AMA News

Synopsis — Executive Council Meeting August 5, 1985

Attendees (meeting held at the Quality Inn, Chicopee, MA):

• President: John Grigg, Lockport, NY
• Executive Vice President: Jim McNeill, Birmingham, AL
• Executive Director: John Worth, Fairfax, VA
• District Vice President: Don Krafft, Duxbury, MA
• VP‑II: John Byrne, Bayside, NY
• VP‑III: Dave Brown, Hamilton, OH
• VP‑IV: Howard Crispin, Charlottesville, VA
• VP‑V: Bryant Thompson, Rantoul, IL
• VP‑VII: Peter Waters, Northville, MI
• VP‑VIII: Johnny Clemens, Dallas, TX
• VP‑IX: Travis McGinnis, Arvada, CO
• VP‑X: Jim Scarborough, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
• VP‑XI: Ed McCollough, Portland, OR
• Ev Langworthy, National Aeronautic Association

Present from the Academy's executive staff:

• Carl Wheeley, Model Aviation Publisher
• Gisele Jackson, Comptroller
• Bob Underwood, Technical Director
• Micheline Madison, Competitions Department Director

Guests:

• Barbara Krafft
• Bev Wisniewski, Nats Committee member
• Betty Stream, District X AVP
• Velma Teubner
• Ed Warren
• Loren Holm

Note: A copy of the official minutes may be obtained, on request, from AMA Headquarters; available approximately November 15. (The minutes are not official until a review of suggested changes to the original draft is made at the next Council meeting—November 9.)

President's comments:

• Bill Mathews (Dist. V VP) had arrived for the meeting but was called back home by a client's emergency.
• Discussion on known attendees to the China Nationals; each attendee will pay his/her own travel expenses.
• Consideration of benefits to be bestowed upon AMA's 100,000th member. A list of 10 possible awards (involving considerable monetary value) was read. A motion to honor the 100,000th member with the 10 awards recommended by the PR Department failed unanimously. A consensus developed to emphasize publicity and to recognize the happenstance of being the 100,000th AMA member.

Travel budget policy:

• The Executive Director requested consideration of a policy to limit the scope of travel budgets. A motion was made and approved unanimously that Council members may use their annual expense money for travel only within the 50 states, including territories, commonwealths, and possessions. National officers may use their annual travel budget within the total district structure; vice presidents within the boundaries of their districts.

I. Previous Meeting Minutes

• The minutes of the April 20–21, 1985 meeting were approved unanimously, as amended and by written Council input.

II. Executive Vice President's Report A. Magazine Operations

• Verbal explanation and supporting documents were presented regarding Model Aviation's operations.

Advertising policies (related matter)

• In regard to a complaint, Carl Wheeley acknowledged he had authorized offering a limited special advertising rate for the October and November issues of Model Aviation to some firms who had not advertised previously. He stated his action was motivated by business considerations and that he inadvertently neglected to consider possible reactions from other model publications. He accepted the Executive Director's ordered cessation of the advertising offer.
• On another complaint from an advertiser who claimed AMA offered three full feature articles per year in return for advertising, Wheeley stated his belief that a former advertising representative had not entered into such an agreement.

B. Finalization of 1983 F3B team indebtedness

• (Report concluded.)

AMA News

AMA President John Grigg presented a Hall of Fame plaque to George Perryman at the 1985 Nats, Chicopee, Massachusetts. George was selected to be honored for 1984 (background published in the June 1985 issue of Model Aviation, p. 97). Affectionately known as "Big Daddy," George is also famous for the Great Speckled Bird series of model designs.

AMA HQ Services Staff

• Executive Director: John Worth
• Executive Coordinator: Joyce Hager
• Comptroller: Gisele Jackson
• Competition Services Director: Micheline Madison
• Nets General Manager: Vince Mankowski
• Special Services Director: Carl Maroney
• Membership Director: Carol Merfeld
• Special Events Director: Douglas Pratt
• Public Relations Director: Geoff Styles
• Technical Director: Bob Underwood
• Administration: (office administration)

VP Elections

• It is time to elect or reelect representatives to the Executive Council for Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. Members are urged to vote for dedicated, capable leadership responsive to the entire district.
• Districts 2 and 10 have contested races for VP, with incumbents choosing not to run. Members are encouraged to read candidate statements carefully.

A New Award Program

• At the last Executive Council meeting, a new award program was established to recognize technical achievements in model aviation.
• Commencing January 1, 1986 (and through September 30, 1986, and each year thereafter), nominations must be forwarded to the AMA Technical Director, who will forward them to the review committee.
• Nominations can be made by any AMA member, supported by signatures from three additional AMA members.
• Nominations will be reviewed on the basis of need, performance, innovation, and possibilities for future development and applications. Consideration will include items that improve existing equipment performance, represent new concepts, or provide technical solutions benefiting AMA members. Nominations should include supporting documentation.
• To assure impartiality, the review committee will be the Council of Past Vice Presidents, which will make recommendations to the Executive Council.

