April 2008 177
HOORAY! It’s getting to be flying time
again!
As I write this, I recently attended the
January Executive Council and planning
meeting. Now I know why I live in South
Central Texas. It was too cold!
AMA’s new president, Dave Mathewson,
ran a great couple of meetings. Gary Fitch,
Dave’s replacement as District II vice
president, is a perfect fit on the board. He has
much experience and a positive attitude and I
am glad to have him onboard.
One of the big events of the weekend was
the farewell supper for outgoing AMA
president, Dave Brown. It was well attended
and included many past and present
dignitaries. It was an enjoyable evening.
The great news for District VIII folks is
that my wife Linda and I sat at the table with
Sandy Frank, the former district vice
president. Sandy has recuperated well from a
very serious auto accident last October.
He is out of the wheelchair and walking with
a cane. He is still going to physical therapy,
but is making tremendous progress. I’m glad
you are healing well, my friend!
Sandy Frank, the former District VIII vice
president, is well on his way to recovery
following a serious auto accident.
The 2008 AMA Convention was another
success. I visited with many District VIII
members and had the distinct pleasure of
attending a covering seminar with Faye
Stilley. What an experience!
Programs Director Jay Mealy and Human
Resources Director Mary Hurn of the AMA
staff retired, effective the day I am writing
this. They are both longtime employees of
AMA and they will be missed. Thank you for
all that you have done for AMA and its
members.
Doug Powell, known to most of us as
“Chief,” is an AMA Life Member, Leader
Member, Associate Vice President and
Contest Coordinator. He served for more than
22 years in the US Air Force and has been
married to his wife Jean for 45 years.
Chief has
been building
models for 58
years. He has
owned and
managed a
hobby shop,
flown RC and
CL, and has
served in
n u m e r o u s
v o l u n t e e r
positions for
AMA. He
assumed the
duties of the RC
c o n t e s t
coordinator for
our district in
1996. He was a club newsletter editor for nine
years, chaired the AMA RC Combat Contest
Board committee, and was the RC Combat
Association vice president.
He has worked at the CL World
Championships and the AMA Nats on several
occasions. All of that has reduced his building
and flying time since his volunteer duties have
taken over all of his free time, but he plans to
get back to flying CL as his life in retirement
slows down a bit.
Thanks for a lifetime of support, Chief!
It is time to go flying so check those lines for
fraying, make sure your timers and
dethermalizers work, and get those batteries
cycled. We are looking forward to a great
season ahead of us.
Have fun and fly safely! See you on the
flightline. Jim.
Jim Rice
Vice President
118 E. Wright Blvd.,
Universal City TX 78148
Tel.: (210) 213-0299
(evenings)
www.AMA-Dist-8.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Lester L. Barry, Bethany OK;
(405) 789-5373
Bill Fulmer, Gretna LA;
(504) 392-3620
Jack Hogan, Chandler TX;
(903) 849-4193 (Evenings)
Mark S. Johnston, Albuquerque
NM; (505) 823-0158
Jim D. Marshall, Mission TX;
(956) 585-6446
Douglas E. Powell, Wichita Falls
TX; (940) 691-8348
Doug Staines, Belton TX
(254) 780-3512
Ron Stanfield, Maumelle AR;
(501) 851-1697
Pat Willcox, Kingwood TX;
(281) 358-1750
Frequency Coordinator
North: Joe DuMond, Ft. Worth
TX; (817) 457-6685
South: Gene Kent, Tomball TX;
(281) 255-4805
AMA Display Coordinator
David Johns, Deer Park TX
(281) 476-4820
Safety Coordinator
Chuck Waller, Canyon Lake TX;
(210) 563-4246
District VIII Volunteers
District VIII
Jim Rice, District VIII Vice President; [email protected]
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
In the Southwest we fly nearly year round
but cluster swap meets into the early months
of the year. I presume this is so we can take
our new pride and joy to the workshop and
make it look like the pride and joy we wish
it was before the spring flying events start.
The Georgetown, Texas, swap meet
moved back to its old digs and what a great
facility it is
now. It even
includes heat!
Much trading
and swapping
went on and
there were three
auction periods,
which kept the
interest up. I
included a
couple of photos
to show the
activity and the
improvements to
the facility.
Doug “Chief” Powell is a
longtime AMA volunteer
and is an AVP and the RC
Contest Coordinator.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/04
Page Numbers: 177