Executive Council Meeting Highlights
The following motions were made at the June 15, 1998 Executive Council Meeting in Muncie, Indiana.
The motions below are part of the unofficial minutes of the meeting. Minutes from a given meeting are not official until they are approved at the next quarterly Council meeting. Questions/comments on the motions should be addressed to your District Vice President.
MOTION I: moved by R. Hanson (X), seconded by W. De Coul (II). The AMA Executive Council approved a grant from the 1998 Flying Site Assistance Fund in the amount of $10,000 to the Cal Poly Foundation to support development of the Educational Flight Range. The MOTION passed.
- 10 yes: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, X, XI, EVP, NAA
- 2 no: VIII, IX
MOTION II: moved by E. McCollough (XI), seconded by C. Foreman (IV). To accept in advance the Scholarship Committee's recommendation. The MOTION passed.
- 11 yes: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, IX, X, XI, EVP, NAA
- 1 no: VIII
MOTION III: moved by S. Frank (VIII). To amend MOTION II to include "to grant tacit approval, subject to ratification by the President and EVP." There was no second to the motion to amend.
MOTION IV: moved by R. Hanson (X), seconded by E. McCollough (XI). The AMA Executive Council considered the request for additional funding submitted by the Save Mile-Square Park Committee and approved an additional $5,000 to support and endorse this effort. The MOTION passed unanimously.
MOTION V: moved by S. Frank (VIII), seconded by C. Foreman (IV). Move and resolve to limit listing in Model Aviation of specific restrictions of entry in events, both flying and non-flying, to recognized subcategories within the AMA (i.e., Chartered Clubs and AMA-recognized regional organizations, fully recognized AMA SIGs, AMA Districts or geographical areas). The MOTION passed unanimously.
EC Meeting Minutes Available
A complete copy of the approved minutes of any quarterly Executive Council meeting is available to any AMA member on request.
- A copy of the most-recently approved minutes will be provided at no charge.
- Council meets quarterly; minutes from a given meeting are approved at the following meeting.
- Additional copies, or minutes from other meetings, are $5 each (plus shipping and handling).
- Requests may be submitted to AMA Administration by telephone, fax, or in writing.
- Telephone requests: (765) 287-1256, extension 201 or 210
- Fax requests: (765) 741-0057
- There is a $10 minimum for credit card orders.
THE EAGLES' LEGACY
AMA's History — Past, Present, Future
by John Worth
Don't believe everything you see in print!
One of the problems of doing research on historical matters is that there are times when what has been published is not correct. There's no guaranteed assurance of accuracy, although you can usually take for granted that some types of published material are probably correct. Typically, a list of competition results (who placed where in what contest) can be relied on, although errors sometimes happen. Most errors seem to occur in published recollections of events from years ago. It's amazing how often our memories fail us in trying to recall details of what happened and when, who was there, etc.
For someone attempting to write history, the best protection against inaccuracy seems to be to get several accounts of the item. If there's good agreement between the accounts, the chances are reasonable that accuracy is probable. In any case, something written right after an event is more likely to be accurate than something written years later.
What brings on these thoughts? In the August 1998 Eagles Legacy article I made a major error. I wrote that the Good brothers won the first Nationals Radio Control event in 1936. Actually, it was Chet Lanzo who was the first Nats Radio Control event winner, in 1937. The Good brothers (Walt & Bill) won the Nats RC event in 1938, 1939, and 1949. My memory tells me that the Good brothers flew RC successfully in 1936, though the Nats year is firmly connected, by me, to the Good brothers. Whatever the case, I know now not to trust memory too much, especially for historical pieces.
An old friend, Mike Granieri, caught me on this one. He's one person whose memory I can usually count on to set the record straight about aeromodeling history. Mike, who is also getting on in years, doesn't rely on memory alone—he usually has documentation to back up what he says, or can name others to check in case of controversy.
Mike is one of our pioneers whom we hope to honor at the Eagles II banquet on Sept. 12 in Muncie this year, along with dozens of other deserving old-timers. He missed the 1996 Eagles event due to a last-minute health problem, and though he continues to have medical troubles, he hopes to travel to this year's event.
