AMA News: District X-2013/02

The AMA’s annual elections have
concluded. Congratulations to Mark
Radcliff, District III vice president
(VP), and Eric Williams, District II VP.
They stepped up when Bob Brown and
Gary Fitch left their district positions
to assume national offices. Now, Mark
and Eric have the endorsement of
their members, which is no surprise to
anyone who knows either of them.
Bliss Teague, our District IV VP, will
continue to serve with distinction.
I look forward to working with our
newest Executive Council members,
Randy Cameron in District VI, and
Mark Johnston in District VIII. Our
organization always benefits from fresh
faces and new ideas.
I want to thank all of the District X
members who cast their votes for me.
It’s been a long journey from the day
in 2009 when I decided to run for
office. It has taken me through the
2009 election that was decided by a
34-vote margin, to our 2010 special
election that installed me as your vice
president. The first two years have
been a joy and I look forward to the
next three.
One of the most active Arizona RC
clubs is the Arizona Model Pilots
Society (AMPS). It has worked hard
to earn the AMA’s Silver Leader Club
award. The AMPS club was presented
the award by Roger Willis, our District
X associate vice president (AVP) for
Northern Arizona.
President Jim Mohan accepted the
award on behalf of the members who
The AMA’s annual elections have concluded. Congratulations to Mark Radcliff, District III vice president (VP), and Eric Williams, District II VP. They stepped up when Bob Brown and Gary Fitch left their district positions to assume national offices. Now, Mark and Eric have the endorsement of their members, which is no surprise to anyone who knows either of them. Bliss Teague, our District IV VP, will continue to serve with distinction. I look forward to working with our newest Executive Council members, Randy Cameron in District VI, and Mark Johnston in District VIII. Our organization always benefits from fresh faces and new ideas. I want to thank all of the District X members who cast their votes for me. It’s been a long journey from the day in 2009 when I decided to run for office. It has taken me through the 2009 election that was decided by a 34-vote margin, to our 2010 special election that installed me as your vice president. The first two years have been a joy and I look forward to the next three.One of the most active Arizona RC clubs is the Arizona Model Pilots Society (AMPS). It has worked hard to earn the AMA’s Silver Leader Club award. The AMPS club was presented the award by Roger Willis, our District X associate vice president (AVP) for Northern Arizona.President Jim Mohan accepted the award on behalf of the members who each received a Silver Leader Club pin to designate the achievements.Jim Mohan, AMPS president, receives his Silver Leader Club Pin from Roger Willis.The AMPS was formed in 1980 by a group of Arizona Power Service employees and was initially sponsored by the company. Through a lot of hard work and some help from former Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, the AMPS flying site was developed and has been up and running for many years.If your club has not started the Leader Club process, I can’t encourage you strongly enough to do so. The Leader Club program encourages groups to conduct themselves with the best practices that the AMA has determined will help integrate your club into your community. Don’t delay, act today. Information and the application are on the AMA’s website. Rick Maida, District X AVP, and his wife, Merriam, sent a story and pictures from the 2012 Lake McSwain Float Fly. The event was held September 21-23, 2012, in Snelling, California.Gary Wolz and the Turlock club offered three days of flying and a barbecue dinner for all on Saturday evening. The cooks were Dwight Cathcart and his boys. Dwight used to do all the cooking back in the days of the big Crows Landing International Miniature Aircraft Association fly-in.The weather was slightly hot but made for pleasant evenings. This year, the rangers and the Turlock club worked things out so that night flying was possible—pretty cool. Denny Baker happened to have his Sig Rascal on floats with a whole bunch of lights, and yours truly got the stick honors.The pilot count was up from last year. The gang from Ventura came up for its ninth year in a row. They went back with a bunch of raffle prizes. The raffle was a big success.I can’t wait for next year’s event.IMAA District X Director Ken Shapiro with his Cub on floats. Don Coulter with his Kellett Auto Gyro on floats.If you’re reading this and asking yourself, “Why don’t they ever show … in the District X column?” my response is to send in a write-up and pictures and you’ll likely see it before you know it. If you have any questions about submissions, please drop me a line.Until next month, I wish you nothing but happy landings.