District Vice President
District II
- Wes De Cou (Incumbent)
Late last year I asked you to elect me Vice President of District II, and you did. At that time I promised I would work hard to earn your trust and respect by concentrating on flying-site acquisition and retention, by directing more of AMA's attention and resources toward membership growth, and by making sure each of you had access to me through U.S. mail, by telephone, or via e-mail.
In the few months since the special election I have become chairman of the Membership Committee. We are currently determining what we need to do to win back previous AMA members, retain our current membership base, and stimulate new membership. These efforts are key to keeping dues increases out of your future, and they will receive my full attention.
Every club needs to be concerned about flying-site retention. In the last few months I have spent many hours meeting with individual clubs, township officials, and officials of various governmental agencies to help assure that the sites we have are kept and that, where potential exists to get new sites, we can secure them. I helped obtain financial relief in the form of a loan for a club whose field was rendered unusable when a paving contractor defaulted on a contract; the field is finished, and memberships are on the rise.
Regular readers of my column will notice that I have traveled to the four corners of the district to assure everyone gets the representation he or she should expect. I visit flying events nearly every weekend, sometimes twice in a day, and I attend club meetings whenever invited. When we're together I talk a little but I listen a lot. I've developed goals for the district based on your input: you talk, I listen... and act.
I ask for your continued support to accomplish our common goals.
— Wes De Cou
- Joe Beshar
Having served successfully in the past as Vice President of District III, I am very familiar with the duties and responsibilities of the elected position. If elected, my intention is not to be just a Vice President in name but an involved Vice President; to represent the AMA membership, depth of involvement is a prime requisite supported by an administrative foundation.
Aeromodeling has always been a favorite of mine in all segments — indoor through outdoor, free flight, RC, glow, electric, sport, scale — not only building and flying but the fellowship it has generated within the modeling community. In 1940 I was official Class A free-flight world record holder. I am past president of the North Jersey RC Club (increased membership from 11 to 135), past president of the Society of Antique Modelers (increased membership from 275 to 1,500), and past president of the Interstate Flying Club (arranged for a flying site at Bear Mountain Interstate Park, N.Y.). I directed the AMA Mortgage Depletion Program (raised over $25,000) and directed the Lee Renaud Memorial Program for the benefit of the AMA library. I have successfully negotiated charters for AMA clubs, conceived and directed "The Aero Picnic Program" for Model Airplane News, and served as past president of Old Time Eagles M.A.C.
I have been inducted into the AMA and SAM Hall of Fame, am the recipient of two AMA Distinguished Service Awards and the Carl Goldberg Vital People award, and have served as AMA representative at Paris FAI/CIAM F3E Electro-Flight committee meetings. I chaired the U.S. Electric Team selection committee.
As a model builder and designer, I have published over 25 model articles in the model magazines. I believe I am the best candidate for Vice President of District II and would appreciate your vote. Most important, please vote.
— Joe Beshar
- Ray Juschkus
I have been involved in model aviation for over fifty years, joining AMA in 1946. Since then I have flown free flight (power, rubber), towline gliders, control-line stunt, speed and Navy Carrier (winning first place at the 1962 Nats). In 1975 I began flying C-power sailplanes. For the last 18 years I have served as Associate Vice President in District II and have represented our VP at several AMA Council meetings in Reston and Muncie.
I have held office in various modeling organizations, including Associate VP, District II, of the National Soaring Society; VP of the Long Island Silent Flyers; and PR director of the Eastern Soaring League. I have written articles for Flying Models magazine and since 1982 have photographed eight covers illustrating models I built.
I am semi-retired after a 46-year career as a professional corporate photographer — 20 years as David Rockefeller's personal photographer — and for the past 15 years I owned and operated a Wall Street studio photographing senior executives of Fortune 500 companies. Presently I enjoy a part-time position as staff photographer for the New York City Council and the Boy Scouts of America. I am a lifelong, year‑round resident of District II.
With the above experience I can serve and represent the district's best interests. It has been my dream to be Vice President and I will do my very best to serve all. If elected, I will not use the monthly column as a personal soapbox. I will promote club business, the AMA, and recognize issues that affect all members.
— Ray Juschkus
District IV
- Chuck Foreman (Incumbent)
This time has come once again to ask for your vote and your help so that I may continue as Vice President of AMA District IV. I was elected to finish out the remainder of Howard's unexpired term, and that year has given me the chance to see if I could do the job and, more importantly, if I could contribute to the growth of AMA and represent you, the AMA member. My conclusion is: yes. I can do the job and represent you.
Over the past year I've been asked many questions: Which direction is AMA going? What should AMA be doing to keep up with changes in our hobby? Is AMA listening to you the member? What does the membership want from AMA? How do we get the youth of today involved so they can be future AMA leaders? How can we, as AMA members, get AMA to listen to our concerns and requests? I do not have all the answers to these and many other questions, but with your help we can make a difference.