Likewise, Frank Tlush, of model engine manufacturing fame and the 1936 Texaco Trophy winner (whose original model is in the AMA Museum), hopes to attend Eagles II. Walt Good also plans to come—he and his wife Joyce were prevented from attending in 1996 by a family wedding but have the 1998 event on their travel schedule.
Another pair of great pioneers planning to come, health permitting, are Bob Cahill (brother of the late Jim Cahill) and Don Burnham, a former president of the Westinghouse Electric Company. Don has a famous rubber-powered model in the AMA Museum that was flown on the White House grounds when Herbert Hoover was president.
This year's Eagles event will also feature Hall of Fame presentations to many of the 1998 winners. Most inductees are expected to receive their Hall of Fame plaques at the Sept. 12 banquet in Muncie. As this was written, not all new Hall of Famers had RSVP'd, but several indicated intent to attend, including Bob Aberle, Art Schroeder, George Steiner, Frank Parmenter, Jack Albrecht, Maxey Hester, Joe Koval, and Bill Netzband.
The September 11–12 weekend for Eagles II is approaching and promises to be another grand reunion in the manner of Eagles I. It's not too late to participate. AMA Headquarters still has information packages available upon request. All members and their friends are invited to attend.
Focus on Education
Mike Stokes AMA Education Coordinator 5151 E. Memorial Dr. Muncie, IN 47302
Well, the AMA Grand Event for 1998 is now in the record books as a piece of recorded history. To call this year's event an exercise in patience and tenacity would be an understatement. While we avoided a monsoon, we had winds strong enough Friday evening during setup to collapse the 350-foot exhibitor's tent. Shortly after midnight there was an automobile accident (a non-AMA member) along the main road in front of AMA that caused a complete electrical power outage until late Saturday afternoon. The phones did not come back online until Thursday.
Despite that, the Grand Event was a resounding success. The "Make and Take" sections ran out of kites, AMA Delta Darts, rockets, and Control Line models just after noon on Sunday. There was a continuous line at the Radio Control training area with four trainers on buddy boxes in the air continuously. The Control Line training circle stayed busy all weekend. The RC car area also had a line right up to event closing. Boys and girls of all ages kept their parents in tow as they traveled from one area to another learning about different segments of modeling.
Saturday evening there was an open general AMA membership meeting under the dining tent. AMA's President Dave Brown reported on the recent events within the organization and opened the floor to questions from members. Afterwards, a buffet dinner was available to AMA members under the dining tent. From nearly everyone's perspective, the 1998 Grand Event was a very successful event. If you missed it this year, be sure to put it on the calendar for 1999.
This past month I received a letter and short video from Joe Di Prima, newsletter editor for the Meroke Radio Control Club of Franklin Square, New York. Joe discussed the club's participation in the Liberty Partnership Program, funded by the state of New York. The program is designed for middle school children who are not performing well in school and are considered "at risk."
In September 1996 Joe contacted the director of the program and offered a class in model building. Not knowing whether the kids would be interested, members of the Meroke Radio Control Club began by bringing in several models and talking to the kids and answering their questions. Next came a Delta Dart building program which increased interest and led to building three Great Planes PT-40s.
By June 1997 one PT-40 was completed and ready to fly. Approximately 20 youngsters were involved at the time. The program was deemed a success and continued in the 1997–98 school year. Two more PT-40s were completed and flown successfully.
Plans for the coming school year expanded with the formation of modeling clubs in two of the middle schools. As Alice Branch, Program Director, says, "the modeling classes teach the students teamwork, cooperation, interpersonal skills, and the basics of learning. The ultimate goal for the program is teaching success through long-term projects." Students learn what they can accomplish and "just how high they can fly." One youngster in the video says, "awesome, I made it!" Volunteers benefit from interacting with youngsters, giving of oneself, sharing, and gaining an "extended family."
