Two Join AOPA Board as Bylaws Review Continues

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association held its annual member meeting on Tuesday at the National Aviation Community Center in Frederick, Maryland, where members elected two new trustees to the board, and 17 members provided feedback.

Members elected all 11 board members to one-year terms, including Peter Burwell and Ryan Samples. Burwell, an AOPA member for more than 15 years, flies a Cessna Skywagon and Beechcraft Baron, and leads Burwell Enterprises with his two brothers. Samples, a member for nearly 30 years, flies a Beechcraft V35 Bonanza, a Carbon Cub, an Icon A5, and a Cessna Citation CJ4, and founded BankOnIT in 2003.

Acting co-president Katie Pribyl discussed advocacy efforts, and acting co-president Jill Baker presented on AOPA’s finances. General counsel Fernando Campoamor detailed seven potential bylaw changes announced in April, noting that the bylaws have not changed in decades. The board continues soliciting member feedback until 11:59 p.m. ET on June 5, ahead of a vote to implement changes this fall.

“This is a game of inches; I want to be clear,” said AOPA board of trustees chairman Luke Wippler. “We need all of our stakeholders pulling in the right direction. I recognize that we need to rebuild your trust,” referring to member outrage over the board's ouster last year of now-former president and CEO Darren Pleasance.