AMA: Monthly Mailing
From AMA HQ, By the Executive Director:
MORE UNDERCURRENTS
In the March issue of AMA's Monthly Mailing, in a column headed 'Undercurrents' it was noted that some model press publishers had reacted angrily to AMA's entry into the magazine field. The reaction included lengthy letters circulated extensively by two of the publishers, intended to 'prove' that AMA's magazine decision would be a financial disaster, among many other allegations.
Even though these letters were refuted by AMA circulation of counter responses, one of the letters has been published in the June 1975 issue of Model Airplane News. Presumably the other letter may be expected to be seen soon, if not already, in RC Modeler magazine. The letter in M.A.N. was added to considerably by additional editorial comment. Yet AMA's rebuttal was not included; hardly an example of fair play.
Meanwhile there is a movement being promoted by a combination of model press and industry people to establish another organization to substitute for AMA. This attempt to create a 'competitor' is in itself of no real concern, but the thinking behind it is.
Presumably any new organization would be expected, by the same people, to 'behave' or face the same consequences. The logical conclusion of this situation is to say that an AMA decision made by a majority vote of elected volunteer officers is not to be respected. Does it matter then which organization is involved if the end result is to give in to such pressures?
EASY ON THE PREZ!
No AMA President has ever been more visible and accessible than Johnny Clemens. He also has been in the job longer than any previous president and he has traveled more and talked to more AMA members than anyone before him. It's his nature to be that way and he mostly enjoys the personal contacts with members.
But he has built himself an image that is a monster which may devour him unless it is turned around to a different direction. The problem is that too many members have been ignoring the normal and basic channels for getting problems solved or complaints looked into. As a result he is being bombarded with phone calls and mail about every aspect of AMA operation.
He is being contacted about contest board, team selection, Nationals, membership processing, insurance, flying site, and many other problems. Most of these should be handled by district Vice-Presidents, Associate VP's, Contest Board members, various special committeemen, and/or AMA HQ. But too many people are going 'straight to the top' and the effect is taking a severe toll on the President's ability to function.
Not only is it interfering with his presidential duties, which largely require long range thinking and leadership of AMA's Executive Council on basic policy matters of AMA, it is ruining his business and home life. Johnny is a hobby shop owner and AMA calls at his place of business are hurting that business badly—particularly since they tend to be long and drawn out by callers who have jobs that allow free phone calls. He also gets many calls at home even though that phone is unlisted. Unfortunately the calls should really be handled by other AMA officers. When he gets a complaining call, for example, about disagreement with an executive council decision, that call should really go to the Vice President of the caller's AMA district. That VP is the caller's representative on the council and he's the only one who can vote on the caller's behalf. So the call is ultimately ineffective simply because it's going to the wrong guy. Johnny is typically interested and sympathetic but not in the best position to help, especially if he is inundated with too many of these kind of calls. The end result has to be unsatisfactory — for the President as well as the caller. It's an example of the system being abused and ineffective. Therefore, if the idea is to try to get satisfaction or results, it has to end up as an exercise in futility. It's not that Johnny doesn't want to help. He very dearly does. But he's a single volunteer with only his spare time away from his business. He's not an AMA employee and he does not have an AMA office or a staff to carry out the many demands put upon him. He also, despite a fantastically remarkable recovery from major surgery just a short time ago, is not 100% physically up to par. In fact his doctors are pressuring him to back off from his AMA efforts which typically go on night and day.
He's given more of himself to AMA than anyone has a right to expect of a volunteer officer. His true degree of sacrifice—moneywise, timewise, and physically—will probably never be fully appreciated because he doesn't like to talk about it. But it's becoming obvious to many members that he has gone too far in accommodating attempts by members to bypass other AMA officers charged with basic responsibilities for membership representation. The end result could be a complete ineffectiveness of the office of the presidency, perhaps even a resignation.
He's too polite to say it himself but the obvious message is for members to back off and use the other AMA people and channels to get problems taken care of. This doesn't mean that Johnny wants to be cut off from contacts—he's merely asking for them to be controlled. He'd like to be kept informed, by letters about members' experiences in using the AMA system, or copies of correspondence to other AMA officers. But he needs relief from people expecting him to write or take phone calls on matters which properly are the business of others in AMA.
Johnny's only one man compared with 13 other executive council members, 45 contest board members, dozens of team selection committeemen, 35 Associate Vice-Presidents and a fulltime AMA Headquarters staff. He cannot be expected—and that has been far more than is reasonable. AMA's business is too complex for any one person to handle all problems. The only way, in the long run, to make the system work is to use it.
In summary, too many people think the President should be a whipping boy. Their abuse is seriously interfering with the effective operation of the presidency. Phone callers in particular are urged to back off. The situation is more than just annoying—it's disruptive to AMA as a whole because it bypasses those who have responsibilities delegated to them by the President or provided for in the by-laws. Best bet, for those unsure of who to contact is to communicate via HQ; letters will be forwarded to the right person, phone callers will be told who that person is. Let's give the Prez a break—we don't need or want him in the hospital again.
UNDERCURRENTS (FROM P. 47)
Where it will all end is impossible to predict but one basic decision has been made concerning AMA's position in this situation. Rather than waste space in the membership magazine to bounce a "he said—we said" ball back and forth, those interested in knowing more about all this may get on a special "magazine controversy" mailing list. Those on the list will be sent copies of the various position statements, pro and con.
We don't know how far the anti-AMA effort will go. We suggest, however, that those concerned at least try to be objective and seek both sides before deciding who to believe. It may help, in the meantime, to consider that the AMA officers involved have nothing to gain and serve no vested interests. Only if they stay will AMA, and all of model aviation, survive and be able to represent the membership as a whole rather than those who would have it be something less.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
