AMA News
Synopsis — Executive Council Meeting, May 5, 1984
The following summarizes actions of the AMA Executive Council meeting in Reston, VA. A copy of the official minutes may be obtained upon request from AMA HQ (available approximately September 1). The minutes become official after Council review at the next Council meeting in August.
Present (Executive Council)
- John Grigg, President, Lockport, NY
- Jim McNeill, Executive Vice President, Birmingham, AL
- John Worth, Executive Director, Fairfax, VA
- Ed Izzo, District I Vice President, Holliston, MA
- John Byrne, VP-II, Bayside, NY
- Dave Brown, VP-III, Hamilton, OH
- Howard Crispin, VP-IV, Charlottesville, VA
- Bill Mathews, VP-V, Birmingham, AL
- Bob Underwood, VP-VI, St. Louis, MO
- Hardy Brodersen, VP-VII, Birmingham, MI
- Johnny Clemens, VP-VIII, Dallas, TX
- Travis McGinnis, VP-IX, Arvada, CO
- Jim Scarborough, VP-X, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
- Ed McCollough, VP-XI, Portland, OR
Contest board chairmen and coordinator present
- Irv Searl, Scale
- Bud Tenny, Indoor
- Joe Friend, RC Aerobatics
- Gary Hoover, RC Racing
- Ron McNally, Control Line
- Chris Matsuno, Free Flight
- Horace Hagen, RC Helicopter
- Gene Shelkey, RC Soaring
- Don Lindley, Contest Board Coordinator (chaired the contest board meeting)
Present from AMA Executive Staff
- Vince Mankowski, Assistant Executive Director
- Carl Wheeley, Publisher, Model Aviation
- Gisele Jackson, Comptroller
- Micheline Madison, Competitions Department Director
- Geoff Styles, PR Director
- Carol Merfeld, Membership Department Director
- Bob Vojslavek, Administrative Coordinator
- Carl Maroney, Special Services Director
- Joyce Hager, Executive Coordinator
Guests
- Lillian Worth; Jane Lindley; Louise Izzo; Lou Ward, PR Secretary; Diane Hawley, Accounting Department
The regular meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by the President. After introductions and brief remarks, the contest board chairmen left to conduct their own meeting.
I. PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
The minutes of the January 28, 1984 meeting were approved as amended based on written Council input.
II. BUDGET REVIEW
A. Basic Budget
- The Executive Director reported HQ staff had reduced the preliminary projected 1984 budget by nearly $100,000 but cautioned that some reductions were not recommended. Discussion emphasized computer operation and future expansion plans.
- It was approved unanimously that the Executive Director present at the Fall meeting a study of complete data-processing needs for the Academy to be self-contained, minimizing outside services.
- The proposed 1984 budget was accepted: 11 for, 1 against, 1 abstained.
B. Capital Equipment Budget 1984
- After a presentation on the present HQ computerization system and proposed upgrades, the proposed 1984 capital equipment budget was accepted: 9 for, 3 against, 1 abstained.
C. FAI Budget
- An amended appendix will appear next month. The original proposal (defeated 8–5) was amended and then approved unanimously.
D. Executive Vice President’s Travel
- A previously moved and seconded motion was approved to increase the EVP travel budget by $2,000: 10 for, 2 against, 1 abstained.
E. China Trip — President’s Budget
- In response to an invitation from the People’s Republic of China to send a Free Flight and Control Line team for competition and cultural exchange: team members will fund their own travel; the President will accompany the team. The President requested inclusion of the trip in the President’s travel budget and that AMA supply items (caps, shirts, pins) be furnished at no charge.
- Approved: funding provided up to $2,500, including AMA supply items for team members: 10 for, 3 against, 1 abstained.
F. Funding for Judge’s School
- An invitation to send an individual to Germany for instruction in RC aerobatic judging was approved. Travis McGinnis was authorized to attend with funding up to $1,500: 9 for, 3 against, 1 abstained.
G. Funding for Safety Code Poster Continuance
- The large safety code poster program previously provided to clubs had been subsidized by AMA’s insurance company; that subsidy ended and the mailing costs had been absorbed. With the subsidy no longer available, it was approved that AMA fund the continuation of the poster program: 12 for, 1 against.
III. JOINT MEETING — EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND CONTEST BOARD CHAIRMEN
Note: For motions in this section the combined voting body consisted of the Executive Council (14), the Contest Board Chairmen (8) and the Contest Board Coordinator (1). Passage of motions relating to contest board procedures required a 3/4 majority of the total (15 of 23).
Don Lindley reviewed the contest board meeting and presented a series of motions:
A. Cross Proposal Definition
- To strike note 2 from the Rules Change Proposal Form and substitute: “A cross proposal is to refine a basic proposal and must deal only with specific details of the basic proposal without changing its intent.”
- Approved: 21 for, 1 against.
- Note: This resolution became superfluous after a subsequent motion to eliminate cross proposals.
B. Delete Initial Vote in Rules Making Procedures
- Motion to delete the initial vote failed: 9 for, 13 against.
C. Initial Vote (single contest board) — Threshold Change
- Change passage threshold on the Initial Vote from simple majority to 3/4 of responding members where only one contest board is involved.
- Approved: 19 for, 3 against.
