160 MODEL AVIATION
ELECTIONS are over and it seems you are
stuck with me for three more years! Thanks
for the support and the vote of confidence by
those who took the time to vote. There is a
lot facing AMA and I am eager to help
develop our future.
While I am writing about elections, most
clubs change their leadership approximately
the beginning of the year. I want to thank all
of the volunteers who ran club activities and
the CDs who ran events for the last year and
welcome any new volunteer leadership as
well. We are an organization that could not
exist without its great volunteer force—from
the president, Dave Mathewson, down to
club-level officers and workers.
With winter come many fund-raisers across
the district in support of Toys for Tots or
Blue Santa projects. Todd Brueggeman,
president of Houston Sport Flyers, reports
that the club’s Toys for Tots event registered
68 pilots with many spectators in
attendance.
At the end of the day the club members
donated two huge boxes full of toys and
$746 in cash to the Marines. The Marines
provided the club with a nice plaque that
will be presented to the county from whom
the club leases its flying site so that it can be
displayed.
Marines at the Toys for Tots got some stick
time.
The Randolph Air Force Base Airshow, a
biannual event, was again supported by the
Tri City Flyers (TCF). A static display
included 61 aircraft ranging from 40%
International Miniature Aerobatics Club
(IMAC) airplanes to indoor electric
helicopters and airplanes.
Flying at show center was extended both
days this year because low ceilings and
showers inhibited full-scale flying.
Scheduled for only two hours combined for
both days, the club flew three different
sessions, totaling almost four hours.
When the show was supposed to open on
Sunday, the air boss called and asked TCF
to come back to show center and give the
crowd something to watch. They flew for an
hour and a half until the weather lifted for
full scale-flying.
Greg Ermatinger, the Air Boss for
models, kept the sky full of airplanes. Andy
“The Lip” Clapp used the Airshow PA to
entertain between 8,000 and 10,000
spectators.
As the pilots and airplanes were
chauffeured back to the hangar, the crowd
gave them a huge round of applause.
Indoor flying was nearly continuous in the
hangar and the two simulators got quite a
work out as well.
Thanks to three local hobby shops,
drawing prizes were awarded to people who
completed contact sheets at the display.
Hundreds of contacts were provided to
AMA for potential new members.
What a great show!
Some of the static aircraft at the show.
The pilots who flew at Show Center. On the
bottom row are “Air Boss” Greg (L) and
“The Lip” Andy.
The Acadian R/C Club (ARCC) of
Maurice, Louisiana, has been around for 45
years and runs many fund-raising events. In
fact, club members donated more than
$5,200 to Saint Jude Children’s Hospital last
year.
This year’s Big Bird was nearly rained
out but still attracted 34 pilots. Kenny Verret
received the Making a Difference (MAD)
award from Pete Boudreaux, the associate
vice president in Louisiana.
ARCC president Jerry Walters (R) said that
Kenny volunteers for everything and is
always on hand.
Have fun and fly safely. See you on the
flightline.
District VIII
Jim Rice, District VIII Vice President; [email protected]
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
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
Pete Boudreaux, Franklin LA;
(337) 836-5478
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
Randy Ritch, Magnolia TX;
(281) 701-3121
Doug Staines, Belton TX;
(254) 780-3512
Ron Stanfield, Maumelle AR;
(501) 851-1697
Pat Willcox, Kingwood TX;
(281) 358-1750
Frequency Coordinator
Gene Kent, Tomball TX;
(281) 255-4805
Safety Coordinator
David Oates , Texarkana TX;
(903) 826-7919; davidoates@
sherrodservices.com
AMA Display Coordinator
David Johns, Deer Park TX;
(281) 476-4820
RC Contest Coordinator
Douglas E. Powell, Wichita Falls
TX; (940) 691-8348;
[email protected]
CL/FF Contest Coordinator
Bill Lee, Chandler TX;
(903) 852-5599; [email protected]
District VIII Volunteers
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Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/02
Page Numbers: 160
