Changes

The women decided to try to organize themselves. Four pilots, including Fay Gillis Wells, who served as the temporary secretary, sent a letter to the 117 licensed female pilots inviting them to help form a new organization. The letter promised "not a tremendously official sort of organization, just a way to get acquainted, to discuss the prospects for women pilots from both a sports and breadwinning point of view, and to tip each other off on what's going on in the industry."  

The women decided to try to organize themselves. Four pilots, including Fay Gillis Wells, who served as the temporary secretary, sent a letter to the 117 licensed female pilots inviting them to help form a new organization. The letter promised "not a tremendously official sort of organization, just a way to get acquainted, to discuss the prospects for women pilots from both a sports and breadwinning point of view, and to tip each other off on what's going on in the industry."  

The organizational meeting was held on November 2, 1929, in a hanger at Curtiss Field on Long Island, New York. The 26 women present drank tea off a toolbox wagon and debated names for their new organization such as the American Association of Women Pilots, Ladybirds, Gadflies, and Bird Women. [[Amelia Earhart]] recommended naming the group after the 99 women who replied positively to the initial letter and who would be the organization's charter members--The Ninety-Nines. Earhart was voted the first president, reflecting the leadership role she had already unofficially assumed among the women. The next morning, the New York Times reported on the meeting, promising that "the women are going to organize. We don't know what for."

The organizational meeting was held on November 2, 1929, in a hanger at Curtiss Field on Long Island, New York. The 26 women present drank tea off a toolbox wagon and debated names for their new organization such as the American Association of Women Pilots, Ladybirds, Gadflies, and Bird Women. [[Amelia Earhart]] recommended naming the group after the 99 women who replied positively to the initial letter and who would be the organization's charter members—The Ninety-Nines. Earhart was voted the first president, reflecting the leadership role she had already unofficially assumed among the women. The next morning, the New York Times reported on the meeting, promising that "the women are going to organize. We don't know what for."

From the beginning, the women were dedicated to increasing membership and promoting women in aviation. Earhart encouraged the women to increase their visibility as pilots by creating the Hat of the Month Club, which awarded a Stetson hat to the member who had flown into the greatest number of airports that month. But during the early years, the Ninety-Nines was an informal organization with a newsletter and a get-together centered around the Women's Air Derby (popularly referred to as the Powder Puff Derby). Most of their early activities were associated with races since, although organizers began to allow the women to compete, the women were restricted from equal competition with the men by the rules. For instance, women were limited to less powerful planes (an "appropriate" horsepower) and required to take a male medical representative on the flight.  

From the beginning, the women were dedicated to increasing membership and promoting women in aviation. Earhart encouraged the women to increase their visibility as pilots by creating the Hat of the Month Club, which awarded a Stetson hat to the member who had flown into the greatest number of airports that month. But during the early years, the Ninety-Nines was an informal organization with a newsletter and a get-together centered around the Women's Air Derby (popularly referred to as the Powder Puff Derby). Most of their early activities were associated with races since, although organizers began to allow the women to compete, the women were restricted from equal competition with the men by the rules. For instance, women were limited to less powerful planes (an "appropriate" horsepower) and required to take a male medical representative on the flight.