President's Perspective

President s PERSPECTIVE .the system really does need overhauled years cornerstones AMA has sanctioning events recent years number AMA sanctions granted has risen nearly 2400 per year ironically roughly same number chartered clubs system managing sanctions has evolved over years basic concept sanction categories has pretty much same four decades recent situation involving AMA Special Interest Group has raised question just appropriate sanction system todays aeromodeling world close look reveals system geared toward competitive world organized aeromodeling 40 years ago example refers fact contests different categories aeromodeling ie Free Flight [FF1 Control Line [CL] Radio Control [RC] should conflict other After reading lot comments Internet decided really look situation eye toward making applicable todays events First looked up word sanction dictionary found following sanc-tion sankshen n 1 act recognized authority confirming ratifying action 2 support encouragement approval 3 something gives binding force law secures obedience penalty breaking reward carrying out cant say lot surprises definition does infer sanctioning body recognized authority gives its stamp approval conduct event sanctioning Although does come right out say suspect successful argument could made sanctioning body assumes some level responsibility conduct event also report made up thanks Greg shows number rulebook events sanctioned 1139 just slightly less number non rulebook events 1167 Demos team selection events make up remainder 2392 sanctions 1997 What becomes apparent look overall picture using AA AAA AAAA system classifying sanctions little meaning todays competition aeromodeling world present criteria attaining AAA status makes practical FF few CL contests must admit list 48 AAA sanctions cant figure out least 13 qualified status vast majority events qualify AAA status FF contests dwindling amount CL events qualifying rare indeed see RC event has required 12 sets important awards 3-ring circus CL meets youth giving way age specialized individual CL event contests meantime proliferation class C non-rulebook events 1169 has overwhelming events plethora organized aeromodeling activity encompassing everything competition events AMA doesnt have rules swapshop club running am sure noncompetitive fly-in fun-fly accounts very large portion system broken Well lets just say outdated makes easy get great big zone protection FF contests its really difficult find two decent sites closer huge protection distance gives minimal protection events majority draw largest participation also doesnt have mechanism events attain higher status am sure Id describe broken system really does need overhauled particularly enhance its ability cope non-rulebook events wont easy first question ask yourself determine what events conflict other dont have common rules may different region region Would single person authorized say yea nay cases sanction conflict acceptable What rules should applied decision should made Should number participants last years event factor years classification Lots questions very complex problem ideas next month 9QJ Dave Brown AMA President dbrown@dbproductscom October 1998 7