208 MODEL AVIATION
FOR THOSE OF you who do not have
access to the AMA Web site
(www.modelaircraft.org), I will inform
you of a decision that was made at the
October 30 Executive Council (EC)
meeting. As of December 6, 2004, I will
no longer be the AMA Executive
Director. As the press release below
states, I will be stepping down to a less
stressful job.
I am taking this opportunity to thank
all of those individuals who read my
column each month—by the way I will
not miss writing this column. I want to
thank the AMA membership, the EC,
and the AMA Headquarters’ staff for
nine good years as the executive
director, and I am looking forward to my
continued work with everyone.
“The Academy of Model Aeronautics
(AMA) is pleased to announce the
appointment of Donald J. Koranda as its
new Executive Director, by a unanimous
vote of its EC. Effective December 6,
2004, Don Koranda will replace Joyce
Hager who requested reassignment after
serving in that position for nine years.
Joyce Hager will continue to play a
significant role in the management of the
AMA.
“Don Koranda comes to AMA from
the National Aeronautic Association
(NAA), in Arlington, Virginia, where he
served as NAA president and as its
representative to the AMA EC for the
past six years. The NAA recently
announced the appointment of David
Ivey as its new president, and he will
continue the tradition of the NAA
president serving as the NAA
representative on the AMA EC.
“Dave Brown, AMA president, said
‘Joyce Hager has done a terrific job as
AMA’s Executive Director after
stepping into that position during trying
times. Her service to AMA has been of
the utmost importance to the continued
growth of the association, and we are
fortunate to have had her as our
Executive Director. I feel confident that
she will continue to be an important part
of AMA’s management.
“Don Koranda brings a wealth of
experience and expertise to AMA, and
I’m confident that he will take the
organization to the next level. I have
worked with Don as the NAA
representative to AMA and I am excited
to have him as our Executive Director. I
look forward to some great things. This
is a great day for AMA.”
I am pleased to announce that the 2005
Nats planning meeting was a success.
There were 32 attendees October 23
representing numerous SIGs, AMA, and
the Executive Council. The dates for the
2005 Outdoor Nats will be July 5-
August 7. The Indoor portion will again
be held in Johnson City, Tennessee,
June 1-5.
A few minor changes have been made
to the Nats format. The 2005 Nats is four
days shorter than in previous years. This
was accomplished without the loss of
any official events.
Unofficial events will have a $10 entry
fee, but only for those not entered in an
official Nats event. Conduct of unofficial
events, including protests, is the sole
responsibility of the SIGs. Finally,
indoor RC will not be held in 2005.
A new Nats and National Flying Site
Web page can be seen at www.model
aircraft.org/events. Contents include the
2005 National Flying Site and Nats
calendars, 2004 Nats results, and general
information.
The 2005 Nats entry forms will be
available through the Web site no later
than December 31, 2004, as a PDF
download.
Joyce Hager Executive Director
View from HQ
Throughout the winter, improvements
will be made to Nats Headquarters, Nats
equipment, and the National Flying Site.
Whether you attend this event every
year or have never attended, I cordially
invite you to join us at the 2005 AMA
Nats.
Correction: In this column in the
December 2004 issue of MA, I included
a picture of Education Committee
chairperson Bob Underwood with one of
the AMA scholarship winners. The name
of the young man pictured is 2004
recipient Bryce Haselhorst—not Kolby
Hoover. I apologize for the error. MA
I cordially invite
you to join us at
the 2005 AMA Nats.
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager
Executive Director
[email protected]
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/01
Page Numbers: 208