For additional information concerning the Liberty Partnership Program, contact:
- Joe Di Prima: (516) 292-0247
- Alice Branch: (516) 463-6567
In late June, I attended the Technology Student Association (TSA) National Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Charlie Bauer and I staffed the AMA Education Booth handing out informational packets to students and educators. We assisted Tom Sanders of Midwest Products in judging the Indoor Hand-Launched Glider flying competition at the high school level. Midwest Products is a sponsor of this event annually and is to be commended for their involvement at the state and national levels.
I learned a lot from the event. I watched young men and women design, build, and fly hand-launched gliders—often their first experience designing and flying any type of model airplane. Flight times ranged from fractions of a second to over 15 seconds. The winner at the high school level repeated his first-place finish from the previous year, out of more than a hundred students. Next year's TSA National Convention is scheduled for mid-June in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Many manufacturers support education. One example is Midwest Products, Inc., in Hobart, Indiana. Midwest is a major contributor in both time and assets in the field of education. Midwest's Education Director, Tom Sanders, provides emphasis and guidance at events such as TSA and the Science Olympiad. Frank Garcher, President of Midwest Products, supports these programs.
In closing, congratulations to Lake Orion Middle School and the Lake Orion Middle School Model Club for being the latest recipient of an AMA Youth Education Stipend (YES) Grant. With the enthusiasm of Associate Principal Michael Steenek, support of Principal David Bewer, and guidance of Mr. Harold Reuter, the program has an excellent future. Photos sent by Harold show the enthusiasm necessary to make such a program work.
'Til next month.
Executive VP's Report
Doug Holland AMA Executive VP
3517 Fernwood Dr. Raleigh, NC 27612
- Home: (919) 787-5163
- Office: (919) 787-7454
This month I am presenting the Statement of Financial Position as presented by our auditor. The statement is in comparative form so you can see the numbers as of a year ago.
Highlights:
- Cash position increased by $728,930.
- Investments for insurance requirements and future expansion increased by $399,003.
- Property and equipment increased by $161,345 (primarily computers, software, furniture, and fixtures).
Under Liabilities and Net Assets, notable items include deferred membership revenue, representing dues collected in advance (including payments for 1999). Total net assets increased by $911,983.
Explanations of select captions:
- Prepaid Expenses: Nats supplies and office operating supplies on hand as of December 31, 1997.
- Mortgage Note Receivable: Principal amount due from the sale of the Reston property.
- Accrued Expenses: Property tax owed as of year-end (appears under Current Liabilities).
- Site Development: Donations to AMA to be used on the Muncie property.
- Other Programs: Contributions made for specific AMA programs, primarily museum patrons' donations.
If you have questions about this statement, I will be happy to discuss them with you.
Here is a thought: 'Tis better to appear a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.
Until later ...
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS (Comparative)
1997 / 1996
CURRENT LIABILITIES
- Accounts payable ........................................ $ 30,003 $ 87,014
- Current maturities of mortgage payable and capital lease obligations $ 76,390 $ 78,200
- Accrued expenses ..................................... $ 44,289 $ 41,850
- Competition funds escrow ............................. $ 47,968 $ 49,992
- Deferred membership revenue ........................ $3,852,230 $3,753,829
Total Current Liabilities .......................... $4,050,880 $4,010,885
DEFERRED MEMBERSHIP REVENUE ........................... $ 311,121 $ 182,397
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
- Mortgage payable — net of current maturities ........ $ 741,985 $ 793,242
- Obligations under capital lease — net of current maturities $ 100,252 $ 48,343
Total Liabilities .................................. $ 842,237 $ 841,585
Total Liabilities (including deferred membership revenue) ..... $5,204,238 $5,034,867
NET ASSETS Unrestricted net assets
- Unrestricted net assets available for operations ... $3,553,975 $2,605,757
