Presidents PERSPECTIVE need preserve sites Most us take right fly model airplanes given reality right doesnt exist Flying model airplanes privilege has earned hard work efforts have preceded us Modelers past have fought privilege fighting threatened legislation fighting supporting organizations efforts get frequencies recently modelers northwest have take strong stand against legislation Oregon would make model aircraft flying excluded activity agriculturally zoned property state AMA has provided legal financial other forms support fights no doubt assisting modelers fights what AMA should Generally have successful efforts record has taken significant blow recently Galeville NY has significant flying site East Coast about 30 years Like sites use around country Galeville owned Federal Government part military installation Modelers primarily Free Flighters case over east coast used site regular basis permission controlling agency As military sites around country being declared excess needs military has turned over General Services Agency GSA disposal GSA has strict rules follow disposing properties other military uses having first dibs come other federal agencies state local governments does become available private sector list certainly inclusive does give idea pecking order other federal agency wants piece property GSA has little choice under its rules give no way force public hearing subject US Fish Wildlife Agency has taken attitude will apply nearly piece vacant land declared excess military purpose making wildlife refuges hence barring nearly other use absence way force hearing such actions powerless stop cases have used land model flying years understand Hunting Fishing lobby has recently won concession courts allows access applies activities rely wildlife present sites some glimmer hope Please dont become lulled thinking situation east coast problem certainly threat flying sites over country think may time AMA spearhead drive get laws changed order protect modelers wholesale loss flying sites federal property number years ago remember Vince Mankowski doing some research subject lobbying 501c3 non-profit organizations finding surprise 501c3s totally barred lobbying rather limited what percentage tbeir budgets could directed use memory serves right Ok Im getting older isnt what used magic number about 10% 5% could create quite stand subject important verify what current rules before act believe should take whatever action law allows us take change situation Whatever cant imagine effective way get point across organize letter writing campaign Congressmen Senators individual states Just such campaign would organized matter decided after finding out what law allows us would hope AMA members would see need support type effort would answer call went out AMA member wrote letters two Senators Congressional representative along chairperson whatever committee oversees GSA would nearly 500000 letters cant imagine being ignored Dont anything yet Wait until have researched letters right way go well what letters should say please prepared help AMA help modelers over country support Until next time 9oitcc Dave Brown AMA President August1997 7