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Glen and Tanna Haynes
New Tripoli, Pennsylvania USA

In 2001, the American Kitefliers Association awarded Glen and Tanna Haynes their highest honor - the Steve Edeiken Award. What follows is the nominating letter, written by Jon Burkhardt. 2001 EDEIKEN AWARD NOMINATION Those of us fortunate enough to have flown kites with Steve Edeiken miss him not just for his excellence in kitemaking and kiteflying, but also for his generosity and kindness with all kitefliers.  For their outstanding achievements in all these areas, it is our great honor to nominate Glen and Tanna Haynes for the 2001 Edeiken Award, the American Kitefliers Association’s recognition as Kitefliers of the Year.

At most recent AKA conventions, the first official smiles you’ve received on behalf of AKA have come from Glen and Tanna.  As more recent AKA members than some of us, they recognized that one good way to get to know “the rest of the gang” was to be among the first to say hello each year.  So they volunteered to work the registration desk.  Despite the amount of work required at registration, they’ve continued to assist with that job with warmth and style, volunteering to extend a great big welcome to all registrants. Another example of their generosity is the special name badges for all convention attendees, made by the Haynes at their own expense as their special gift to everyone.

 
We hear that Glen got his first kite as a Christmas present from the family dog.  Having been bitten, not by the dog but by the kite bug, Glen and Tanna were soon traveling to as many kite events as possible up and down the East Coast. At a 1992 Maryland Kite Society Kitemaking Retreat, they learned about making their own kites from noted kitefliers on both the east and west coasts of the country and were soon eagerly engaged in kitemaking

The avocation turned into a passion for excellent craftsmanship, innovative structures, impressive flight, and outstanding graphics.  Tanna’s First Place Novice Kitemaker award in 1994 led to AKA Grand National Champion awards in the Kitemakers’ Competitions in Santa Monica in 1996 and in Ocean Shores in 1998.  (Tanna is the only female kitemaker to have ever won AKA’s Grand National Champion Kitemaker Award.)  In 1998, Glen’s light-wind Cody with a Maori design was among the highest-scoring kites, taking first place in the cellular category at the Ocean Shores convention.

Both Glen and Tanna have added a wealth of ideas to the kitemaking lexicon.  Adapting techniques more known to fly fishers, they have broadened the horizons for all of us with tapered rods, thread-wrapping, soft foam fixtures, and flying rod hardware.  They’ve been constant teachers of these innovations, and their passion for excellence in their own kites has been a real inspiration to the rest of us.

Glen and Tanna are always there to help kitefliers and the world of kiteflying.  Besides their many volunteer activities, Glen and Tanna have taken on some of the most crucial positions in the American Kitefliers Association: Treasurer, Chair of the Convention Committee, and Director at Large.  Their time and energy has also been most generously given for local clubs and local community kite events, including many sponsored by the Keystone Kiters and the Maryland Kite Society, and high-profile events such as the Smithsonian Kite Festivals and the Newport Kite Festivals.  They have often taught classes at AKA Conventions and retreats sponsored by the Keystone Kiters and the Maryland Kite Society.  When not actively engaged in judging kite competitions, most of their time on the kite field is spent teaching and encouraging others to be more successful with their own kites.  Their techniques have been shared not only in this country, but in other interesting kite venues such as Japan, New Zealand, France, and Canada.

We wish that Steve Edeiken were still with us to share his many talents. But AKA is indeed fortunate to have Glen and Tanna Haynes to carry on the traditions of excellence, friendship, caring, and sharing that Steve personified.

Nominated by Jon Burkhardt, seconded by Karen Burkhardt and Steve Ferrel.

Significant Media Coverage:

“Tanna Haynes and Kite, Lady of the Clouds, Gracing the AKA Convention,” cover photograph and caption, KiteLines, Fall-Winter, 1996; 12:2.

Kathy Thompson, “Grand Champion Tanna Haynes,” Kiting, November-December, 1996, p. 13.

Kurt Eby, “An Accidental Tour de Force,” American Kite, Summer 1999, pp. 18-21.

Some Current and Recent Leadership Positions:

Glen Haynes

Member, Convention Committee, AKA

Member, Convention Manager Search Committee, AKA

Vice President, Keystone Kiters

President, Sky Pilots

Member, AKA Grand Nationals Kitemakers Competition Judging Staff

Judge, Smithsonian Kite Festival, Washington, DC

“Thread Wrapping Basics for Kite Building,” AKA Convention Workshop, 1999

Tanna Haynes

Treasurer, AKA

Director at Large, AKA

Chair, Convention Committee, AKA

President, Keystone Kiters

Member, AKA Grand Nationals Kitemakers Competition Judging Staff

Judge, Smithsonian Kite Festival, Washington, DC

AKA Grand National Kitemakers’ Champion, 1996 and 1998