District VIII - 2011/04

April 2011 153
THE 2011 AMA EXPO in January was a
success. Attendance appeared to me to be
about the same as it has been the past four
years, and the enthusiasm of the youngsters
in the make-and-take area was incredible
and the guest speakers were excellent.
The round-table discussion with the FAA
that you read about in last month’s issue of
MA was a result of our two-plus days of
intense discussion between the FAA
representatives and Rich Hanson’s work
group. I was pleased to see the level of
interest and the number of attendees at the
Expo who attended the session.
While the future is still unclear, I am
more confident after that extensive period of
interface that we will come to a workable
resolution for modeling within the new
world defined by the FAA regulation. Make
sure you keep apprised of the status of our
work and any action that may be necessary
on your part to assist in its conclusion.
There has been another district VIII officer
change! Pete Boudreaux, our Louisiana
associate vice president (AVP), asked me to
find a replacement so he could stay closer to
home. I don’t want to go into details but
family issues take precedence over volunteer
work.
I thank Pete for his friendship and salute
his service. He is a master modeler, avid
enthusiast, and staunch supporter of our
hobby and our association. As he steps
down, a new volunteer has stepped up with
superb credentials and serious motivation.
Jon Martin is our new AVP for Louisiana.
Jon Martin has been modeling for more
than 40 years, starting with CL at age seven
and moving into RC at age 15. He builds
and flies almost everything and has a special
interest in Pattern, helicopters, turbines and
large-scale aircraft. He is president of the
Rice Area Modeling Society (RAMS) where
he is CD of a couple of events a year and
hosts fun-flys of various genre.
For full-time work, Jon flies a Gulfstream
business jet … tough life for sure!
Thank both of these guys if you happen
to run across them in your modeling travels!
Valero Oil in San Antonio, Texas, invited
indoor fliers to another great event. This
time it was Flight to the North Pole, a great
day of enjoying the Christmas holiday with
children in the area undergoing cancer
treatment.
The company brought in nearly 80
children and their families and gave them a
taxi ride around the airport in a Continental
Airlines 737. When they arrived at the Valero
hangar, they were greeted with applause and
indoor modeling followed by a trip to see
Santa and Mrs. Claus, food, and games.
Above: The kids
called for Santa
and he got out of
a Gulfstream that
was in the hangar.
Right: Santa and a
biplane!
Santa had his hands full with this large group
of youngsters. Good thing there was pizza
for them!
What a wonderful day of smiles for the
children and families and for participating
members of the Texas RC Indoor Club
(TRIC) Rick Doucette, Fred Stutz, Andy
Clapp, Terry Ullman, Kinley Rice, Steve
Koelle, Jack Matlock, and me.
Fred and Rick entertain some of the children
while other TRIC members watch.
Have fun and fly safely. See you on the
flightline!
District VIII
Jim Rice, District VIII Vice President; [email protected]
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Jim Rice
Vice President
4810 El Gusto San
Antonio TX 78233
Tel.: (210) 213-0299
www.AMA-Dist-8.org
Associate Vice
Presidents
Jack Hogan, Chandler TX;
(903) 849-4193 (Evenings)
Bill Holland, Edmond OK;
(405) 562-1327
Mark S. Johnston, Albuquerque
NM; (505) 823-0158
Jim D. Marshall, Alton TX; (956)
984-9474
Jon Martin, Rayne LA; (337) 783-
2759
Jack Matlock, Live Oak TX;
(210) 413-4846
Randy Ritch, Magnolia TX;
(281) 701-3121
Doug Staines, Belton TX;
(254) 780-3512
Ron Stanfield, Maumelle AR;
(501) 851-1697
Cliff Town, Dumas TX; (806)
935-3063; town_cliff@hot
mail.com
Pat Willcox, Kingwood TX;
(281) 358-1750
Frequency Coordinator
Gene Kent, Tomball TX;
(281) 255-4805
Safety Coordinator
David Oates, Texarkana TX;
(903) 826-7919; davidoates@
sherrodservices.com
AMA Display Coordinator
David Johns, Deer Park TX;
(281) 476-4820
RC Contest Coordinator
Douglas E. Powell, Wichita Falls
TX; (940) 691-8348;
[email protected]
CL/FF Contest Coordinator
Bill Lee, Chandler TX;
(903) 852-5599; [email protected]
District VIII Volunteers