I hope Santa has been good to all of you. As I review my first year as AMA president, I am proud of the enthusiastic efforts of the AMA Executive Council in conjunction with the headquarters staff. Challenges are being met with ongoing enthusiasm. As members, I hope you enjoy this vitality. Model aviation is a sport for everyone to enjoy. Congratulations are extended to those who recently won elections: District II, Eric Williams; District III, Mark Radcliff; District IV, Bliss Teague; District VI, Randy Cameron; District VIII, Mark Johnston; and District X, Lawrence Tougas. These people will certainly enhance an already progressive Executive Council. The national elections present a continuous challenge for our efforts in Washington, D.C. As politicians come and go, we have to maintain our positive dialogue with all concerned. We cannot sit back and relax; our strong, ongoing efforts must continue. Informing all of those involved is an absolute necessity. In the next month or so, I will be heading to Washington to create and renew our friendships. If you have individual alliances with anyone in the nation’s government, please keep the AMA in mind. Preserving model aviation as we know it today is everyone’s objective. Whoever thought that privacy would be a key word in model aviation activity? During the holidays, did you see models with cameras on them? I would bet that some of us think it would be neat to hover over our neighbors’ yards and take pictures. Better yet, why not hover over a stadium and watch a game? Ideas such as this will cause tremendous safety and privacy issues. Allowing this to happen will jeopardize model aviation as we know it today. It’s ironic that, while I write this, Rich Hanson is attending a seminar focused on the current issues facing the sUAS community. The information he is providing illustrates another potential curve in the governmental road. Hmmm ... just when we thought the field might be leveling out. Not only is the national government presenting a challenge, society in general has changed. Not long ago you could walk into a hobby shop and choose from many kits in stock. Now the inventory is nearly all ARF models. To say this is good or bad can lead to lengthy debate. Different people have opinions—positive or negative. Dialogue could also be extended toward contest activity. Competition today is not always the same as yesteryear. We have to realize that this is 2013. All things considered, isn’t the bottom line to have fun by enjoying model aviation? Most clubs hold elections at this time of the year. Have you considered running for office? The excuse that you don’t have the time is becoming rather passé. We can all sit back and criticize., but being positive and attempting to be constructive is a trait we should all attempt to emulate. Roll up your sleeves and help. I thank all of those in positions of leadership in our activities. More than 250 participants enjoyed the hospitality of the Mentor Area Radio Control Society at its Holiday Electric Fly in Geneva, Ohio. Perhaps the most significant activity of this event was the first sanctioned FAI F3P contest ever held in the US. The picture illustrates the enthusiasm exhibited by the competitors. Until next time
Have you considered running for office? Roll up your sleeves and help. I thank all of those in positions of leadership in our activities.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2013/02
Page Numbers: 6
