Executive Vice President - 2011/05

May 2011 139
Executive Vice President
Mark Smith: [email protected]
HI FOLKS! Spring is here and time to get
out and test that new airplane you’ve been
working on all winter!
This month I want to share my
observations of our 2011 Expo in Ontario,
California, and discuss the FAA issue.
As you may know, AMA owns a trade
show in California where we invite vendors
from around the world to show off their
wares. Modelers attend from far and wide.
This is all planned and managed by our
AMA staff.
However, our show is so much more than
this. To start, this is your best opportunity to
meet and talk with your AMA officials. At
the center of the convention floor, our staff
sets up what is termed the “AMA Village,”
as seen below. This is where you can meet
board members, get answers to your
questions, and pay your 2011 dues! We have
a flight simulator and a ton of AMA
literature and magazines—all free!
Around the perimeter of the convention
floor are many static displays of both fullscale
and models. These huge radial engines
were used in The B-29 Superfortress,
Douglass A-1 Skyraider and Lockheed
Constellation.
Full-scale radial engine R-3350.
A wonderful static display.
Now, if all this isn’t enough, our AMA
Marketing staff lined up a number of
outstanding speakers who entertained us for
two days straight. Presenters included Joe
Bock who founded the Aero Telemetry
Corporation, which specializes in the design
and manufacture of Unmanned Air Vehicles
(UAVs) and airborne communication
systems for both military and commercial
aerospace applications; Brad Lang who
spoke about the Commemorative Air Force
Red Tail Project, which is dedicated to
telling the story of the Tuskegee Airmen;
good friend Gary Fogel who is an aviation
historian and has written extensively on the
history of gliding in San Diego; and finally,
Katie Bosman, who won an AMA
scholarship many years ago and went on to
enjoy a successful career in aviation.
AMA’s newest district vice president,
Lawrence Tougas (far left).
Among all the activity on the convention
floor, meetings are going on at the hotel.
Our newest addition to the Executive
Council is District X Vice President
Lawrence Tougas. District X is the largest
district with the most modelers and
Lawrence and his outstanding team of
associate vice presidents is certainly up to
the huge task of leading West Coast
modelers.
I want to share with you a picture of two of
my West Coast flying buds: Phil Goodwine
and Charlie Mitchell. Phil and Charlie are
active members of the largest club in
California, the Pomona Valley Radio
Control club.
Phil and Charlie do an outstanding job
representing this great hobby of ours. Keep
up the super work guys!
Phil Goodwine and Charlie Mitchell of the
Pomona Valley club.
Before I close, I want to underscore how
important it is for you to contact your
elected representatives through the AMA
Web site. It is incumbent upon each of us to
make our voices heard in Washington, DC.
Please see www.modelaircraft.org/gov for
details and to keep up to date on the status of
this pending legislation.
That’s it for this month. Don’t forget to
slather up and keep in touch!
Mark Smith
Executive Vice
President
75 Largo Dr.
Hot Springs Village
AR 71909
Tel.: (913) 568-4347
Help AMA advocate for aeromodelers!
One of the biggest reasons an AMA membership is important for
aeromodelers is the Academy’s strong advocacy and government
relations program.
Stay informed and help AMA defend your right to fly by going
to www.modelaircraft.org/gov where you’ll find background
information and all the latest interaction with such government
agencies as FAA, FCC, EPA, municipal governments, and more.
Do you have a specific question to ask the AMA Adocacy Team? Contact
this group by e-mailing [email protected].
AMA is there for you in the halls of power. Won’t you consider being there for
AMA by continuing your membership and helping add to the collective voice for the
aeromodeling community?
Let your voice be heard. What could be more American?
AMA Government Relations
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