Candidates (continued from pg. 102)

Vice President — District VIII

• Johnny Clemens, Dallas, TX (incumbent)
• Served on the Executive Council for 10 years, including eight years as AMA President. Has extensive Executive Council experience, leadership, and enthusiasm. Served as Executive Council Committee Chairman and Public Relations Director at the 1985 Nationals at Westover AFB. Longtime AMA delegate in FAI‑CIAM international affairs, including three years as First Vice President of CIAM. Charter member of the Hobby Industry Association. Elected to the Hall of Fame of both AMA and HIA. Competitive background includes championships and contest organizing.

• Michael S. Harrison, Hot Springs, AR
• Active in modeling his entire life; competed in Control Line stunt at age 14. Dentist, married with three children. Active in RC, including Pattern since 1973. Emphasizes preserving the hobby and flying sites, improving quality, providing access for new modelers, strengthening competition, and maintaining AMA's financial health. Time availability and responsiveness pledged.

• Gene Hempel, Garland, TX
• Strong supporter of the average modeler and highly competitive. Active at international, national, district, state, and local levels as competitor, Contest Director, judge, and officer. Served as an Associate Vice President for the past three years and as a columnist for model magazines. Employed as an electronics engineer specializing in radio control systems and as a legal assistant in business law. Promises one-on-one meetings to represent District VIII members.

Vice President — District X

• Richard (Rick) Bergeron, Fullerton, CA
• Born 1939 in Rochester, NH; modeling off and on for 35 years, active in RC and AMA since 1970. Flies Pattern, RC Gliders, and RC-assisted Free Flight. Served as president and other officers of the Radio Control Bees of North Orange County. Primary goals: represent all model aviation enthusiasts in District X, promote modeling as fun, and communicate AMA policies and activities.

• David Peltz, Chatsworth, CA (AMA 968)
• Longtime modeler (RC, CL, FF). Nominated by incumbent District X VP Jim Scarborough. Married with two teenagers; son Adam holds five Jr. AMA National Records. Executive with 20 years of management experience in a Fortune 500 company. Experienced in future planning, finance, and policy-making. Contest Director since 1974. Appointed to the AMA RC Soaring Contest Board, official at multiple Nationals, and served as Club VP and Secretary. Recipient of AMA’s Superior Service Award and Award of Appreciation. Involved in policy fights and rule development; advocated splitting the old single AMA RC Contest Board into separate boards for Aerobatics, Helicopters, Racing, and Soaring.

• Bev Wisniewski, Bellflower, CA
• Extensive national and local experience. Former newsletter editor and secretary for NMPRA. Worked RC Racing events and tabulation for RC Pattern, registration and tabulation at the Nationals. For Control Line, served as event director and category manager; familiar with Council procedures and a regular presence at trade shows. Strong organizer, available to help modelers, and committed to representing District X.

Club Incident and Contest Reports (selected items)

• Charlestown, RI incident: Flyers were ordered to stop flying at a town park after a Conservation Officer and two town police officers arrived, citing disturbance to park users. Officers stayed until the modelers left, creating distasteful memories for the visiting modelers.
• South Shore RC Club: Club of about 185 members experiencing internal strife caused by a small group of members; cautionary note about governance and club control.
• Pine Tree Aeromodelers (Sanford, ME) — Control Line meet, June 23, 1985. Results:
• Slo Bat: 1. Norm Liversidge; 2. Wayne Prime; 3. Joe Fuscolo
• 1/5 Scale Racing: 1. Wayne Prime; 2. Steve Gordon; 3. Joe Fuscolo
• 1/5 Replica Speed: 1. Jim Carpenter; 2. John Flynn; 3. Joe Fuscolo
• 3/6 Proto Speed: 1. John Flynn; 2. Wayne Prime; 3. Jim Gerrish
• CD: Wayne Prime. Report by Dick Sherman, AVP for New Hampshire.

• Hampshire County RC Scale Fly‑In (August 18, 1985) — winners:
• Best of Show: Jim Jenkins (Fleet)
• Sport Scale: 1. Paul Ghiaie (Gee Bee); 2. Irv Searl (Bucker Jungmeister); 3. Chuck Arkle (Beechcraft)
• Giant Scale: 1. Jim Jenkins, Sr. (Fleet); 2. Bill Jennings (Corsair); 3. Andy Zitnay (Stolp Starduster Two)
• Military Scale: 1. Bill Jennings (Corsair); 2. Ron Haines (Bristol); 3. Ronn Ross (F7F Tiger Cat)
• Report by Drew Davenport, AVP for Massachusetts.

