AMA news
From AMA HQ, By the Executive Director: NO. 105
FAI GENERAL CONFERENCE VOTE
The annual FAI General Conference was held in Ottawa, Canada in late September. This is the meeting of the overall governing body for FAI activities—soaring, ballooning, aerobatics, racing, aeromodeling, etc.—all full-scale aviation except aeromodeling.
In contrast to the annual FAI aeromodeling meeting, which is typically held in December, the FAI General Conference has for years used a weighted voting system. Thus, instead of one country—one vote, such as is used in the aeromodeling and other committee meetings (and also in the U.S.), the FAI general conference has voting proportional to the amount of financial support by member countries.
Thus, the U.S.A. and Russia, as principal dues payers to FAI have had 3 votes each whereas other countries have had only one or two. At the September ’75 general conference the weighting went even further in this direction as the conference voted in a 1 to 7 vote range (U.S.A. and Russia with 7 each). Therefore, the weighting principle was reaffirmed and with greater strength.
This naturally suggests that such weighting should also apply to other FAI decisions. If so, the aeromodeling committee, for example, would give more weight to U.S.A. voting, which it does not now. This would be welcomed by U.S.A. modelers who have long felt frustrated by the fact that the one country—one vote rule does not represent the tremendous amount of modeling activity in the U.S., compared to other countries.
But, while a principle for one part of FAI operation has been reaffirmed, experience indicates that not much hope can be held out for change in other parts of the FAI operation—such contradictions are traditional in FAI. So this is only an exercise in thought-provoking and "education". On the other hand, it may be a foot in the door for change—AMA representatives to FAI will explore further.
Incidentally, the basic reason for vote weighting is that most countries balk at paying equal dues to FAI. Some, in fact, pay very little. This was recognized some years ago and the voting was adjusted to reflect a greater voice for those doing more (and paying more) in FAI. Thus the principle is a matter of record and there is thus some hope, though faint, that some day this may be applied to aeromodelling representation in FAI.
AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION ENDORSES MODEL AVIATION
At their 1975 annual convention, held in September at Washington, D.C., the Air Force Association officially adopted the following resolution:
WHEREAS, aircraft models have played an important role in the development of operational aircraft; and WHEREAS, model aviation promotes the goals of the Air Force Association by helping to inform the public about aerospace power; and WHEREAS, model aviation also interests young people in the various phases of aerospace development and operation, including the Air Force itself; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Air Force Association supports model aviation and will continue to assist model aviators by promoting their activities; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Air Force Association encourages its State organizations and Chapters to involve themselves in and support model aviation.
Largely responsible for this action was AMA member Gene Sidwell, also current President of the Los Angeles chapter of the Air Force Association. Gene Sidwell, in coordination with AMA Executive Director John Worth, led a special effort in AFA to bring this action to a head at this year’s convention. Similar action had been taken by other local AFA chapters several years ago by then AFA Vice-President from California, Chuck Broadhurst, but that effort stalled after Chuck died in 1971. Gene Sidwell, however, picked up where Chuck left off and got the favorable action this year.
What this means to AMA is that local chapters of the AFA will shortly be encouraged to work with local AMA chartered clubs concerning model meets, flying site problems, model aviation promotions, air shows, and other such events. A joint AFA-AMA effort is currently underway to explore the specifics of such projects and further announcements can be expected by year-end.
MASSIVE RENEWAL MAILING UNDERWAY
Coincident with the 1975 membership reaching the all-time record high of 60,478 a huge mailing effort was begun at AMA HQ in early October. The mailing is AMA’s annual membership renewal project and also includes election and by-laws change balloting. Thus the end of October (since the huge mailing is sent via 3rd class bulk mail) over 60,000 members should receive renewal/ballot packets by mid-November and should return them in due course.
It’s a huge effort and this year bigger than ever due to the great increase in membership. But, lest we get swelled heads over our position as the world’s largest sport aviation organization, we still have some larger AMA goals to look up to. For example, another AMA, the American Motorcycle Association, has about 150,000 members. That’s well within the foreseeable future for our AMA.
MASSIVE RENEWAL (CONT.)
but for now our shorter range goal is for 100,000 members by 1980. That's well within range and is the basis for current planning regarding HQ staff and membership services.
HOW MANY WILL VOTE?
Coming in the mail shortly to all adult AMA members (19 yrs. or over) will be 1975 election ballots, for AMA officers to serve during 1976-77. Typically between 10 and 20% of the AMA members vote. Based on current membership of about 48,000 adults, that means we can expect anywhere from about 5 to 10 thousand members to vote—just over 8,000 voted last year.
Thus, only a small percentage of members has traditionally bothered to vote, which could be interpreted to mean that a minority of members are satisfied to decide who shall represent them. If there is to be any change in this situation it will take a concerted effort on the part of many people to 'get out the vote'.
So, for those who care, now's the time (although there's not much of it) to try to interest more AMA members in voting. Otherwise, it may be reasonable to conclude that most members either don't care who represents them or they're satisfied with things as they are.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
