As members of a great balloon club we bring our balloons into the community for fun and education too. This page will remain fluid as members submit pictures and stories. Jim Hoidahl was asked to do the impossible. In the monsoon season, at 8:00 A.M., in Cloudcroft at 8500 feet MSL, tether a balloon, and explain ballooning to 30 to 50 children ages 4 to 12. Tuesday July 6 was his first attempt. He was met by wind driving in a storm. He stood on the field felt the drizzle and said "let's try again tomorrow". On Wednesday July 7 the sky was clear and a wind of about 7-10 mph. This was his last day to do the task so he got inventive. He had the Cloudcroft Bears Football Field to work on. (Such luscious green grass) He knew his envelope was dirty from the last flight so he told the coordinator that he would be able to do a cold inflate so the children could get the feel for the size of the balloon and that he would tell them about ballooning. Mrs. Welch was delighted. Some children were assigned the mouth for the inflation and others joined in to supplement where they couldn't handle it. On the crown line (which was the front page of the Alamogordo Daily News) about 20 children holding the balloon down. (of course there was adult anchors too). After dropping the envelope and milking it they sat down and Jim presented the classroom portion of his presentation. Jim took the children from the Montgolfier brothers to present day round the world record. Below are a few of the many "Thank You Cards" he received.
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