District VII - 2012/02

February 2012 167
THIS IS my last column. The membership
has selected Tim Jesky to be the new vice
president for District VII. Am I
disappointed? I would be untruthful if I said
no, but “c’est la vie.”
To those who supported and voted for
me, I cannot express deeply enough my
gratitude.
It was a distinct pleasure to serve AMA
and District VII for the past three terms. I did
what you asked of me regarding helping with
acquiring flying fields, helping you keep
flying sites that you had, and helping clubs
obtain grants and funds for programs.
I promoted your club activities and
attended them when time allowed. I
represented you all at the council meetings.
The past three terms have been a learning
experience for me. I got to see how the AMA
functions and learn about programs the
organization offers to enrich our hobby and
increase our enjoyment of the sport. To say it
has been educational would be an
understatement.
I met hundreds of people whom I
probably would never have had the
opportunity to know. I’ve made many friends
along the way and had the pleasure of
working with some intelligent, hard-working
staff and council members on various issues.
I’ve had some great experiences and will
cherish the memories.
I am proud to have been a part of the
Academy and what it stands for and how it
represents the aeromodeling hobby I have
enjoyed. Some of the events I attended come
to mind.
I saw the dedication of the new AMA
Headquarters, the Gathering of Eagles
celebration, and the recent 75th Anniversary
of the AMA. All were spectacular.
I am proud that I spent so much time in a
position to recognize members for their
contributions to our hobby, and again, I
appreciate the help and support I received
from members in our district and the
associate vice presidents who have worked
so tirelessly on your behalf. Thank you all.
There are people on the staff and the
council whom I will miss. I will also miss the
looks on the faces of youngsters and their
parents when flying an RC airplane for the
first time and the excitement of a
quadriplegic veteran who solos for the first
time. Priceless.
During these turbulent times, I hope the
Academy will continue to go forward and the
aeromodeling hobby will flourish and
become bigger and stronger.
To all the staff in Muncie and the
members of the Executive Council and the
membership of AMA District VII, I wish you
all a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012.
C.A.V.U. and vaya con dios.
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
District VII
12February_11amanews.qxd 12/19/2011 11:35 AM Page 167