• Massachusetts Cup Control Line Contest (September 15, 1985) — first Massachusetts Cup held at Worcester, MA. Winner: Dave Cook (possession of cup until next year). Other finalists: Brown (Advanced), Steve Buso (Intermediate), Rudzinski (Beginner).

District Reports

IV District Report

Howard Crispin, District IV Vice‑President 611 Beechwood Dr., Charlottesville, VA 22901

Associate Vice Presidents:

• Robert E. Barbour, 117 Otis Drive, Severn, MD 21144
• Bob Champion, 205 Tilton Rd., Newport News, VA 23606
• Doug Holland, 3517 Fernwood Dr., Raleigh, NC 27612
• Raymond Lesfrancois, 465 Chinquapin Tr., Christiansburg, VA 24073
• Scotty Moore, 11 Orchard Lane, Wilmington, DE 19809
• Charles Spear, 288 Hill Lane, Mocksville, NC 27028

Frequency Coordinator:

• Paul Yakobczuk, 6408 Winthrop Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28301

Phone: (919) 488‑5898 (Evenings)

Report highlights:

• Howard recently judged the 14th RC Aerobatics World Championships in the Netherlands; a full report will appear in Model Aviation.
• Encourages participation in year‑round activities (Control Line, Indoor, Soaring). Notes the Central Atlantic Championship Series coordination among clubs in southern Virginia, North Carolina, and northern South Carolina to avoid conflicting dates and determine a season champion.
• CASA Slope Soaring Meet at Cumberland, MD (first weekend in November) recommended for soaring enthusiasts.
• Chesapeake Bay RC Club Scale RC meet was well run; plans to expand to two days in 1986. Notable aircraft included Greg Wilson’s Bristol (which crashed due to elevator cable failure) and Joe Solko’s Bell P‑39 Airacobra with scale flaps and retracts.
• Sound level meters for monitoring sites are being pursued; information will be made available when meters are on hand.
• Recommended newsletters: Metrolina Control Line Society (James Duckworth) and MACA Newsletter (Bob Nicks) for Combat enthusiasts.

V District Report

Bill Mathews, District V Vice‑President 1718 Somerset Circle, Birmingham, AL 35213 Phone: (205) 879‑6550

Associate Vice Presidents:

• Greg Doe, Rt. 4, 168 Perry Dr., Smyrna, TN 37167
• Richard Jackson, 2118 Thornley Dr., N. Charleston, SC 29405
• Arthur Johnson, 932 Banyan Dr., Delray Beach, FL 33444
• Joseph Michaletz, RD 1, Box 686, Fairgrove, PR 00648
• Ed Hogman, 70 Fifth St., Shalimar, FL 32579
• Harry Sheeran, PO Box 876, Oneonta, AL 35121
• Tom Thacker, 1401 N. Hairston Rd., #F8, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Frequency Coordinator:

• Burnis Fields, PO Box 1063, Strickland Rd., Interlachen, FL 32048

Phone: (904) 684‑2517

Report highlights:

• Safety reminder: lightning is a significant hazard in Florida; keep caution when storms approach.
• Long Bay Model Aircraft Society (Myrtle Beach) planning a major RC trade show in Myrtle Beach next year.
• Hurricane Elena disrupted activities in District V; some clubs still attempted contests during the storm.
• Knox County RC Society raised $1,783.19 (after expenses) at its Third Annual Charity Air Show.
• Kissimmee Valley Model Club safety record noted (zero accidents reported in recent period).
• Lower Alabama Radio Control Club successfully hosted IMAA Festival 1985 at Battleship Park, Mobile, including recovery procedures for water retrieval.
• Humorous club anecdotes and “rumors” included for color.

VI District Report

Bryant Thompson, District VI Vice‑President 511 S. Century, Rantoul, IL 61866 Phone: (217) 892‑4764

Associate Vice Presidents:

• John Guenther, RR3, Box 261, Borden, IN 47106
• Loren Holm, 643 Hill and Brook, Quincy, IL 62301
• William Kern, 1808 12th St., Bedford, IN 47421
• Raymond Meyers, PO Box 243, Smithville, MO 64089
• William G. Snavely, PO Box 281, Auburn, IN 46706
• Bryant Thompson, 511 S. Century, Rantoul, IL 61866
• Stan Watson, 3402 Hickory Lane, Hazel Crest, IL 60429
• Bill Zimmer, Box 72, Varna, IL 61375

Frequency Coordinator:

• James A. Check, 5044 Gatechester St., Lexington, KY 40505

Report highlights:

• Bryant returned from Louisville, KY, where he served on the jury at the Scale Team Selection Finals for CL and RC. District VI had a Control Line team member, Julie Abel (16) of Flossmoor, MO.
• Notable anecdotes: long‑time flyer Harold Todd logged 3,032 flights and maintains regular monthly flying; Pekin RC Club hosted a successful one‑day Giant Scale Fly‑In with 31 entries and multiple entertaining events.
• Emphasis on fun, club camaraderie, and events like Giant Scale Fly‑Ins.

