BOI ClubBalloons Over Iowa was the first balloon club formed in the state of Iowa. The club is separate from the business, but was formed by Rob and four of his friends; Jerry Riley, Don Prine, Bill Griffin and Terry Boettcher.
The Balloons Over Iowa club does a lot for the ballooning community. The club sponsors all the holiday social gatherings for the ballooning community, donates money to the Balloon Museum in Indianola once a year, sponsors ground school once a year, sends out a balloon newsletter every other month to all its members, and holds monthly meetings (open to the public).
The first president of the B.O.I. club was Gretchen Bartholomew, Rob and Linda's basset hound, who was voted in as president in 1993. Unfortunately, in May of 2003 Gretchen passed away and Meika Bartholomew was voted in as the new president, also one of Rob and Linda's dogs. And no, this is not a joke. There are over 150 members; new members may join any time of the year.