D. Initial Vote (multiple contest boards) — Threshold Change
- Change passage threshold on the Initial Vote from simple majority to 3/4 of total responding members where more than one contest board is involved.
- Approved: 20 for, 2 against.
E. End of Basic Proposal Submission Period for 1984 (July 1)
- Motion to set July 1, 1984 as the end of the basic proposal submission period (to institute a new schedule to ensure January 1, 1986 rule book delivery) failed: 8 for, 14 against.
Special Motion — Eliminate Cross Proposals and Interim Vote
- A motion by President John Grigg to eliminate cross proposals and the Interim Vote from the rules change system, with the Final Vote to occur on May 1, was approved: 20 for, 1 against; 1 abstained.
- Resulting procedural change: Removal of the cross-proposal and interim-vote steps shortens the cycle and enables the rule book to be produced in time for the intended calendar. Immediate input is still possible: upon publication of proposals anyone may contact their Contest Board member with suggestions or clarifications.
F. Late Vote Request by Contest Board Chairman/Coordinator
- That a contest board chairman and/or coordinator may request a vote after the deadline if he judges the issue to be critical, provided he attempts to contact delinquent voters — failed: 3 for, 19 against.
G. Rule Book Structure Change
- That the rule book be split into a General section (rules acted on only by the Executive Council or combined contest boards) and individual sections for each contest board containing rules for actual field operation (excluding site, facilities, officials, protests, administrative and organizational rules).
- Approved: 16 for, 7 against.
H. Revised Rules Change Calendar
- A revised calendar for the rules change cycle was adopted (see Appendix II next month).
- Approved unanimously.
IV. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT'S REPORT
- Jim McNeill reported on FAI team travel expenses for 1984.
- A draft revised form was presented for team members to sign, acknowledging increased financial responsibilities.
- The EVP report also included Council member expense accounts for the past three years.
V. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Safety Committee
- McNeill distributed a written report (dated May 1, 1984) with safety suggestions: have a first-aid kit at flying fields; ensure a nearby telephone for emergencies; keep instant glue handy for closing cuts; be aware that loose clothing can be pulled into a prop; attend to propeller flaws.
B. Noise
- Ed Izzo stated his planned series of informative articles on noise would be published in the near future.
C. Films
- John Byrne reported that the RC film currently in production will premiere after January 1985, later than previously anticipated.
D. Special Interest Groups
- Ed McCollough reported Bob Boucher had not filed a formal grievance against SEAM after his January appearance. A new electronic organization had been formed. PAMPA and NMPRA had submitted incomplete applications; PAMPA will be considered at the Nats meeting. In the meantime, it was unanimously approved to accept the National Miniature Pylon Racing Association (NMPRA) as a special interest group under the AMA umbrella.
E. Personality Interviews
- John Worth reported two interviews have been conducted and video recorded: one with Charles Grant and one with Carl Goldberg.
VI. NEW COUNCIL MEMBER TRAINING
- HQ orientation sessions for incoming Council members improve early performance.
- It was approved unanimously that, following election, a two-day orientation program be conducted at HQ for all new Council members prior to the Fall Council meeting.
VII. BYLAWS AMENDMENT
- The EVP’s request to add the President and the Executive Vice President as members of the nominating committee constitutes a bylaws amendment (Article XV).
- The President directed the bylaws committee to review the proposed amendment and bring recommendations back to the Council at the next meeting.
VIII. RULE BOOK FORMAT
- Discussion on producing a large-print rule book for Contest Directors in 8½ × 11 loose-leaf format.
- No definitive action was taken; the suggestion may be pursued if sufficient interest is found within the districts.
IX. SUPERCHARGING
- It was noted that supercharging and turbocharging are prohibited by the current interpretation of paragraph 7 in the AMA Safety Code but are legal under FAI rules. The section addressing gaseous boost was originally intended for control-line.
- The President directed the contest board coordinator to initiate a rule interpretation on this matter within 60 days.
- The Executive Council went on record interpreting paragraph 7 of the Safety Code as not prohibiting turbo or supercharging: 11 for, 7 against, 1 abstained.
X. DISTRICT ASSIGNMENT — Haiti Club
- It was approved that Haiti and other islands in the West Indies be assigned to the jurisdiction of District V: 12 for, 1 against.
XI. AEA MEMBERSHIP FOR AMA OFFICERS
- The Executive Director recommended re-establishing AEA office membership in the Aerospace Education Association; the AEA magazine reaches over 200,000 and is present in high school and college libraries. AMA could expect ads and articles in the magazine.
- It was approved that $2,000 be authorized from the officer service budget to provide membership for all AMA officers in the AEA: 12 for, 1 against.
XII. VP COLUMN LENGTH
- A motion to increase the Vice Presidents' column length in Model Aviation to 30 inches failed: 3 for, 9 against, 2 abstained.
XIII. M.A.P. MAGAZINE SALES
- John Worth explained a reciprocal magazine sales agreement proposed by Model and Allied Publications Ltd. (England) to sell AMA’s magazine in Great Britain and vice versa.
- It was approved that AMA accept the M.A.P. reciprocal magazine sales proposal: 12 for, 1 against.
- It was also agreed that AMA should offer U.S. publishers the opportunity to sell their magazines on a commission basis.
To be continued next month.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