VII District Report

Peter Waters, District VII Vice‑President 117 E. Main, Upper Level, Northville, MI 48167 CompuServe: 70047,2162

Associate Vice Presidents:

• Arthur A. Argo, 10140 Woodbridge Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103
• Boyd Bodisch, 5400 Glenwood, Niles, MI 48167
• Jack Flynn, 368 Hampden Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
• Russell Knetzer, 2625 E. Sherwood Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53211
• Ronald D. Lundberg, 4923 Tioga St., Duluth, MN 55804
• Carl Mobs, 5024 Lake Mendota Dr., Madison, WI 53705
• William Rohling, 4494 Tangwood Ct., St. Joseph, MI 49085
• Ron Sears, 132 S. Roslyn, Pontiac, MI 48054

Frequency Coordinators:

• Peter Waters, 117 E. Main, Upper Level, Northville, MI 48167

Home: (313) 349‑0008; Evening: (313) 437‑4244

Report highlights:

• Scale Team Selection Trials at Kentucky were a near clean sweep for District VII; RC Team: Cliff Tice, Skip Mast, Steve Sauger.
• Notes on Control Line Aerobatics Team Selections at Henry Ford College; appreciation for the craftsmanship and evolving trends (e.g., increased engine noise).
• Encourages participation in club governance and newsletter contributions; mentions ModelNet on CompuServe (Saturday evening live conference at 9:00 p.m.), and invites members to join the online community.
• Reminds Contest Directors that AMA numbers should be displayed on the upper right wing surface per the rulebook; enforcement expected.
• Highlights many district activities: training programs, field improvements, fundraising, and successful community service projects (e.g., Buckner Children's Home).

VIII District Notes (selected)

• The Dallas Miniature Aircraft Association hosted the Southwest Control Line Championships with 61 entrants in 14 events, including a jet engine speed flight of 198 mph and 23 entrants in beginner events.
• Clubs in the Dallas area have made sizable donations to the AMA Building Fund; appreciation expressed.

IX District Notes (selected)

• Reports from Carrington, ND, and other northern District IX locations show successful meets and public relations projects, such as the Longmont Aircraft Modelers Association booth at the Boulder County Fair, which attracts public interest and raises funds by raffling a club-built RC plane.
• Model training classes held by city Parks and Recreation departments (e.g., Aurora, CO) are highlighted as effective newcomer programs.

X District Report

Jim Scarborough, District X Vice‑President 30717 Rue Langlois, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90274

Associate Vice Presidents:

• Darwin A. Baine, 8252 E. Turney Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251
• Glenn Carter, 2020 Gill Park Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
• Bob Kammann, 6323 Kenahy Ave., Orangevale, CA 95662
• Mike Lee, 2622 Bergen Dr., Los Gatos, CA 95032
• Bob Reynolds, Rt. 8, Box 51, Tucson, AZ 85710
• Betty Stream, 3723 Snowbird Ave., Long Beach, CA 90808
• Al Tuttle, 417 Emmatt St., Pukalani, Maui, HI 96768
• Al Williams, 5805 Westbury, Chula Vista, CA 92011

Frequency Coordinator:

• George Steiner, 2238 Rogue River Dr., Sacramento, CA 95826

Phone: (916) 362‑1962

Report highlights:

• Field dedications: Mesquite Modelers of Sierra Vista field dedication (Dr. Edgar J. Bollin Memorial Field) and Richardson RC Club flying field dedication near Lake Lavon.
• FAI Control Line Team Selection Finals at Whittier Narrows: F2A Speed Team and F2C Team Race Team selections reported (with team member names listed in full in original report).
• Sacramento Red Barons visited; club donated $200 to the mortgage fund and individuals contributed additional nickels/dimes-in-a-can donations.
• Miramar NAS air show model segment organized by local clubs; appreciation to participating clubs.
• Reports of field displacement due to urban sprawl (Sons of the Desert Aeromodelers searching for a new site).
• Historical note: William Dressel of Roseville, CA, provided photos of a 1937 Quaker model with original silkspan and engine.
• Encourages clubs to support the AMA Mortgage Reduction Fund and invites requests for the AMA booth or club visits.

Thermals!

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.