District IV has spoken! You want the district to better serve you. That was my promise and I thank you for your confidence and votes. Let us extend our thanks to Hank Mausolf for serving the district as an associate vice president (AVP) and the interim vice president.
In traveling around the district, I find great fields like the RC Soaring Club at Horse Feathers Field in Midland, Virginia. A frequent complaint is, “This is the first time anyone from AMA has ever come to our field.” Members want to know what’s going on in the district and with the AMA.
I will begin by appointing and training seven more AVPs, doubling the number of AMA representatives, making them more accessible.
Let me introduce our new AVPs. Rusty Kennedy of Newport News, Virginia is also the AMA National Leader Member Program Coordinator. Mark Smith in Salisbury, North Carolina, is a former International Miniature Aircraft Association director.
Terry Terrenoire in Locust Grove, Virginia, was an AVP in District II before moving to Virginia. Also new to the roster are Mark Weiss in Wilmington, Deleware, and David Trogdon near Fayettville, North Carolina. Bob Sowder in Troutville, Virginia, will be our Free Flight (FF) AVP and John Tate in Portsmouth, Virginia, will be our Control Line (CL) AVP and continue as our CL/FF Contest Coordinator.
They will all be assets to the district in addition to our current AVPs.
Better communication is the answer to keeping everyone current with what’s going on in the district and AMA. This takes time to develop. Instead of a single webmaster, I would like to form a six-member committee of six members who are experienced at developing and maintaining websites for clubs or other groups. Email with if you qualify and would like to be part of this team.
Did you know that roughly a third of the district members don’t have Internet access? Make it a habit for the club secretary to print a copy of the District IV news and post it at the flying field. Keep others up to date. I will do my best to keep you informed of the progress we are making and the changes if you share the information.
Please keep sending me your club newsletters. You will soon be able to post your club’s newsletter on the new district website.
AVP Mark Weiss sent the following:
When the words “Joe Nall” are mentioned, you immediately think of fantastic RC aircraft. Three years ago that changed when three world-class CL circles were added.
With three years under our belts running these circles, the results and the reception of CL have been terrific. We have had more than 1,350 new-student flights. Many of the RC fliers have had their hands on the handles including Mac Hodges and Indy car driver Juan Pablo Montoya.
The electric-powered trainers use timers to limit the flight times and speeds. Airplanes, batteries, chargers, speed controls, timers, and other things were needed and District IV, AMA Headquarters, and many businesses have contributed products to the cause including Stevens Aero, ThunderpowerRC, Horizon Hobby, Bob Smith Industries, Will Hubin, Castle Creations, Hitec RC, Sullivan Products, APC Props, Brodak Manufacturing, and others.
Each year, we select a few promising young talents and provide them with products and support. In 2013, we chose Alex West, a young and talented modeler. This year, he came back with his Pathfinder and soloed.
Plan to come to the Joe Nall event and make sure you visit Fun Central, the CL circles at the Triple Tree Aerodrome and take a spin or too. It just does not get any better!
Thank you to Mark and all the people who help make this an outstanding event.
Go fly and have fun safely.[dingbat]
Photo 1Participants.jpg:
It does not get any better than this. This group of boys was brought to the Nall and every one of them had their own flights in the circle.
Photo 2Alex West.jpg:
Last year’s star was Alex West. This year he returned with his Brodak-provided Pathfinder. That’s his dad on his right.
Photo 3Winners.jpg:
Wayne Robinson and Mark Davidson with his two sons, who both soloed and earned Most Promising awards, with CD Mark Weiss. Photo by Will Davis.
Photo 4RC jet pilots.jpg:
From Germany came a group of world championship RC jet pilots who flew during the half-time shows. They had fun with us and came down several times to fly CL. Come join us next year.