- Designated by Executive Council for contingencies .. $3,940,000 $3,940,000
Unrestricted subtotal ............................. $7,493,975 $6,545,757
Temporarily restricted net assets
- Site development ................................... $ 30,952 $ 48,069
- Scholarships and awards ............................ $ 35,668 $ 43,305
- Other programs ..................................... $ 50,974 $ 62,555
Temporarily restricted subtotal .................... $117,594 $153,929
Total Net Assets .................................. $7,611,569 $6,699,686
Total Liabilities and Net Assets ................... $12,815,807 $11,734,553
THE ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
- Cash and cash equivalents ...................................... $3,308,262 $2,579,332
- Receivables ................................................... $ 191,404 $ 169,298
- Inventory — at cost ........................................... $ 149,240 $ 159,828
- Prepaid insurance ............................................ $ 120,570 $ 142,983
- Prepaid membership costs ..................................... $ 253,145 $ 188,646
- Prepaid expenses ............................................. $ 21,495 $ 20,439
- Prepaid taxes ................................................ $ - $ 1,575
Total Current Assets .......................................... $4,044,116 $3,262,101
INVESTMENTS .................................................... $2,913,381 $2,514,378
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
- Land and improvements ........................................ $2,746,496 $2,713,496
- Buildings and improvements ................................... $2,422,934 $2,409,635
- Computers and software ....................................... $ 984,628 $ 916,615
- Museum contents and library .................................. $ 175,873 $ 175,873
- Furniture and equipment ..................................... $ 753,486 $ 718,183
- Vehicles .................................................... $ 110,672 $ 98,942
Total Cost .................................................... $7,194,089 $7,032,744 Less accumulated depreciation ................................. $1,603,008 $1,346,510
Net Property and Equipment .................................... $5,591,081 $5,686,234
OTHER ASSETS
- Mortgage note receivable ..................................... $ 247,829 $ 249,840
- Life memberships receivable ................................ $ 19,400 $ 22,000
Other assets subtotal ......................................... $ 267,229 $ 271,840
Total Assets (including Museum Collection) .................... $12,815,807 $11,734,553
AMA News
DISTRICT I REPORT
Connecticut / Maine / Massachusetts / New Hampshire / Rhode Island / Vermont
Don Krafft — Vice President PO Box 1828, Duxbury, MA 02331-1828 (781) 934-6248
Associate Vice Presidents:
- James M. Semonian — 165 Allen Road, Billerica, MA 01821-5240
- Bob Landry — 80 Main Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452-3146
- M.C. McGuffin — 8 Robinson Street, Houlton, ME 04730-3212
- Harry S. Newman — 36 Sherwood Drive, Hooksett, NH 03106-1077
- Richard Sherman — 30 High Street, Plymouth, NH 03264-1223
- Ed Thompson — 27 E. Greenwich Ave., West Warwick, RI 02893-5405
- Bob Wallace — 91 Sylvan Street, Avon, CT 06001-2230
Frequency Coordinator:
- George Wilson — 82 Frazier Way, Marstons Mills, MA 02648-1866
Notes:
- RHODE ISLAND AVP: A new AVP may be needed for Rhode Island. Interested persons should call to discuss job specifications.
- GRAND EVENT 1998: The event experienced severe weather and a power outage due to an automobile hitting a utility pole, but activities continued and were largely successful. Many AMA staff and exhibitors donated time to make the event possible. All activities were free and open to the public.
DISTRICT II REPORT
Wes De Coul — Vice President 85 Riverside Drive, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 (908) 281-6899 Fax: (908) 281-1266 (800) 447-3879 ext. 201 decou@idt.net
Notes:
- Traveling and meeting local modelers is rewarding; local clubs often welcome visitors and offer flying opportunities.
- At the Grand Event, the main display tent was full and the flight line was busy. Electric flying (Dymond "Crazee") was showcased.
- Visits to Sig Manufacturing in Montezuma, Iowa, and Maxey Hester were informative.
- In Evansville, IN, contacts with local modelers led to visits to the ERCMAC club and new field development.
- Central Jersey RC Club held a successful DART fly and fashion show with winners noted.