AMA needs an effective team to develop answers to these questions and to generate strategies for growth. I believe my qualifications make me a strong candidate to help resolve these and other issues. I have been an active AMA member for well over 40 years — 27 years as a leader member and 15 as an active contest director. I served as District IV vice president from 1979 to 1983 and, for the past year, I have worked as the NATS communications manager for 13 years and served on the NATS executive committee for 12 of those years. Presently I serve on the AMA Property Acquisitions and Development Committee, the Leader Member Committee, the SIG Committee, the Membership Committee, and as AMA liaison to IMAA. In 1995 I was awarded the AMA Fellow award for services to AMA.
I feel my experience can contribute to the growth of AMA and help serve you, the AMA member. Representing the District IV member should not be taken lightly, and your vote should be considered carefully so you select a person who will serve you well. Desire is important, but background and depth of experience are crucial. It takes a lot of time to do the job right. I have the time — all I need now is your vote!
— Chuck Foreman
District VI
- Charles R. Bauer (Incumbent)
My campaign statement is simple and straightforward: serve the members of District VI. During the past three years I have attempted to visit as many clubs as possible throughout the district at club meetings, fun-flies, contests, and swap meets. There have been problems to solve, and together we have solved them.
Many are concerned with the aging of our membership, and I assure you that the Executive Council is attempting to come up with ways to attract new members to our hobby. One of the committees I serve on is the Education Committee; the emphasis is to work with clubs and others to foster programs for school-age youth. We are helping with funds and supporting several programs throughout the country that encourage people to learn about aviation.
Where should the Executive Council next direct its energy? Flying sites. Clubs need help acquiring and keeping flying sites. If there are any questions you would like answered, please contact me.
Phone: (708) 405-0565 Fax: (708) 457-2177 E‑mail: sysbauer@charlie.cnsiu.edu
— Charles R. Bauer
- Jim Sears
In 1994 I gave up being AMA District VI Vice President because at that time I couldn't give you the representation I felt you deserved. Since then I've retired and taken a term to rest. At the request of many of you, I've decided to run for the office again.
As your Vice President, I will represent you from a sport-flyer's point of view. Although I understand and support the needs of our competition flyers, the majority of AMA members are grassroots modelers who want to leave their working lives for a while and go to their favorite flying sites. My job as your representative will be to remind the AMA Executive Council of the needs of grassroots modelers when policies are made.
I will continue to make as many trips as I can to see as many of you as possible. During my travels as an AMA officer, I've learned how important it is to you that we visit your clubs and events.
Before I make promises I can't keep, let me ask you to make a promise: in past elections, membership has shown little interest in who runs the organization because many chose not to vote. Make sure you have your say and promise me you'll vote in the 1997 election for AMA District VI Vice President. It is your right as a member and should be exercised. Of course, a vote for me would be greatly appreciated. Please vote!
— Jim Sears
District VIII
- Sandy Frank
I am Dr. Sandy Frank of Weatherford, TX, and I am asking for your vote to choose our representative to serve on the AMA Board of Directors. The 1998–2000 term of office will set the course AMA takes into the next century; your vote is important.
I have been an aeromodeller all my life and an AMA member since 1957 (Life Member AMA L‑69). I have built, flown, and competed with all types of control-line, free-flight, and R/C models. I began the Weatherford club and organize its bi-annual swap meet. My father, Murray Frank (AMA Fellow & Council Representative 1971–1978), taught me about modeling and the personal fulfillment of AMA volunteer work. I have been a local, regional, and national volunteer AMA worker for more than 30 years.
I studied aerospace engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. I am 49 years old, married 20 years, and a semi-retired licensed psychologist (Ph.D.) who operated a successful private practice for 20 years. Aeromodelling is my life. I can and will devote the time and effort to represent you well. I will support no dues increases, no AMA-instigated lawsuits, prioritize local modeling support as AMA's highest priority, and promote open communications between AMA and all its members. I will do my best to represent the consensus of the membership of AMA District VIII.
Historically only about 10% of the membership votes. Please vote! Your vote is sincerely appreciated. Thank you.
Sandy Frank 105 N. Brazos, Weatherford, TX 76086‑3207 Phone/Fax: (817) 599‑7131 E‑mail: sfrank@tente.edu
District X
- Richard Hanson (Incumbent)
As most of you know, I am the current Vice President for AMA District X, and I am seeking re-election to a second full term to continue serving as your representative to the AMA Executive Council. As District Vice President I have dedicated my efforts to seeking out the issues that concern members of our district and to working as a member of the Executive Council in presenting your views and supporting initiatives aimed at addressing member concerns.
During my term I have traveled throughout the district to meet individual modelers and the local leaders of our AMA-chartered clubs, gaining an extensive working knowledge of the local and regional issues challenging the existence and growth of our sport and hobby.
Although the district has made substantial progress in communications, community involvement, youth programming, and public relations, much remains to be accomplished. The decline in flying sites, the aging and erosion of our AMA membership, the uncertainty of the aeromodeling industry, and the lack of confidence in our national leadership are all critical issues that must be addressed. We can no longer afford to minimize these concerns or wait for others to find the solutions. We need strong, resolute leadership in our national organization.
If we are going to bring aeromodeling into the twenty-first century, all of us must do our part. With your support, I pledge to continue advocating the interests of District X and will ardently and vigorously work for the preservation and advancement of model aviation.
— Richard Hanson
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
