About

We are a hot air balloon club founded in Oregon. Our members are in primarily located on the west coast, but we do have members from all parts of the country.  We welcome everyone to join whether a pilot, crew, or spectator.

We have monthly meetings 9 times a year. We take the summers off due to the many balloon rallies that our members attend. We publish a monthly newsletter highlighting past and current events.

W.A.S. was established September 8, 1998. Our current executive committee is:

Have something you’d like to put in the newsletter? Contact Shari, newsletter@wasballoon.org

See something you like/don’t like about this website? Yell at Jack, webmaster@wasballoon.org

Mission Statement:

  • To promote the sport of hot air ballooning
  • To educate new balloonists and the public
  • To embody safety in all aspects of ballooning
  • To do all we can to support and encourage land owner relations
  • To support our fellow balloonists and crews personally and in our sport

Charter Members

WAS originally formed with approximately 90 members. The following individuals are current members that have been with us since the beginning!

  • Jeanne Anson
  • Marilyn Barnhart
  • Carmen Blakely
  • Tim Gale
  • Shari Gale
  • Jerry Gobet
  • Mary Gobet
  • Kelly Haverkate
  • Hollie Hemenway
  • Bob LeDoux
  • Marianne LeDoux
  • Cory Miller
  • Greg Miller
  • Rod Purdum
  • Edie Stoaks
  • Carol Whitney
  • Jack Whitney

Disclaimers

Commercial use of any material on this website or in AeroStats for any reason is prohibited without the express written consent from the Willamette Aerostat Society.

Material published on this website or in AeroStats does not imply endorsement by WAS, it officers, newsletter editor, or its members of an event. Nor does it imply agreement with opinions, comments, or endorsement of any product.

Privacy Policy

No information collected is sold or distributed outside of our membership.

WAS collects certain information from anyone visiting this site. This information includes your IP address and hardware/software information of the device you utilize to view this site. The purpose of collecting this information is solely to improve this site and provide a better experience for users.  

WAS collects additional information from members during the membership application process (name, address, email, phone number, etc.). This information is utilized to determine the demographic of our membership and to communicate with our members.

WAS publishes an online member directory only available to active members. This directory displays the name, city, state, and email address of WAS members that have chosen to be visible in the directory. You may opt-out of the directory when you become a member, when you renew your membership, or at any time by viewing your member profile page.

WAS will automatically send members information regarding your membership, WAS activities, newsletter information, voting announcements, and occasionally other information pertinent to the hot air ballooning community via email. You may opt-out of these emails at any time by viewing your member profile page, or clicking the unsubscribe link located in each email.

WAS may utilize your mobile phone number to send SMS/MMS text messages about WAS activities, newsletter information, and voting announcements. You must specifically opt-in to these messages when you become a member, when you renew your membership, or at any time by viewing your member profile page. You may opt-out of these messages at any time by viewing your member profile page or replying STOP to a text message.

WAS collects information about pilots and crew, limited to the information asked for on pilot and crew application form and waiver. This information is utilized for the sole purpose of producing hot air balloon festivals, and is not utilized outside of that, or distributed to other festivals without individual consent.