JEROME MORRISON “JERRY” CAIN

Director Emeritus

Thoughts After Retirement


When I raised my hand at the Montana Pilots Association’s (MPA) Board of Directors retreat in Bozeman in September of 2003, I had no idea what I was getting myself into!  I had been following the MPA’s Recreational Airstrip Committee for several years and watching them try to raise money. I even donated dogsled rides for their online auction.  To boost their fundraising effectiveness I suggested  they create an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 501(c) (3) Public Charity in order to solicit tax-deductible donations.

Since the MPA charter included commercial aviation a legally separate organization needed to be created, and about a half dozen attendees indicated that they would like to be involved in such an organization and I set it up.

We decided on the name Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF).  We decided that it should be a national organization – not limited to just Montana – since we were now going to be separate from the MPA.  After further discussion about mission, organization, location, etc., I began the process of filing the application with the State of Montana to become a Montana Non-Profit organization and then with the IRS to become a 501(c) (3) Public Charity.

During the process, I needed and asked for Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Mission Statement, logo, etc..  To my surprise, when I sent out an email asking for these, the reply was almost immediate.  I then found out that several of the pilots at the organizing meeting in Bozeman had previously been involved in trying to create just such an organization several years before to be named the Backcountry Airstrip Foundation or BAF.  They had already created the necessary documentation, etc., but hadn’t actually filed with a state and the IRS.  It was agreed to change BAF to RAF and other necessary modifications were made, and I filed everything with the State of Montana and the IRS in December 2003.

After about 90 days, the IRS requested more documentation. I sent the IRS a one-inch three-ring binder filled with all of the information they requested. 90 days later, we received our Letter of Determination granting the RAF 501(c) (3) Public Charity status effective in December 2003.

From there the rest is history. We started with our original Board Of Directors made up mostly from the pilots at the original organizing meeting in Bozeman plus a few new ones to satisfy IRS requirements. I volunteered to be Secretary / Treasurer. By the end of 2004, we had about $15,000 in the bank and a membership of several hundred. I continued in this role for eight years retiring December 31, 2011, when the RAF membership had grown to several thousand from all fifty states and about a dozen foreign countries. The RAF had preserved, maintained, and created multiple backcountry airstrips across the country, and my RAF activities had become so involved that I was spending ten to fourteen hours almost every day trying to keep up with it. I was either going to retire or go insane!

Fortunately, the transition of my duties to a new Administrative Director and new Treasurer went fairly smoothly, and I was able to retire as “Director Emeritus” which meant that I could continue to participate in BOD activities without the right to vote. I have continued to monitor and participate as appropriate in emails and the monthly BOD teleconferences, and other activities. It’s extremely satisfying to observe how the RAF is progressing and growing on a first-hand basis. Wow! Retirement is wonderful!

I could not have imagined in 2003 what the RAF would accomplish in its first ten years and could not be more proud of those accomplishments and the members of the BOD, and the membership who make this all possible through their generous support of both their time and their dollars.  And to do all of this with all volunteers except for the Administrative Director is absolutely phenomenal!  Again, who would have imagined what has been accomplished.  The RAF is now nationally recognized as the “go to” organization for anything related to recreational and backcountry airstrips.

I offer a big “Thank you!” and “Well done!” to all who have been a part of the RAF.  Keep up the good work, and good luck.  I hope I will be around and involved for the next ten years!

406-461-5631
jcain@theraf.org

Posted in Former Director

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FEATURING: SMARTWOOL SOCKS Whether you’re flying into the backcountry, hitting the trail, or simply going about your day, a comfortable pair of socks can make all the difference. Smartwool Socks are designed for outdoor adventures and everyday wear, offering the comfort, support, and durability you need wherever the day takes you. Made by Smartwool and finished with the RAF logo, they’re a practical way to bring a little backcountry spirit along for the journey. Get your feet backcountry-ready and show your support for the RAF from the ground up!

GET READY FOR THE 2026 PHOTO CONTEST OPENING OCTOBER 1!

September 3, 2026
The tradition continues — RAF 2026 Photo Contest! We’re excited to announce the upcoming RAF 2026 Photo Contest! It’s time to look through your photos and find your favorites. Once again, we’ll include the “RAF Mission” category, recognizing photos that best capture people enjoying recreational aviation, no matter the region. Each winning photographer will receive a package of high-quality greeting cards featuring their photo on the front and photo credit on the back — just in time for the holidays! New this year: We’re especially excited to see your photos from our Expanding The Map airstrips! Submit a photo taken at one of these airstrips, and we’ll send you a small gift from the RAF Outfitter as a thank-you for sharing it with us. Stay tuned for our next announcement, which will include everything you need to know to enter this year’s contest. Eligibility: The contest is open to all RAF supporters, amateur and professional photographers alike, including those aged 18 and under. Our judges are the RAF’s volunteer VPs of Appreciation, who also handwrite the RAF’s thank-you cards each week. They especially enjoy photos featuring airplanes, beautiful scenery, and people experiencing the fun and adventure of recreational aviation. The contest opens October 1, and winners will be announced November 15. Start looking through those camera rolls — we can’t wait to see where recreational aviation has taken you! Submitted September 3, 2026

RAF FEATURED SUPPORTER: ERIC JOHNSON

By Carmine Mowbray • September 3, 2026
When pilot Eric Johnson of Canby, Oregon steps up to help on RAF projects, he says he’s motivated to preserve these opportunities now and for future generations. Eric is a third-generation pilot himself, and he and his wife Elle have three children, all under age five as of this writing. Eric says, “Jett, the oldest, is obsessed with airplanes,” and Grandpa Kevin Johnson treats Jett to donuts at the local FBO on Fridays so they can watch airplanes. Kevin Johnson’s name should be familiar to readers, since he has supported the RAF all over the West. He has designed, delivered, and assembled a number of camping structures and other amenities at RAF-supported airfields, often assisted by Eric, who loves to contribute his precious spare time on these projects, saying, “Our family values tradition and hard work, which is a big part of what the RAF is. That’s how all the work parties are. Everyone shares the same goal and is happy to be there.” Eric earned his private pilot license in 2012 in the same Cessna 172 that his grandfather and Kevin bought in 1976, and that he now co-owns with Kevin. “We hangar it at the home that we live in, that my grandfather built in 1990,” Eric says. Elle is a private pilot as well, and worked for Columbia Helicopters until becoming a stay-at-home mom. Her father is building an RV4, so “Aviation is on both sides of our family,” Eric says. A licensed General Contractor, Eric has transitioned into property management, helping oversee the family’s 277-space manufactured home park and industrial properties in northwestern Oregon. Eric has made flights into OSH for AirVenture. He says, “The biggest adventure of the 16-hour flight is the last five minutes.” Anyone who has also nosed into that swarm of approaching traffic will probably agree. At Airventure he became acquainted with the RAF at a presentation on backcountry flying. “The mission aligns perfectly with my other outdoor hobbies,” he says. Rafting the Snake River on the Idaho-Oregon line in the Hells Canyon Wilderness, he’s looked up toward the many airstrips near the river. “The only time I’ve seen Moose Creek airstrip is floating and fishing the Selway,” he added. Now he looks forward to landing, pitching his tent, and maybe helping one of his kids tie a line to fish these rivers, perhaps sparking another lifelong passion in the next generation. Submitted September 3, 2026 By Carmine Mowbray

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By Carmine Mowbray • August 28, 2026
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