing with women is particularly useful since we fly in what is still mostly a man's world. Find your female role models and mentors here in The Ninety-Nines.

9.Career Tips: Pilot-specific information, realistic solutions, mentoring, and career networking are just a few of the tangible rewards you'll find in your interactions with 99s in your local chapter and with other professional pilots throughout our organization.

10.Acceptance: Being a 99s member guarantees your acceptance, regardless of your experience level. Chapters exist worldwide and you'll find the welcome mat is always out, wherever you may land. The Ninety-Nines are the Good Old Girls network we've all been hoping to create, here and now.

Why Join Paradise Coast Chapter 99s?

There are several benefits to becoming a member of our organization. Our members are close friends and we have a great time when we get together. Of course we also have a common interest: flying. We have many great projects coming up for the next year or so: We will be hosting the 2nd Annual Sunshine Derby at X14 in January 2010; we will be hosting the 2010 Air Race Classic in June 2010 at FMY. In the Fall of 2012 the Southeast Section 99s will come to Paradise with their Spring section meeting. We often have interesting speakers and learns lots from one another as well. Join us in 2009.

How Can You Join?

To join we need a completed application and membership dues for the first year. Please contact us for more information and a copy of the application.

CALLING ALL MEMBERS: We challenge you to bring in at least one (1) new member each in 2011 and 2012. Let's continue to grow our membership and our friendships.

A few women pilots began meeting for a social dinner once a month in Fort Myers in July 2006.  Everyone who knew other women pilots, invited them and soon began talking about forming a local 99s chapter.  The closest chapter was FL Suncoast Chapter, which was from around Crystal River, FL, to Marco Is., FL.  Most of the meetings were in the Lakeland, Crystal River area, and the weather often prohibited flying to the meetings.  We wanted to be active in our chapter, so we decided to create a new chapter, locally.  In May 2007, at our 99s Southeast Section Meeting, Pat Prentiss, 99s International President, presented our Chair, Jessica Stearns, with our Chapter Charter.  We started with 11 members, and have grown from there.  We have members rangin in age from 20's to 80's, Future Women Pilots to retired Air Force pilots, a retired Airline Captain, snowbirds and year-round residents. We come from all walks of life, work in all sorts of different industries. What do we have in common? We all have a passion for flying and we want to share our passion with you.

Where are we?: Our Chapter typically meets at Page Field, Fort Myers on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Our members range come from Naples, Immokalee, LaBelle, Fort Myers, Charlotte County, Glades County and all over the southwest coast of Florida.

Organization Purpose:

Today Ninety-Nines are professional pilots for airlines, industry and government; we are pilots who teach and pilots who fly for pleasure; we are pilots who are technicians and mechanics. But first and foremost, we are women who love to fly! .

Our Mission:

The mission of the 99s is to:

1. Promote world fellowship through flight.
2. Provide networking and scholarship opportunities for women and aviation education in the community.
3. Preserve the unique history of women in aviation.