American Kitefliers Association

Most AKA members that attend the National Convention volunteer in some capacity.

They pay all their expense to be there, and they also assume a share of the work. But few

commit as many hours as our nominee for the Ingraham Award.

When a member accepts a major responsibility at the convention, they know (or soon

learn) that they are giving up their own vacation to help others have more fun. Some

work on the fields as judges or officials, some work on stage, and some present

workshops. A few dependable others, like our nominee, work in windowless rooms for

hours on end. Usually they do the job once and then give someone else a turn. Our

nominee has taken on the same task year after year after year. They have done it with joy

and enthusiasm. And in the process, they have raised thousands of dollars for the

Association.

The task I refer to is organizing the AKA Bag Raffle. And the volunteer I nominate is of

course, AKA’s own “Ticket Chick”, Marla Miller.

Marla’s contributions are not limited to squeezing money from her friends at convention.

She has passionately represented Region 10 on the Board for many years.

She has also helped spread AKA’s message throughout Europe and particularly across

Great Britain. She and David Gomberg negotiated an opportunity for the AKA to be

formally involved in the huge International Kite Festival in Dieppe, France and Marla has

organized teams of AKA members to attend and staff our pavilion there. This year, 20

Americans will join her there.

For her ardent service on the Board, her zealous promotion of the Association, and her

obsessive fundraising efforts, we nominate Marla Miller for the Bob Ingraham Award.

David Gomberg

Susan Gomberg

Al Sparling