HI FOLKS! Exciting news! AMA has its
first Park Pilot field! Greg Clemensen, District
X associate vice president from the Las
Vegas area, got the ball rolling and now they
have an AMA chartered club and field!
It’s our hope we can have these fields
spread across the United States to attract
many people to this great hobby of ours.
Please continue to help support this program.
Introducing District IX’s new contest
coordinator: Mac Strader.
Judy Gerkin has been a longtime, faithful
worker for our district and will retire. Judy,
we all truly appreciate your work over the
many years as our district contest coordinator.
A gentleman I have known for years, Mac
Strader, has assumed this position and pledges
to do his best to process your sanctions in a
accurate and timely fashion. As with any new
job, there is a learning curve, thus we all need
to have patience and give Mac our support.
On behalf of the entire district, thank you,
Mac, for taking on this important position.
Here’s a short note from Mac:
“I’ve been involved in RC flying since
1976 when my wife decided to get me a
hobby. This was a year
after and automobile
accident that left me
paralyzed from the
chest down. I was
living in California and
we decided to move
back to the Kansas
City area because of
family.
“I finished learning
how to fly at the
Shawnee Mission Radio Control Club in 1984
and have been an instructor for our club since.
At one time I was the webmaster for our
club’s Web site and have held most of the
positions in the club. I still instruct and look
forward to being your AMA District IX
Contest Coordinator.”
AMA executives recognized Jefco members
at the club’s annual auction. The members of
the Jefco Aeromod’lers held another very
successful auction by auctioning off 1,329
items over two long days. A big thank you
goes out to AMA Frequency Coordinator
Steve Mangels for his continued efforts to
make this such a successful event every year.
At noon, during the height of the auction,
the club stopped everything to recognize its
membership. First, we noted the fifth-year
wedding anniversary of Doug and Lora
Knowlton, then presented District Service
awards to Bruce Ream and Bill Zimmerman,
and finally, the entire club individually.
—Michael Peterson
As many of you know, I am extremely proud
of our clubs that make the extra effort to
achieve Leader Club status. This recognition
is important to the security of your flying site
because it sets your club apart as one that
cares about the community.
To my knowledge, the Jefco Aeromod’lers
is the only club to achieve the Gold Level
status for 15 consecutive years, and therefore,
Dave Mathewson, AMA’s president, and Jim
Cherry, AMA’s executive director, made it a
priority to travel to Denver to present the
award to the club members.
AMA presents a 15-Year Gold Leader Club
award to Jefco, as well as District Service
awards. (L-R) Mark Smith; Art Baker,
President of Jefco; Bruce Ream, District
Service award winner; Jim Cherry; Dave
Mathewson; and Jim Wallen, AVP in Colorado.
The Jefco Aeromod’lers have lost a notable
member. Several have sent me notice about
Jim McManus’s passing and I will let
newsletter editor Michael Peterson have the
distinct honor of remembering him.
“After a valiant but losing battle to cancer,
Jim McManus left us on March 10 for that
final flight west. His warmth and open
friendship
were shared
by many,
especially
those he
taught to
fly RC. Jim
was
passionate
about
flying in all
its forms; he and I shared many stories about
all aspects of aviation.
“Jim was co-CD for our IMAC
[International Miniature Aircraft Club] events,
along with Brian Pesch. He trained many of
us in the fine points of judging IMAC and
using the ARESTI symbology.
“Many have sent in memories of good
times with Jim. Mary Alice McManus sent
some information. Jim was born in Waltham,
Massachusetts, January 4, 1939. He passed in
his home in Roxborough Park March 10,
2008.
“RC flying was Jim’s passion—more than
merely a hobby. Aerobatic competition
brought him many challenges and much
satisfaction. His home away from home was
the field at Chatfield State Park and
instructing new pilots gave him special
pleasure.
“Jim retired from Lockheed-Martin in
December of 1994. He waged a five-year
battle with multiple myeloma. Survivors are
his wife, Mary Alice; son, James Jr.;
daughters Debra and Susan; and
grandaughters Brittany and Rachelle.”
Jim Shaw, our District IX webmaster, wrote:
“‘www.amadistrict-ix.org’ is your passport
to your Web site. Along with the Web site, we
have instituted a “Forums” section for your
use. Here you can communicate with your
fellow modelers, ask questions of interest, and
contact your district officers. The forum is the
result of many asking for more functions and
ways to communicate and let everyone know
what is going on in our modeling lives.
“We are always open to suggestions that
will benefit the members of our district. Sign
on, look around, and let us know if there is
anything else we can do to help you enjoy the
world’s greatest hobby.”
That’s it for this month. Keep in touch and
have fun! Mark.
Mark Smith
Vice President
14632 W. 50th St.,
Shawnee KS 66216
Tel.: (913) 248-9191
www.amadistrict-ix.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Fred Hildebrand, Casper WY;
[email protected]
Troy Lapp, Bismarck ND;
[email protected]
Ward Neesen, Omaha NE
[email protected]
Brenda Schuette, Auburn KS;
[email protected]
Mike Tallman, Wichita KS;
[email protected]
Jim Tiller, Rapid City SD;
[email protected]
Jim Wallen, Arvada CO
[email protected]
Webmaster: Jim Shaw,
[email protected]
Contest Coordinator:
Mac Strader, Overland Park KS;
[email protected]
Frequency Coordinator: Steve
Mangles, Denver CO;
[email protected]
District IX Volunteers
District IX
Mark Smith, District IX Vice President; [email protected]
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
176 MODEL AVIATION
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/07
Page Numbers: 176