News

2026 Safety Seminar

Updated 02/06/26

The Illinois/Indiana Continuing Education Seminar is scheduled to be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the FlightLine banquet center located at the Vermilion Regional Airport in Danville Illinois.

Check out the Registration Page

BAGI Club Meeting at Seminar

Updated 02/06/26

We will hold our annual club meeting to elect officers and conduct business at the safety seminar at around noon on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the FlightLine banquet center located at the Vermilion Regional Airport in Danville Illinois. You need not be registered to attend the meeting.


More About Scholarship Program

Ag Scholarship Program

Updated 02/06/26

Because of the generosity of the farming community in allowing hot air balloons to launch from or land on their property, the members of Balloon Association of Greater Illinois (BAGI), are pleased to sponsor $500 scholarships to students majoring in agriculture or an agriculture-related program. The scholarships, which are non-renewable, will be awarded on the basis of exceptional scholastic ability and/or financial need. Vermilion County Farm Bureau will administer the Balloon Association of Greater Illinois Scholarships.
More About Scholarship Program

Review Club Balloon Page

Updated 02/12/2022

If you are a member, please check the Club Balloons page to see if we have your balloon information listed correctly. If we don’t show your balloon and would like it shown on the Club Balloon Page, just let us know at the email address at the bottom of this page.

About BAGI

The Balloon Association of Greater Illinois was formed in 1990 as a way to connect balloon pilots and crew together to improve the sport of hot air ballooning. The Club started in the Champaign-Urbana, Illinois area at that time, but now includes pilots and crew from several states. The Club includes over 90 members and nearly fifty different balloons.

Communicate

The Club uses several methods to communicate with it's members. Keeping crew connected to pilots is one of the primary missions of the Club.

Facebook
A Facebook page is established for the club and, with the increased popularity of the social media, is growing in use. Members and friends can LIKE the page at BAGI on Facebook.

Join the Club

BAGI is always looking to add new members. Annual membership fees are just $20 for an individual, $30 for a family. Price is cut in half if you join after June 30th. Dues are billed every January.

If you interested in hot air ballooning and would like to learn more, click this link.

Join The Club

BAGI Officers

Each Winter the club elects members to serve on the Board of Directors. The directors then elect officers for a one year term.

2025 Officers

  • President: John Johlas
  • Secretary: David Kolb
  • Treasurer: Dean Carlton
  • Director: Donna Carlton-Vish
  • Director: Mary Morrison
  • Director: Dave Reineke
  • Director: Jim Phelan