President’s Perspective - 2007/11

t roughly the same time you
read this column, you should
receive the most important
document you get from AMA: a ballot.
Why is that ballot so important? It’s
because AMA is your organization, and
your way to have the most influence on
the organization is through your vote.
This year we are electing a new
president, so it is important for you to
have your voice heard. As many already
know, I am not a candidate for reelection.
I made the decision to step aside
and let someone else take the helm
sometime ago.
AMA has had only 22 presidents in its
history—and only two in the past 20
years or more—so changing this position
is a momentous occasion. It certainly
should not be taken lightly by the
membership. This is a “speak now or ... ”
situation.
Serving as AMA president is
interesting. The position comes with little
authority yet it has an enormous
influence on the direction and operation
of the organization. The person you elect
with that ballot will likely influence
AMA and the sport/hobby of
aeromodeling for many years.
Recently I’ve had two interesting
situations in which members seem to
think that the position has much more
President’s Perspective
AMA President Dave Brown
A authority than it does. In both instances,
well-meaning members have asked that I
overrule a vice president (VP) in his
appointment, or removal, of an associate
vice president (AVP).
I do not know why those individuals
think the president has any authority over
the district officers, but I can assure you
that he or she doesn’t! While the
president can call a VP and discuss a
situation with him or her, it is the VP’s
responsibility to appoint or remove
district AVPs and other appointees; the
AMA president has no authority in those
appointments.
This is another reason why the ballot
is the most important document you
receive from AMA. Members elect
district VPs, and those individuals can
have an enormous effect on the
organization of aeromodeling within
districts and in the direction the
organization takes in serving the
sport/hobby and its members.
There are times when I think AMA is
a little too democratic for its own good,
but those times are infrequent. AMA
members should have the ultimate
control, and they do if they bother to
vote!
In most AMA elections only 15-18%
of the members vote. That is troubling.
When members have little interest in
The Academy of Model Aeronautics is a world-class association of modelers organized for the purpose of
promotion, development, education, advancement and safeguard of modeling activities.
The Academy provides leadership, organization, competition, communication, protection, representation,
recognition, education, and scientific/technical development to modelers.
Mission Statement
participating in how their organization
operates, it creates difficulties for those
who do run it because there is no real
mandate from the membership.
While representing AMA in front of
various government agencies I fear being
asked how many people vote in an AMA
election in an attempt to determine just
how serious aeromodelers are.
I don’t care who you vote for; I’m
not campaigning for any particular
candidate. What I am asking is that you
have your voice heard through your vote.
It’s the strongest way to have the
organization serve your needs. MA
Til next month.
Dave Brown
AMA president
[email protected]
November 2007 5
It’s the strongest way to have the organization
serve your needs.
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