Flying Site Assistance
Tony Stillman | [email protected]
Coordinator
Tony Stillman Flying Site Assistance Coordinator
102 Cherrywood Ct. Brunswick, GA 31525 (912) 242-2407 [email protected]
Overview
Hello, everyone! I am Tony Stillman and I’m AMA’s new Flying Site Assistance Coordinator (FSAC). You may recognize me as the former AMA District V vice president. I served in that role from 2004 until I assumed this new position on June 1, 2010.
Because AMA bylaws do not allow a paid AMA employee to serve as a member of the Executive Council (EC), I resigned my VP position when I accepted this contract role. My prior service with the EC gives me a clear understanding of what the EC expects from the FSAC.
My wife, Genie, will be vital to my success. She has many years of experience in office management and will help me stay organized.
Program background
I want to thank former FSACs Joe Beshar and Wes De Cou for their many years of service to AMA and its members. I will build on their work to move the program forward.
One notable success from Joe Beshar’s tenure was negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That agreement calls for the EPA to notify AMA HQ when a Superfund site is nearing completion, so AMA can work with local modelers and clubs to retain the site as a model flying field. This program has resulted in several flying sites that otherwise would not have been created.
Priorities and activities
The EC wants the FSAC position to be more proactive. Surveys of the membership show that flying sites are the number one issue for most modelers. Armed with that information, the EC has redefined the FSAC role to better meet members’ needs. My work will include:
- Assisting AMA-chartered clubs to understand how to safeguard and secure their flying sites.
- Helping members identify and prepare alternative sites even while enjoying a current site.
- Assisting clubs that have lost sites to locate and secure new ones.
- Updating and modernizing guidance materials and resources for clubs and members.
Documents, media, and website
I spent the first two days of June at AMA HQ meeting with staff to define our direction and goals. I am currently updating more than 100 documents, many of which date back to the 1960s. Much of the information is still valid but requires a comprehensive facelift.
In addition to written materials, several videos and the booklet Finding and Keeping Flying Sites need updating. The DVDs are quite dated, and although the booklet is still useful, it needs revision.
Most of the documents are not in electronic format and will need to be converted and edited. This process will take time but is vital to providing clubs with high-quality, usable information.
Part of the update will be included in a major website redesign currently in progress. Our plan is to have all documents and videos available online later this year; printed copies will continue to be available.
Additional contact / Resources
For printed materials or assistance from AMA HQ, contact Erin Dobbs: [email protected]; (800) 435-9262, ext. 272.
If you have questions about the Flying Site Assistance program or need help, give me a call or send an e-mail. I will be happy to assist you in any way I can.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
