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AMA News

Synopsis — 1/30/82 Executive Council Meeting (Dallas, TX)

The following summarizes actions at the winter AMA Executive Council meeting in Dallas, TX. A copy of the official minutes may be obtained upon request from AMA Headquarters (available approximately May 15). Minutes will become official after Council review at the next Council meeting in April.

It should be noted that, unless indicated otherwise, the President either abstained from voting or voted yes in unanimous situations. Where some Council member votes are not shown on a particular item, the member was not present at the time of voting. Items below are not necessarily in chronological order.

Council members present:

• John Grigg, President
• Jim McNeill, Executive Vice‑President (formerly Secretary/Treasurer)
• John Worth, Executive Director
• Ed Izzo, District 1 Vice‑President
• John Byrne, VP‑2
• Dave Brown, VP‑3
• Chuck Foreman, VP‑4
• Bill Mathews, VP‑5
• Jim Sears, VP‑6
• Hardy Brodersen, VP‑7
• Ted White, VP‑8
• Travis McGinnis, VP‑9
• Jim Scarborough, VP‑10
• Ed McCollough, VP‑11

Also attending:

• Associate Vice‑Presidents: Don Krafft (District 1), Ed Perez, Larry Sartor (District 8)
• Guests: Bev Wisniewski; Mr. and Mrs. Jay Gerber; Mr. and Mrs. M. Hester; Lee Renaud; Scott Kalmus; Dick Sonheim; Ed Turner; Homer Smith

1. VP Replacement

• Horace Cain, former Vice‑President of AMA District 6, resigned January 22. In accordance with the Bylaws then in effect, Associate Vice‑President Jim Sears (Burgin, KY) was automatically named District 6 VP.

1. Bylaws

• Bylaws changes previously submitted to AMA Leader members were officially approved and became effective January 25.

1. Runoff Election

• Jim McNeill won the runoff over Horace Cain by almost a 2:1 margin and is the new Executive Vice‑President and chief financial officer of AMA in accordance with the Bylaws changes that established the new title.

1. November Minutes

• Minutes were clarified regarding deletion of the 40 lb. model weight limit (modified via the AMA Safety Code) and approved unanimously with three abstentions (Districts 5, 6, 8).

1. Reports Heard

• Executive Vice‑President (financial) — Jim McNeill
• Contest Coordination — John Byrne
• Nats Procedures — Chuck Foreman
• Scholarships — Hardy Brodersen
• Nats Executive Committee — Homer Smith
• Frequency Committee — John Worth
• Building Fund — V. Mankowski

1. Film Projects

• Producer Jay Gerber reported the 1981 Control Line film was completed and the 1982 Free Flight film is underway.
• The Council approved increasing the film production budget from $10,000 (unchanged since 1971) to $15,000 (one abstention — District 8).
• Any unused portion of the annual film budget will be carried over year to year for the same purpose.
• John Byrne was appointed chairman of a new committee (with Dave Brown and Jim Sears) to monitor film projects and recommend future film activities.
• A film on the 1980 Indoor World Championships was purchased and copies are available through the AMA Film Library.

1. Nomination Procedures

• A brief report by Chuck Foreman was deferred to the Standing Rules portion of the agenda.

1. HQ Review

• A motion to have a Council committee visit Headquarters twice in 1982 to interview employees was debated; an amendment to require the committee to work through management levels was defeated and the basic motion was rejected.
• Discussion referenced prior HQ reviews (the Filley reports); Foreman requested the reports be circulated to current Council members (approved at the meeting, later withdrawn by Foreman with concurrence of the President).

1. World Champion Support

• The Council unanimously approved financial support for the AMA 1980 C.L. Precision Aerobatics world champion to the same extent as AMA team members for the 1982 world championships in Sweden, except that funding for team practice sessions was excluded since the champion would not be a team member.

