The earliest written record I could find was a letter from Woody Bartelt, then Sec.-Treas. of SAM National, dated September 4th, 1971. This letter was in response to an earlier letter from me requesting information on starting a SAM Chapter in the Seattle area. This letter from Woody is full page, single spaced typed, and explained that they had to get a- procedure set up for starting chapters, and also stated that he couldn't assign a chapter number until he got the national records up to date.

The next letter is another from Woody dated October 25th, 1971 in which he assigned me the number 8 for our chapter number. He also asked me for the list of original SAM 8 mernbers.

The next letter is the one I wrote Woody with the requested information; it is dated Nov 21, 1971. I am really glad, now, that he returned the letter to me. Here's the original, "charter" members of SAM 8 in alphabetical order:

At the time of SAM 8's inception, I was also serving as the National Director of the Model Engine Collectors' Association; and was also manufacturing & marketing my "New Ruler" kit. So my spare time was at a premium. So Don Dodd and I "railroaded" Jim Sharp, of Vancouver, WA to do the SAM 8 newsletter. My oldest copy of a SAM 8 newsletter is a one. page, one side, affair dated May 1972. However, I am quite sure that we did put out a few before that.

Some random thoughts on the early days:

The Oregon guys were holding Old Timer contests before we did. I can recall entering one at Albany in the mid 1960's.

Shortly after SAM 8 got under way, Dick Lee went to Japan for 5 years (I think). Every year that he was gone, Dick sent us a new, rare, engine to be awarded to the person having done the most for SAM 8 during that year. We will never be able to thank Dick enough for that, it was a very valuable part of helping us during the growing years.

I originated the 8 ball insignia on our newsletter (hand drawn on the issues I published after Jim Sharp), but Don Zipoy refined and made it a really respectable graphic.

Dave Knight moved to the northwest from California during our early years and helped give SAM 8 a good "shot-in-the-arm". Dave's computer expertise lifted our newsletter to a higher plateau, and he really used to fly up a storm in the 020 Replica event. Dave also originated, along with the help of some un-named cohorts, the happy-hour wine tasting event at our contests. This was in the days when anyone who wanted to could camp-out overnight at Hart's Lake.

Can any of you recall when we did night flying at Hart's Lake? As I remember a Coleman lantern was great, and you taped a "Calume (?)" glow light to the model. And for some reason it seemed to be easier to get your fingers in the prop at night!

How many of you remember the time we held our Autumn Thrash O.T. Contest at the Boeing Kent facility?

The above is not presented as a complete, or necessarily 100% accurate history. How about you SAM 8 members contacting me with additional details and information? Also, I would appreciate it if any of you with old copies of our newsletter, and the National SAM newsletter, contacting me.I'd like to complete my sets, even if I have to copy yours. Incidentally, I have 3 copies of the National SAM newsletter, ALL COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, that are labeled Vol. 1 No.1 (?).

I hope this stirs some memories, and hopefully some of you will write in and help complete our SAM 8 history, and also provide some interesting reading.