President’s Perspective - 2005/01
I AM PLEASED to announce that at its
quarterly meeting on October 30, 2004,
the AMA Executive Council (EC) voted
unanimously to appoint Don Koranda as
AMA’s new Executive Director (ED).
Don brings to AMA nearly 30 years of
experience in membership-association
management and has been the president
of the National Aeronautic Association
(NAA) for the last six years.
Before serving as the president of
NAA, Don spent 21 years with the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
(AOPA) and was a vice president of that
organization. During his tenure as NAA
president, Don was designated NAA’s
representative to the AMA EC, so he is
not a complete outsider in terms of
knowledge of AMA and aeromodeling.
President’s Perspective - 2003/02
FOR THOSE who think that the voice of
reason falls on silent ears, this should be
alarming. Anytime an organization like
AMA raises its dues or changes its revenue
stream, the president of the organization will
receive correspondence objecting to the
changes. That’s just a reality. The resistance
to the change usually revolves around some
variation of “I can’t afford it,” “You should
just cut expenses,” or “Someone else should
shoulder a bigger part of the load.”
President’s Perspective - 2003/01
IT’s nIce to get a break from writing this
column, but the time comes when you have
to get back to the computer and start the
process again.
I spent the first part of the time in
Ireland, where there were high hopes that a
historically significant event would happen
for aeromodeling, but it was not to be. The
event? This summer was to be the
culmination of a many-year project; namely,
crossing the Atlantic with a model airplane.
The team that attempted this was led by
former AMA president Maynard Hill, and
was scheduled to launch from St. John’s,
Newfoundland, and land near Clifden,
Ireland, duplicating the flight path of Alcott
and Brown in their full-scale Curtiss NC-4
in 1919.
President’s Perspective - 2001/05
Ah, the first signs of spring—unfortunately,
those first signs are gray skies, rain, and
damp, chilling temperatures.
This year spring brings a little extra
excitement to AMA; the staff has the thrill
of moving into the new Headquarters
building in Muncie.
The Executive Council (EC) had its
chance to tour the nearly finished building
during the EC meeting the weekend of
February 10. It is a beautiful sight, and it will
give our employees a workplace fitting to the
pride they have shown in the organization.
I was impressed, but my impression was
enhanced by having been organizationally
involved in AMA long enough to realize how
far we have come since the days of the rented
office on Vermont Avenue in Washington
DC, and the days when the financial survival
of the organization depended on the
generosity of a handful of people.
I still remember the old Flying 8-Ball
Club, involving the model aviation industry,
that financially supported the AMA through
some tough times.
As I stood in that beautiful lobby, I
couldn’t help thinking how many people had
contributed so much of themselves to bring
the organization to this point.
CONTROL LINE RACING - 2001/04
The flying season is underway in some parts of the country,
and others are anxiously waiting. I thought this would be a good
time to let you know about a new event for the 2001 Nationals.
As you may be aware, Fast Rat has not been flown for the
past couple years. Although most people have an opinion on
the merits of flying it or not flying it, I think most will agree
that we need an event that has the thrill of fast, open,
innovative competition.
During the winter, a committee looked at the future of Fast Rat. It
questioned if the event should be held or adjusted to try and promote
competition. The result is a .21 Rat event that maintains most of Fast
Rat with a few exceptions, including the engine size and line sizes.
The hope is that the event will feature fairly high speed, while
making the airplanes lighter and easier to fly.
I have included the new event rules, and I certainly hope you will
participate in it at the 2001 Nationals. It will be held Thursday
following the Quickie Rat event, and it will be a National Control
Line Racing Association (NCLRA) Supplemental Event.