1. Barrera Museum

• The Russ Barrera collection was packed and stored during January for delivery to the new HQ building in 1983 within the previously approved budget.
• The President directed that museum acquisition policy and curator duties be placed on the Spring Council meeting agenda and that a museum committee be formed.

1. Magazine Subscriptions

• Pros and cons of aligning magazine service to a 12‑month subscription versus expiry at membership term end were discussed. No action taken; consensus was that the magazine is a membership benefit and reduced rates exist for partial‑year members who renew.

1. Surplus Trophies

• HQ will send a list of excess Nats trophies to VPs and AVPs by February; AVPs will coordinate desired trophies through their VPs.

1. Nats Radios

• Council agreed to retain the old walkie‑talkies used in Nats operations due to their ongoing use at Nats and U.S.‑hosted world championships. HQ will keep and budget for maintenance.

1. Special Member Problems

• Previous decisions concerning membership renewal were continued. Confusion over late‑year membership rates was resolved by accepting a member at the previous rate.

1. Contest Director (CD) Term Limitation

• Noted that some feel CD rating retention should be based on continuing active service. No action taken.

1. HQ PR Proposal

• The President directed implementation of the Executive Director’s PR proposal; a budget and organizational structure will be sent to the Council at least two weeks before the next meeting.

1. HQ FCC Coordinator

• Various suggestions for adding a staff member to coordinate RC frequency matters were discussed; no specific action taken. The President requested that the head of the new RC manufacturers association be copied on non‑committee communications from the Frequency Committee chairman.

1. Safety Committee

• The intended chairman declined the appointment; no replacement offered. Recommendations for a new chairman are requested in time for the next Council meeting.

1. Film/Equipment Inventory

• John Worth presented a list of motion picture film and equipment owned by AMA but in custody of the film producer; copies distributed to Council members.

1. VP Films

• Future copies of AMA films for VPs will be provided only by Council action with an addition to the film library budget for extra copies. VPs will retain priority in borrowing from the HQ film library with no rental charge.

1. Fund‑Raising Policies and Procedures

• Executive VP McNeill was asked to report at the next Council meeting on future projects and HQ interest‑bearing investments.

1. Special Dues Rates

• Discussion of special rates for handicapped, disabled and those on fixed incomes revealed administrative difficulty; no action taken. Sears (6) and Mathews (5) were appointed to continue the committee work.

1. Special Interest Groups

• McCollough (11) was appointed to replace Smith on the committee. The committee proposed an annual questionnaire for groups seeking recognition, clarified appeal procedures, and required committee makeup to avoid conflicts of interest. A specific proposal will be presented at the spring Council meeting.

1. Industry Presentation

• Lee Renaud addressed the Council on RC industry views: an RC equipment manufacturers association has formed within the HIA structure, supported AMA’s FCC proposals for more RC frequencies, and requested AMA assistance policing frequency use. He recommended adding a technically competent staff person at HQ for frequency coordination.

1. FAI Delegate

• The Council approved (10–2) a Bylaws change to transfer authority for appointing a permanent U.S. voting delegate to CIAM from the President to the Council; the motion prepares for a multi‑year delegate (preferably three to five years). George Buso (NY) will serve as delegate during Grigg’s presidency.

1. RC Contest Boards

• A motion to recommend the Bylaws Committee draft a change permitting separate RC contest boards (aerobatics, pylon, soaring, etc.) did not pass.

1. Indoor Contest Board

• Indoor was recognized as a primary category of modeling with its own contest board; a motion to accomplish this within 60 days was approved unanimously.

1. Legal Assistance

• AMA legal counsel’s proposal to develop a litigation package (~$4,000) to help RC clubs counter deliberate interference was approved; funds to come from the Frequency Committee’s approved budget.

1. FCC Licenses

• Discussion on whether AMA should accept responsibility for issuing RC licenses if authorized by the FCC concluded with no action taken. HQ capability noted.

1. Recording Equipment

• The idea of providing Council members with recording/dictating equipment for HQ interaction was discussed; no action taken.

