District VIII—Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Mark Johnston Vice President [email protected] 6608 Beck Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 Tel.: (505) 823-0158 www.amadistrict-viii.org
Here it is June already and we are halfway through another year. I have received several requests for specific coverage in the magazine. If anyone wishes to submit content, please send the write-up in MS Word format and pictures separately. The photos should be the original, full-resolution images. Please do not compress or resize them. When I have room in the column after I cover events I have attended, I will include as much as I can. I also ask the associate vice presidents (AVPs) for information about events they have covered.
Doug “Chief” Powell is the district contest coordinator to whom all CDs should send the sanction request forms if you are submitting them manually and not through the automated system. Chief does a great job for the members and our district.
He has been instrumental in getting changes made to the contest sanction application as well as helping me work to change the AMA Membership Manual references to Class C and Class C‑restricted events. In the past two years, the AMA Executive Council (EC) made some changes that needed clarification. With Chief’s help, we were able to clarify the new Class C‑restricted events for groups wishing that distinction for their events.
At the EC meeting in Toledo, Ohio, in April, we approved the Flying Site Grant committee’s recommendations. Again this year, I get to reward clubs that applied and were selected. Each year, AMA awards a total of $40,000 to clubs.
I was also honored to present Eric Gilkey a scholarship at the annual Toledo Weak Signals event. This was one of my duties as the EC liaison for the scholarship committee. It is a tremendous honor to be involved in awarding the AMA’s two largest scholarships. Eric received a Charles H. Grant scholarship and the Weak Signals scholarship.
Bill Holland, AVP in Oklahoma, attended the OKC R/C Flyers annual spring swap meet on March 22 at Highpointe Church in Oklahoma City. This long-standing event is always well attended. Last year the OKC R/C Flyers took over the event, bringing new ideas and energy. Event directors Charles Trice and Rick Lovick did a great job. This year posed a challenge for the team because of last-minute maintenance issues in the gymnasium where it is usually held, but it didn’t slow them down. They used the main church area, which provided numerous classrooms and a dining area. The turnout was great—several hundred attended, driving from Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma. This year they incorporated an auction near the noon hour. Charles is reaching out to other clubs who wish to join their effort to make the event even larger next year.
Bill Lee, our District VIII CL contest coordinator, attended the “NOT” Presidents Day Contest in Dallas in February. A break in this year’s tough winter weather allowed us to venture outside our warm, cozy cabins and enjoy a “Hap, Hap, Happy” contest. Sport flying was enjoyed by many throughout the contest, and a demonstration displaying the new Dallas Model Aircraft Association (DMAA) Sport Goodyear was held after Saturday’s CL stunt flying. Participants came from Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wichita Falls, TX, and Sulphur Springs, TX. Thanks to all who came and made it a wonderful event. Dale Gleason was the contest director (CD).
Results
- OTS:
- Don Cranfill, 309.5
- Mike Scott, 305.5
- Joe Gilbert, 296
- Mike Greb, 276.5
- Dave Ek, 274.5
- Doc Holiday, 206.5
- Profile:
- Joe Bowman, 566.5
- Don Cranfill, 519
- Don Hutchinson, 405.5
- Dave Ek, 400
- Steve Wolfe, 375.5
- Tom Hamblet, 267
- Classic:
- Joe Gilbert, 567
- Joe Bowman, 559
- Don Cranfill, 550.5
- Bob Redmon, 492.5
- Don Hutchinson, 468
- Stephen Jeansonne, 420.5
- Judges: Bill Lee, Tom Hamblet, Stephen Jeansonne, Dale Gleason
- Tabulators: Sheila Cranfill, Priscilla Scott
- Runners: Nan Beavers, Mike Scott, Phil Dunlap, Don Cranfill
- Pull test: Dale Gleason
- Appearance Judge: Tom Hamblet
The DMAA Sportsmanship/Service Award went to Don and Sheila Cranfill.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
