District VIII - 2012/09

Jack Matlock and I helped with
Camp AMA in June. While we
were supposed to be instructors, it
soon became apparent that some of
the students were or wanted to be
instructors, and most wanted to spend
time with the younger and betterknown
RJ Gritter and Nick Maxwell.
We were helpful with those needing
some dual instruction for the first
day and a half, but then discovered
our niche was to be the maintenance
and support team with words of
encouragement and open tool boxes.
We left Muncie with a great
appreciation of the future of model
aviation in the hands of these 17
youngsters and others like them across
the country. You should know we felt
honored and privileged to be a part
of this effort. Kudos to the Education
department and the rest of the staff.
Two campers were sponsored by
local clubs. What a great idea and
challenge to other clubs throughout
the country. Look into the
requirements, dates, and club treasury
and see if your club can do the same.
On the way home we stopped in Hot
Springs Village, Arkansas, and spent
the night with Mark and Ruth Smith.
What great hosts they were, and we
enjoyed our visit. We took them to
supper on Friday, then attended the
Central Arkansas Model Aviation
Association airshow in Benton,
Arkansas, on Saturday.
It was all a ploy to get Mark in
front of modelers so I could present
believe we all kept it a secret so that he
was surprised by the presentation.
Mark now holds the highest
membership level in the Academy and
it comes with a Life membership as
well. He served us proudly for eight
years as a district vice president (VP),
executive vice president (EVP), and
interim president. I was proud to hand
him the award and thank him in front
The airshow was a great event with
approximately 40 pilots, and Ron
Stanfield, associate vice president
(AVP) for Arkansas, served as CD.
Not only does he serve as one of
my AVPs, he also serves as CD at
numerous events for several clubs. I
presented him a District Service Award
for his years of service to modelers in
Arkansas .
Bob Richardson, club president,
was also in attendance. He has been
president of the Central Arkansas
Model Aviators Association (CAMAA)
for 10 years and was instrumental in
obtaining the use of the old Benton
airport for this airshow. The club has
use of the facility for the foreseeable
future but will likely lose it someday
when the property is needed for
development. Fortunately, the club
has another nice field roughly 15 miles
away.
Make plans to come to Kingsbury,
Texas, September 29 and 30 for the
District VIII Celebration of Flight
and the 12th J.H. Rice Memorial Fly
In. Open to all aircraft including CL,
the event will include a membership
meeting and a barbecue on Saturday
night prepared by Ritch’s Raiders,
which is Dickie Ritch’s award-winning
barbecue team.
Both candidates to replace me
as District VIII VP plan to be in
attendance, as well as AMA president
Bob Brown and some AMA staff. It’s
always a great event, and you will enjoy
it!
Don’t forget to vote in the AMA
election. Let your opinion be heard.