AMA News District IX - 2009/03

March 2009 162
THE ASSOCIATE vice presidents
(AVPs) in our district function as a conduit
between the local clubs and AMA. Their
mission is to improve communications and
deal with local issues that are best handled
at the grass-roots level. I would like to
welcome Bruce Ream and Steve Culver to
our family of AVPs in District IX.
Bruce became president of Jefco
Aeromod’lers, one of the larger clubs in
AMA, in 2007. The club was going
through financial difficulties and it was
with Bruce’s leadership, in conjunction
with the board of directors and the entire
club membership, that the club regained a
strong financial position and several new
programs were initiated.
Bruce is a registered architect in the
State of Colorado. He served as chairman
of the National Committee of the
American Institite of Architects on
Criminal Justice Architecture. He also
served as vice president of OWP/P
Architects and Engineers in Chicago for 18
years.
Bruce has been in the model aircraft
hobby for 25 years. He received his private
pilot’s license in 1976. He has with three
children and six grand children. He lives
with his wife of 51 years in Highlands
Ranch, Colorado.
Bruce Ream is our new AVP from
Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
Steve Culver was born in Springfield,
Illinois, where his parents, two sisters, and
one brother still reside. After graduating
from Pleasant Plains high school, Steve
started working his way through school
attending Lincoln Land Community
College.
Interested in a career in law
enforcement from a young age, Steve
decided the best way to get a start would
be to join the military and gain experience
as a military policeman. Steve joined the
United States Air Force and graduated
from the USAF Security Police Academy.
He has been married to Leigh, a police
officer for the Omaha Police Department,
since February 2003. Currently, Steve is
working at the University of Nebraska at
Omaha (UNO) School of Criminology and
Criminal Justice as the Academic Advisor.
Steve also serves on the UNO Staff
Advisory Council, the steering committee
for the University Academic Advisors
Committee, and serves on the New Student
Programs Committee. He received his
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
from Western Illinois University where
also attended graduate school in criminal
justice.
Steve got his start in RC when riding
past Hawk Field, home of the Omahawks
R/C Club, and stopped to watch some of
the guys flying.
“I remember Ralph Brown, who has
been flying RC for over 45 years, was
flying his old Sig Senior and asked if I
wanted to give it a try,” Steve wrote. “He
had his thumbs over mine and I was
immediately hooked.
“The next day I bought an Avistar RTF
and was at training night every week for
the entire summer. I soloed in about three
months.
“I have enjoyed the friendship and
camaraderie that comes with being
involved in the RC hobby and being
involved in the Omahawks.”
Steve has served on the Omahawks
Board of Directors for two years, was vice
president for one year, and was club
president for two years. He enjoyed being
part of the club leadership to help promote
the RC hobby in the Omaha community
and helping make positive changes for the
150-plus members of the Omahawks.
Steve’s favorite part of flying RC is to
fly World War II aircraft and just punch
holes in the sky, and every now and then, a
few holes in the ground!
In addition to being an avid RC aircraft
pilot, his other interests include scuba
diving, motorcycles, taking his boat out,
listening to jazz and big band music, and
playing with his dog and best friend, Jack,
his rat terrier.
Steve and Leigh Culver. Steve, the lucky
one on the left, is our new AVP from
Omaha, Nebraska.
Club Corner: Every AMA club should
strive to provide a safe, fun, and
interesting environment for all its
members. Let me know your thoughts
([email protected]) on how your club
meets this challenge so we can share it
with others. I will publish input each
month.
New and progressive ideas will make
your club and AMA healthier
organizations. Let’s start with the premise
that our clubs should be all inclusive and
cater to varied interests. New approaches
can create a more exciting atmosphere that
everyone enjoys!
Till then, Jim.
Jim Wallen
Vice President
7322 E. 82nd Way
Arvada CO 80003
Tel.: (303) 421-9061
www.amadistrict-ix.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Steve Culver, Omaha NE;
[email protected]
Fred Hildebrand, Casper WY;
[email protected]
Troy Lapp, Bismarck ND;
[email protected]
Bruce Ream, Highlands Ranch
CO; [email protected]
Brenda Schuette, Auburn KS;
[email protected]
Mike Tallman, Wichita KS;
[email protected]
Jim Tiller, Rapid City SD;
[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
Jim Wallen, District IX Vice President; [email protected]
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
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