DISTRICT III REPORT
Ohio / Pennsylvania / West Virginia
Bob Brown — Vice President 35 Sanford Street, Bradford, PA 16701 (814) 368-7655
Associate Vice Presidents:
- Mike Barbee — 6561 Clagary Court, Columbus, OH 43229-2008 (614) 891-1643
- David B. Ellis — 5261 Dwl Road, Gross Lawn, WV 25313-1209 (304) 744-1408
- Nelson Gould — 1644 Idaho Street, Allentown, PA 18103-8519 (610) 797-7397
- John Hathaway — 102 Woodmere Drive, New Stanton, PA 15672-9468 (412) 925-3266
- Donald Klop — 637 Hamilton Court, Tarppo, PA 19426-2253 (610) 489-0129
- Frank Noll — 6042 Norwell Drive, Dayton, OH 45449 (937) 435-0922
- Matthew Turowski — RR #3 Box 294, Douglass Drive, Drums, PA 18222 (717) 629-4635
- Joseph S. Vajski — 1381 Cranbrook Drive, P.O. Box 851, Masone, OH 45337-8082
Frequency Coordinator:
- John Cole — 1012 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, PA 18704 (717) 287-8970
Notes:
- DISTRICT III WEB PAGE: http://club.in-touch.net/clubs/AMADistrictIII/Default.htm (Randy Charles, manager). Suggestions welcome at rcharles@in-touch.net.
- THE TAILSPINNERS: The Tailspinners RC Club of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, donated $100 to the AMA Museum in memory of several late members and plans to continue yearly donations.
- TORKS: The Ohio Radio Kontrol Society holds events including the Heart of Ohio Jet Scramble and the US Scale Masters Championship.
- MURRYSVILLE AREA R/C SOCIETY: MARCS had an active year, built a new flight shack, and hosted public demonstrations.
KRC ELECTRIC FLY: The Keystone Radio Control Club hosts the electric fly-in September 18–20 in Allentown, PA. Info: http://www.KRC.org or Durell Leister, 116 Falcon Way, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, (610) 825-7758.
NEW AVP FOR VIRGINIA
Randy Elliott of Pulaski, VA, is the new AVP for western Virginia. Randy started modeling around 1970, began flying RC in 1990, has flown full-scale aircraft, is a member of the Pulaski County Flying Aces, a Contest Director, and is active in introductory pilot programs. He will work with approximately 16 clubs in western Virginia.
NEWPORT NEWS PARK RADIO CONTROL CLUB
The Newport News Park R/C Club held its "Founders Day Event" on June 27, 1998. The club, working with Parks and Recreation, developed a good flying site. The plane and buddy box system were donated by the York County Sheriff's Dept. as part of the DARE Program. For contact, call Bill Howard (club membership rep).
NEW BERN AEROMODELERS
New Bern Aeromodelers held a mall show on May 2, 1998, at Twin Rivers Mall in New Bern, NC, to promote the hobby and grow membership.
General advice: Go flying and take a kid with you—share the hobby.
DISTRICT VI REPORT
Illinois / Indiana / Kentucky / Missouri
Charlie Bauer — Vice President 4944 N. Orange Ave., Norridge, IL 60656-3204 Home: (708) 457-0565 Fax: (708) 457-2177 sysbauer@charlie.cs.niu.edu
Associate Vice Presidents
Illinois:
- Deb & Scott Justice — 156 S. Franzen, Bensenville, IL 60106
- John Kallend — 402 Arizona, Glenwood, IL 60425, Eve: (708) 798-7242
- Hal Parenti — 1920 Buckingham, Westchester, IL 60154, Eve: (708) 562-5752
- Jerry Worden — 400 Alder Dr., Normal, IL 61761-1202, Eve: (309) 454-3005
Indiana:
- Ron Ballard — 6320 N. 700 E., Decatur, IN 46733, Eve: (219) 724-8934
- Gary Bussell — 5600 W. Connie Dr., Muncie, IN 47304, Eve: (317) 286-3541
- William Kern — 1808 12th St., Bedford, IN 47421-3180, Eve: (812) 275-2189
Kentucky:
- Jim Sears — Box 303, Burgin, KY 40310, (606) 748-5834
Missouri:
- Bob Underwood — 142 Halabaugh Ct., St. Charles, MO 63304, Eve: (314) 939-3394
- Ken Booher — 1016 North East Barnes Dr., Lee's Summit, MO 64086, (816) 524-7307
Frequency Coordinator:
- Carl Orr — R.R. 1 Box 1238, Higginsville, MO 64037 (660) 584-6284, Fax: (660) 584-6285
Webmaster:
- Gary Parenti — 11001 Metcalfe Dr., Westchester, IL 60154, Eve: (708) 531-9565
District website: http://www.csam.il.edu/~amadsf/district6.htm
Local notes:
- GUSTON, KY: Club #1129 (Knox Model Airplane Club) participated in an Awareness Hobby Show with 23 planes and helicopters on display; winners chosen by people's choice vote.
