View from HQ - 2001/05

184 MODEL AVIATION
ThIS monTh was another busy one at
AMA Headquarters. I have attended three
modeling shows and one Executive
Council meeting, and I plan to travel to the
WRAM (Westchester Radio Aero
Modelers) Show in New York.
This is in addition to the day-to-day
activities and the continued work with the
new Headquarters facility.
As I write this, the new Headquarters
building is in the final stage of completion.
The furniture has been delivered and is
being installed.
This is a facility all members can be
very proud of. Any outside agencies or
organizations that ever felt this association
was only for “toys” will truly be surprised.
I believe this facility will represent
the validity and legitimacy we are trying
to portray—that this is a serious
hobby/sport, and that modelers deserve
to be considered along with other sports
regarding land usage.
By the time you receive this issue, we
will probably have completed the move
(scheduled for March 8, 9, and 12) and
begun operations in the new building.
Pictures of the facility can be seen at
www.modelaircraft.org/Comp/IACconstr
uction.htm.
mark Your Calendars! Muncie, Indiana
is the place to be June 7-10; we are hosting
the AMA Gala 2001.
Dedication of the new AMA
administration building will be June 7 at 3
p.m.; the Celebration of Eagles III will be
June 8; AMA Homecoming is scheduled
for June 8-10; and the Fifth Annual Grand
Event is set for June 9.
For additional information, contact
AMA Headquarters or check our Web site
at www.modelaircraft.org/main.htm.
attention Chartered Club Officers: Many
of you are aware that we had planned to
change how clubs receive information for
the next club cycle.
For many years the club contact
person received all correspondence for
the group. Many of the Executive
Council (EC) members felt that the
contact persons were not relaying news
to the rest of the club, and were more
comfortable having the club president be
the party responsible for disseminating
information.
I was convinced that this was not true
after the clubs received their notice of
the change, so we have gone back to the
old way. Clubs can delegate the
responsibility of club contact to the
person of their choice.
AMA will try to do a better job of
contacting the club president when a major
mailing goes out, informing him or her to
whom it goes and when. If we don’t have
the name of the current contact person, he
or she can let us know.
It is very important that you notify AMA
Headquarters when any changes are made to
your list of club officers. This is also true for
your membership; it is important to let us
know who is a current member and who is
not. This should be done weekly, or at least
monthly.
elections: This year the offices of
president and vice presidents in Districts I,
V, and IX are up for election. Their threeyear
terms will begin in 2002.
If you are considering running for an
office, ask yourself if you truly have the
time to do the job correctly. Your elected
officers are required to attend four council
meetings per year in addition to various
district functions on most weekends. They
are also required to write a column each
month for Model Aviation.
For eligibility requirements and
deadlines, see page 148 of this issue or
contact Mary Lou Vojslavek at (765) 287-
1256, extension 201.
The environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) published an “Advance Notice of
Proposed Rule Making” in the December
7, 2000 issue of the Federal Register—
Environmental Documents relative to
spark-ignition engines previously
excluded under recreational vehicles.
A federal judge ordered the EPA to
institute proceedings to examine offhighway
motorcycles, all-terrain
vehicles, and snowmobiles for possible
regulatory strategies for nonroad
vehicles and engines that have yet to be
regulated under EPA’s nonroad engine
programs.
Comments were due February 5, 2001.
Since the proposed rule-making would
affect model engine manufacturers, the
Radio Control Hobby Trade Association
(RCHTA) appointed Don Anderson of
Hobbico to head a response committee in
which AMA was invited to participate.
AMA drafted the Academy’s input
after preliminary discussion and a
conference call with AMA president
Dave Brown. Our conclusion was to
reinforce previous findings and referred
to the California Air Resource Board’s
prior determination and position on
excluding model engines.
We also expressed that the EPA
should expand its existing “Recreation
Vehicle” definition to exclude nonmancarrying
vehicles; i.e., model aircraft,
boats, and cars. An official response was
sent by the due date.
Sanctions: In the March issue of Model
Aviation, I indicated that all foreign
competitors must obtain an AMA
membership. However, this requirement
excludes Canadians.
AMA has a reciprocal agreement with
the Model Aeronautics Association of
Canada (MAAC). Canadians can fly in the
US with a current MAAC license. MA
happy flying,
Joyce hager
executive Director
[email protected]
… this facility will
represent the validity
and legitimacy we are
trying to portray …
Joyce Hager Executive Director
View from HQ