District X Report - 2010/06
As your District X vice president, I believe it is part of my job to get to know our district, our clubs, and our members as best I possibly can. Because of that — and at the request of members and clubs — I decided to take my first official trip through parts of the district. This article is about that first trip. As I traveled, I learned it was even more important to the membership than I originally thought.
I have traveled to many clubs and attended many events over the years, as many of you know, but even with all that travel we have more than 400 clubs in our district, and I have many more to get to know.
Trip overview
I left my home on March 10, 2010, and spent a couple of days in Central California attending one event, then a week in Las Vegas and another week in Los Angeles/San Diego. In all, I visited about 20 clubs and attended the RCX Show in Pomona, California.
Although I put more than 2,000 miles on my motor home, it was worth it. I got to hear firsthand what was important to a lot of our AMA members.
I don’t have room here to elaborate on all the clubs I visited or write about many of the members I met, but I can share a bit about the experience.
Travel and flying
I wanted to go as a pilot. Although I usually travel with an airplane trailer full of airplanes, I decided it would be easier to take all smaller electrics, so I took eight models.
As I traveled, I flew at some of the clubs—some more than others. I spent the first day in Los Angeles flying with the Santa Fe Dam Modelers. It was a welcome, relaxing day after a long week in Las Vegas.
I also got to fly several airplanes offered by various members, especially good friend Jim Feldman. Thanks, Jim!
AVPs and local support
To be a smart traveler, I took advantage of a few of our hard-working associate vice presidents (AVPs) and asked them which clubs I should visit in their areas.
- Greg Clemensen (Las Vegas): scheduled visits to eight clubs; despite weather disruptions I visited every club he had planned.
- Jerry Neuberger (San Diego): took me to every club in the San Diego area from Torrey Pines to Chula Vista, right on the Mexican border. I was surprised when he said, “You know that’s Tijuana right there, don’t you?” To be honest, I had no idea. I knew it was AVP Tim Attaway’s home field but just never thought of it being that close to Mexico.
- Bill Malvey (Los Angeles): I met Bill at a glider event where he was flying; the following day he took me to several clubs in the Los Angeles area.
- Jon Wilson (AVP/webmaster): Jon and I are making a number of updates to the district web site.
Newsletter and next steps
A better description of the trip will be in your District X newsletter coming out May 1. Please e-mail me or go to the district web site at www.AMA10.org. You can find the newsletter and lots of other changes to the web site that Jon Wilson and I are making.
I will be meeting members in other parts of our district as soon as I can, as I know it is important to you, the membership.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
