District III - 2006/05
Bob Brown, District III Vice President; [email protected]
Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
The contest season is about to begin for most of us. If your club is planning an event, please make sure your AMA sanction has been obtained. The publicity the sanction provides will certainly make your efforts worthwhile.
Our new associate vice president (AVP), Randy Adams, attended the January Executive Council (EC) meeting. Randy submitted his views as to the happenings. The following is Randy’s report.
"I had the distinct pleasure of attending the January 2006 EC meeting at the AMA Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana. This was the first time I was able to make the meetings as an AVP, so I was not sure what lay before me.
"The EC is made up of the elected officials, and I guess the best analogy that I can think of is it’s the executive, legislative, and judicial form of governing body. The meeting started at 8 a.m. and ran with few interruptions through 7:30 p.m. There was also a half-day session on Sunday.
"The president, Dave Brown, of course, chairs the meeting. I was very impressed with the comprehensive agenda and the systematic procedure they go through. As I sat through the meeting, my thoughts were various, but the one thing that struck me was the scope of the AMA and how the EC tries to address each and every concern of the modeling community. Decisions are based on what is best for the whole rather than a district.
"Several topics were addressed that are outside the scope of this column, but I can tell you that each topic was addressed and thoroughly covered by the EC and others from AMA Headquarters. The attendees from Headquarters, who are normally there during regular business hours, stayed throughout the day as well and shared equal enthusiasm.
"I have been an AMA member for well over 20 years. I’ve heard all the complaints, concerns, and armchair quarterbacking directed at the EC. I can tell you this without contradiction; anyone who feels the EC has a particular agenda, Special Interest Group, or cause in mind is sadly mistaken. From my viewpoint and nearly 12 hours of session, these folks have the body in mind, not one limb.
"I was particularly impressed with each district vice president (VP) and his approach to the proceedings. I think all of us have sat in on club meetings and board meetings where discussions led to arguments, shouting, etc. That didn’t happen once in my presence. The meeting was professionally run, objections were raised, and each person was given his or her say.
"Regardless of what you may think of our elected officials at AMA, you can bet that what they go through for the membership is huge compared to their compensation. Many of us would have quit if this were our full-time job. If you think of it, drop your district VP a thank-you once in a while; they do more right than what they are given credit for."
Many of our AMA Show Teams bring a great deal of joy to numerous people. The efforts needed to create a show team require a great deal of dedication. Unfortunately, one of our district’s most dedicated show-team members has flown his final flight. Jim Hubbard of Findlay, Ohio, was the driving force behind the Spirit of America Show Team. The Academy expresses its sympathy to Jim’s wife Ruth and the Hubbard family.
Each year we remind you of the AMA Leader Club Program. Participation in this program provides the basic necessities for a successful club. Additional information is available at www.modelaircraft.org/PDF-files/708.pdf.
This month we highlight the activities of northeast Pennsylvania’s Black Sheep Squadron. This AMA Gold Leader Club exhibits many positive activities during the year. One of these, the annual autumn Soup and Fly picnic, features many culinary delights prepared by club members and families. It also included the maiden voyage of some new aircraft. Thanks to Steve Kurimchak for the following pictures which illustrate some of the Black Sheep activities.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
