President's Perspective

Presidents PERSPECTIVE /7V~7f7\ Freedom has its cost does protection THOSE OF US WHO fortunate enough raised great country have gotten habit taking freedom well protection granted Unfortunately few us ever give much thought fact freedom protection usually opposite sides balance beam stop think about people require high degree protection give up lot freedom order have protection celebrities have heard make statements effect would give anything able simply go shopping whatever being noticed have give up lot freedom order gain acceptable level protection Sometimes its someone else freedom compromised order others protected Thats usually referred someone doing 5 10 stop stop sign conceding freedom drive right through order protect ourselves others As modelers us accustomed giving up some freedom order protect ourselves well others An example put up frequency control board give up freedom fly time order provide some level protection interference other areas tradeoff occurs few give much thought area obtaining contest sanctions give up freedom run contest whatever date want order get area protection other contests running same events same date flip side give up protection decide exercise freedom restrict entry contest members particular group dont just sanction contests sanction very large number events AMA Competition Regulations rule book competitions fact sanction nonrule book events both competitive noncompetitive rule book competitions has trend last decade popularity non-rule book events great degree due ability organizers exercise freedom use whatever rules matter virtually no rules decide upon has resulted some terrific eventssome local some regional few national Some competitive others non-competitive flyins create fun social atmosphere Lacking common rules makes difficult compare events makes difficult determine what events would conflict Lately has lot talk about providing area protection non-rule book events protected drawing area would improve attendance events advantage no disadvantage able wave magic wand able come up universally accepted method determining what conflicts what think cure forms cancer would easier task still problem few have considered some events going protected some others will have give up freedom take place people have advocated adoption protected area non-rule book events everyone has looked perspective organizers protected event have expressed thoughts what happens event refused sanction due conflict Hmmm Freedom has its cost does protection Think about Dave Brown AMA President dbrown@dbproductscom June 1999 7