District VII - 2010/12

RECOGNITION and appreciation
sometimes go by the wayside. In this
month’s column, I will attempt to show that
doesn’t happen in District VII.
Roughly 10 years ago, when I became
your district vice president (VP), I set out to
make sure that our district was covered in
case a problem arose, and that an AMA
representative would be available to offer
assistance. I asked for volunteers to be
associate vice presidents (AVPs). Three
individuals stepped forward: Tom Pierce,
Larry Brannan, and Ed Bucki.
Larry and Ed have since found it time to
look into other venues and retired from the
position. Tom has elected to stay on.
It has been my honor and distinct
pleasure to present all three with the AMA
Distinguished Service award for their
unselfish participation in promoting the
AMA and aeromodeling. I’m confident that
all who have known them will wish them
well in their new pursuits.
Tom Pierce (L) accepting the AMA
Distinguish Service Award from VP Bill
Oberdieck.
(L-R) Mark Schmaltz, Kent Radio
Aeromodelers president; Larry Brannan,
retiring AVP; and District VII VP Bill
Oberdieck.
(L-R) District VII VP Bill Oberdieck and
retiring AVP Ed Bucki.
I also had the honor of presenting the
AMA Fellow Award to Mike Gretz, an
unsuspecting individual who, over the
years, has accomplished himself as a
modeler, award-winning pilot, and a
person who is always involved in helping
others and promoting aeromodeling
without making a big fuss. He just does
what he thinks has to be done. EAA’s
KidVenture is just one such event.
Labor Day weekend gave me an
opportunity to present the award at a major
event: the Antique Aircraft Association’s
annual meeting in Blakesburg, Iowa. It was
also an opportunity to introduce Kent
Woods and Lloyd Swanson, the two
newest Iowa AVPs.
There isn’t enough space in this column
for all the accolades that could be given to
Larry, Ed, Tom, and Mike, but hopefully
the awards will show the recognition and
appreciation that this VP and the members
of District VII have for them.
Photos by Kent Woods, Lloyd
Swanson, and Bill Oberdieck.
(L-R) Kent Woods, AVP; VP Bill Oberdieck;
Mike Gretz; Bob Taylor, founder of the
Antique Aircraft Association museum; and
AVP Lloyd Swanson.
I would like to wish everyone a happy
holiday season and a healthy, prosperous
New Year.
As always, get youngsters involved;
aeromodeling will be our legacy to them.
C.A.V.U.
District VII
Bill Oberdieck, District VII Vice President; [email protected]
Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Bill Oberdieck
Vice President
Box 1076
Southgate MI 48195
Tel.: (734) 283-4813
Fax: (734) 283-0650
www.amadistrictvii.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Lee D. Frederickson,
Ada MI; [email protected]
Bud Gorman, Knife River MN;
[email protected]
Don Held, Elmira MI;
(231) 584-2662; [email protected]
Ed Kincer, Fenton MI; (810) 610-
7791; [email protected]
Tom Pierce, St. Clair MI; (810)
367-6450; tom_pierce_48079@
yahoo.com
Mark E. Robotti, Lindstrom MN;
[email protected]
Tom Ryan, Greenfield WI;
(414) 881-0070; tomcat@
execpc.com
Lloyd Swanson; Cedar Rapids IA;
(319) 373-0947; [email protected]
Kent Woods, Ames IA ; (515)
232-8180; [email protected]
Frequency Coordinators
West: Al Schwartz, Roseville
MN; (651) 633-2286
East: Pete Waters, Northville MI;
(248) 486-4800
Contest Coordinators:
Wayne Yeager, RC (Michigan
only), (517) 260-0132; yogi1931@
comcast.net
Michael Haller, RC (except
Michigan), (920) 923-2460;
[email protected]
Flying Site Coordinator
Tony Stillman, Tony
[email protected]
Webmaster
Ed Kincer, [email protected]
District VII Volunteers
December 2010 175
Visit the National
Model Aviation
Museum
the world’s largest
aeromodeling museum