July 2009 153
THE WEAK SIGNALS R/C Expo in
Toledo, Ohio, was a huge success again
this year. This event is the “big daddy,”
and if you have not been there before,
make sure you mark it on your calendar for
next year.
The show offers great displays, flying
demonstrations, tasty food, and multitudes
of vendors showing off the latest in RC
airplanes and equipment makes this a
must-see event.
Nebraska Cornhuskers and Iowa Hawkeyes
stop by the AMA booth in Toledo.
This B-36 was just one of a multitude of
aircraft on static display.
Jefco Aeromod’lers, one of the largest
clubs in the Denver area, holds a premier
event every February. It is a two-day auction
that is one of the largest of its kind in the
country. Thousands of items are up for bid
and the turnout is always spectacular.
Jefco strives for continuous improvement
in conducting this event and it shows. The
rapid-fire auctioneers keep the audience
enthused and the atmosphere is constantly
lively to say the least.
Steve
Mangles, the
frequency
coordinator for
District IX, runs
the show and
has had great
success in
promoting
volunteerism. If
there are
problems
behind the
scenes, it
doesn’t show.
Attendees
flock from a
wide area. This
year the
attendee who
had to travel the
greatest distance
was Wichai Laksanakorn from Thailand. He
has attended the auction for the last 10 years.
Wichai admits that although the auction is an
annual highlight for him, he has problems
getting his purchases back home!
This fundraiser for Jefco Aeromod’lers is
a pattern for professionalism and all who
help put it together are to be congratulated.
Wichai Laksanakorn made the long trip from
Thailand to attend the auction again this
year.
Auction items were well displayed in large
convention hall.
Now that the flying season is in full swing,
make sure you keep that sunscreen on to
keep the cancer off!
Club Corner: Make a conscious effort to
create a comfortable atmosphere at your
club meetings. Coffee and snacks are a
welcome addition before the meeting starts.
Chatting is always facilitated by a good
supply of drinks and donuts dripping with
those dreaded calories!
It’s amazing how many times I hear
about club meetings where the audience can
not hear! After all, we are generally a group
of older folks, I am sorry to say. Encourage
speakers to “speak up” or invest in a simple
PA system if you can.
Encourage visitors and make them feel
welcome. Ask them how they learned about
the club and invite them to visit the flying
field and get a free ride on a buddy box.
Take some “straw votes” at the meeting
on potential issues with the club to make
members feel included in the decisionmaking
processes. By the way, having a
swap table is always a hit.
Ideas go on and on. Let me know what
your club does and we can share some
thoughts.
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
Lowell Dean Hamilton
January 8, 1929—March 8, 2009
I am sorry to report that one
of the pioneers in our sport has
left us. Lowell Hamilton passed
away peacefully Sunday, March
8, 2009, at Rapid City Regional
Hospital Hospice House with
Adeline, his loving wife of 60
years, at his side.
Lowell founded the Rapid
City Propbusters along with a
couple of his fellow fliers more
than 50 years ago. He was a CL
pilot when the club was first
started, but soon spread his
wings to all areas of RC. He will
be missed and never forgotten.
Lowell (R) chatting with buddies
Doc McGuigan (L) and Burt Payne
on a cheerful August evening at the
field.
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Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/07
Page Numbers: 153