- GAS CITY, IN: Club #2951 (Converse Flying Eagles) held a mall show with 80+ planes on display and plans to reach 100 next year.
DISTRICT IX REPORT
Colorado / Kansas / Nebraska / North Dakota / South Dakota / Wyoming
Russ Miller — Vice President P.O. Box 185, Solen, ND 58570 Days: (701) 445-3336 Eves: (701) 220-3190 Fax: (701) 445-3336 russmiller@aol.com
Associate Vice Presidents:
- Max Hansen — 1909 Wisconsin SW, Huron, SD 57350
- Nathan Lancaster — 3597 S. Kendall Street, Denver, CO 80235
- Troy Lapp — 1609 Main St., Williston, ND 58801
- Travis McGinnis — 8027 W. 81st Circle, Arvada, CO 80005
- Don Moden — 410 Hart St., Salina, KS 67401
- Jim Ricketts — 4921 Fernwood Drive, Sioux Falls, SD 57103-5573
- Jack L. Siebert — 3611 Kimberly Circle, Lincoln, NE 68506-4524
- Chuck Smith — 1091 Cheshire Street, Casper, WY 82609-3214
- Mike Weidner — 5535 Foxdale Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80919-1788
Frequency Coordinator:
- Steve Mangeles — c/o Radio Service Center, 918 S. Sheridan, Denver, CO 80226
District news highlights:
- Colorado: Nobler RC models—original RC kit first flew March 1998; kit is no longer produced.
- Nebraska: On May 3, a 16-mile cross-country R/C fly was held between Valley and Fremont via the Omahawks R/C club. Ten pilots flew the route with many spotters and drivers; an optional poker-card pickup added fun. No mishaps.
- Contact: Dick Behrens, 8521 North Ridge Dr., Omaha, NE 68112, (402) 451-6397
- May 3 Cross Country Fly pilot/driver pairings were listed.
- South Dakota: "Building season" is over in eastern South Dakota; fun fly events and training are in full swing. Clubs report several young pilots (including Kyle Gates and Zachary Holoch) getting involved; ARFs are often the first step toward building-from-kit projects.
- Contact: David Larsen, Box 353, Alcester, SD 57001, larsenabc@acsnet.com
DISTRICT X REPORT
Arizona / California / Hawaii / Guam / Nevada / Utah
Richard Hanson — Vice President PO Box 3312, Scottsdale, AZ 85271 Phone: (602) 708-0222 E-mail: richh@primenet.com http://www.ama-10.com/ama
Associate Vice Presidents:
- Glenn Carter — Walnut Creek, CA (510) 933-2086
- Michael Harrington — Kaneohe, HI (808) 239-6682
- Gary Hover — Visalia, CA (209) 747-0287
- Kai Jensen — Reno, NV (702) 329-6430
- John Krohn — Whittier, CA (310) 692-4177
- Bob Reynolds — Tucson, AZ (520) 296-8183
Frequency Coordinator:
- George Steiner — Sacramento, CA (916) 362-1962
Notes — Flying Site Assistance:
- Clubs working at the local level should be supported by national networking with federal agencies and national organizations that influence access to public and private lands.
- Potential partners/agencies include: Department of the Interior (and its divisions), U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation, BLM, GSA, DOD, DOT, National Guard, and other national recreational organizations.
- Developing cooperative relationships and educating leaders about the benefits of model aviation can facilitate access to new modeling facilities and strengthen political viability.
Closing: Keep 'em safe and keep 'em fly'n.
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If you would like any section expanded, tables reformatted differently, or additional districts cleaned and merged, tell me which parts to focus on.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
