District VIII Report - 2009/12

156 MODEL AVIATION
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to everyone! I
complete my first term in office with this
issue of MA and can truly say it has been
an experience like no other in my life.
I have made hundreds of new friends,
traveled to places I had never seen before,
and have been involved in discussions or
actions I never dreamed I would face.
In all, I have enjoyed the time and look
forward to many more exhilarating and
interesting experiences as I continue to
serve our organization as a volunteer.
On the subject of volunteers, four of them
in New Mexico helped AMA’s Ben Flesher
and me as we staffed the New Mexico
Municipal League of Cities booth in
Albuquerque in September.
Associate Vice President (AVP) Mark
Johnston, Carlos Reyes, Pat Tritle, and Ken
Morris talked with city managers, council
members, mayors, and even law
enforcement officials about the advantages
of having an AMA club field in their city,
encouraging them to open their doors when
approached by modelers and clubs.
We were a big attraction at the
convention and these guys really helped
with the process. Of course, all received
Making a Difference (MAD) award
certificates for their efforts.
While writing about New Mexico, let me
announce the state’s new Safety
Coordinator. Brian Regan is the one and he
is already hard at work, helping Mark
Johnston with modeling activities in the
state.
An avid builder who prefers kits to
ARFs, Brian has been a club safety officer
for several years.
Brian Regan is our New Mexico state safety
coordinator.
Oklahoma has a state safety coordinator as
well. Steve Keesey is on board with AVP
Les Barry. Steve is a Scale modeler and CD
and has been a club safety officer for more
than seven years. His real job is with the
FAA as its FAASTeam [FAA Safety Team]
program manager.
Steve Keesey is the new Oklahoma safety
coordinator.
Jack Matlock, Andy Clapp, Shorty, and I
traveled to Monaville, Texas, for the 21st
annual B-17 Gathering and Scale Big Bird
event. Nick Stratos did another outstanding
job as CD, with nearly 200 registered
pilots and more than 400 airplanes.
BB Weber added more scenery to the
field as well as clearing out trees and
making the field better than ever.
What a great event! You have to attend
if you are remotely in the area in the
future!
Lonnie Wetzel with his 60% Cub joined by
BB and Lady Liberty.
We trekked to Austin, Texas, to the Hill
Country Aeromodelers the same weekend
for their first Electric Fly-In, which was
organized and run by George Parks.
Roughly 60 pilots, bearing everything
from indoor electrics to Giant Scale
models, had a great time.
The biggest problem was parking the
hundreds of spectators who attended the
event. What a great problem to have!
The field was in excellent shape and the
hospitality was also great. Several
seminars throughout the day kept modelers
and spectators up-to-date on many topics.
Hope it is an annual event and see you next
year!
George Parks gets a MAD award for
putting on a great show.
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
118 E. Wright Blvd.,
Universal City TX 78148
Tel.: (210) 213-0299
(evenings)
www.AMA-Dist-8.org
Associate Vice Presidents
Lester L. Barry, Bethany OK;
(405) 789-5373
Pete Boudreaux, Franklin LA;
(337) 836-5478
Jack Hogan, Chandler TX;
(903) 849-4193 (Evenings)
Mark S. Johnston, Albuquerque
NM; (505) 823-0158
Jim D. Marshall, Mission TX;
(956) 585-6446
Douglas E. Powell, Wichita Falls
TX; (940) 691-8348
Randy Ritch, Magnolia TX;
(281) 701-3121
Doug Staines, Belton TX;
(254) 780-3512
Ron Stanfield, Maumelle AR;
(501) 851-1697
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
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