1. Associate Members

• Proposal for a new type of membership was introduced; consideration deferred to the next meeting.

1. SAM Championships

• AAAA designation for the 1982 Society of Antique Modelers (SAM) annual meet was approved unanimously.

1. Sargent Petitions

• Grigg appointed a committee (Brown chairman, Izzo, Brodersen) to recommend actions on petitions submitted by Bob Sargent (District 3).

1. Standing Rules — Nominating Procedures

• The Nominating Procedures supplement to the Bylaws (Standing Rules) was revised by detail changes and approved 10–1 (District 7 opposed; Districts 1 and 6 abstained). The revised procedures will apply to the 1982 election.

1. Nats Briefing

• Homer Smith (Nats Executive Committee) advised final decisions concerning 1982 Nats locations would be made shortly and asked for support.

1. Free Flight (FF) Site Selection

• Foreman was requested to provide a written report for presidential consideration of site selection difficulties for FF team programs.

1. Muffler/Noise Levels

• A technical committee on noise was established with a $5,000 budget and Ed Izzo as chairman; committee to select members. Motion approved 9–4.

1. Dues Moratorium

• A proposal to require new Open members (beginning 1983) to pay a $10 registration fee to avoid dues increases for existing members failed (2–10).

1. Alcohol Ban

• A motion to disqualify anyone at sanctioned events who has alcoholic beverages or narcotics in the flight line or pit areas was initially approved (7–6), but after reconsideration a revote failed 2–10 and the original action was cancelled.

1. McEntee Fund

• The Howard McEntee Memorial Fund held in escrow was unanimously approved to be transferred to the Building Fund, with a plaque to be displayed in the new AMA HQ, subject to trustees’ acceptance.

1. FAI at the Nats

• The Nats Executive Committee was directed to include events normally held as world championship events in future Nats (after 1982) and to study the subject.

1. Presidential Functions

• The President agreed to monitor HQ response on Council directives to ensure items are carried out.

1. Credit Vouchers

• Vouchers (except for less than full‑year memberships) will clearly state they may be exchanged for a check; vouchers will be printed on colored paper for prominence.

1. Beginners' Group (B.A.M.A.)

• B.A.M.A. (Beginning Aero Modelers Association), announced by Ed Whitten in the Junior Flight column, is an individual effort (not an official AMA activity). The Council gave a unanimous vote of confidence and requested advance notice of B.A.M.A. plans.

1. Dealer Licenses

• HQ was directed to prepare a proposal for allowing hobby shops to sell AMA licenses; details to be presented at the next meeting.

1. Business Advisors Committee

• John Worth reported several candidates under consideration; seeking someone with accounting background. Current choices include an attorney, a small business manager, a large business executive, and a financial manager.

1. Awards

• One Fellowship and one Superior Service Award were approved; announcements to follow presentations.

1. Next Meeting

• A two‑day meeting was approved for Toledo on April 1–2. (A subsequent mail vote to change location and dates to Washington, DC on May 1–2 was not approved.)

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No Competition Newsletter?

• The "Competition Newsletter" required extra pages this month (expanded Contest Calendar and additional advertising). The printer could not accommodate the total, so a split mailing was used rather than deleting content. The same situation may occur next month; a higher‑capacity printer is being sought.

Film/Equipment List

• A full inventory of AMA film and equipment in the custody of the film producer was presented at the meeting and copies distributed to Council members.

AMA Scholarship Winners — 1981

The Scholarship Committee selected six recipients from fifteen submissions. Total awards for 1981 amounted to $4,250 (an increase over 1980).

Awards:

• Peter Bauer — $1,000
• Mitchell "Mitch" Robbins — $1,000
• Dale Doty — $750
• Clifford (Cliff) Telford — $500
• William (Bill) Brown — $500
• Barry Zeigenfuse — $500

Biographical notes:

• Peter Bauer — Recipient of a $1,000 scholarship. During four years of Math Contest Team participation he earned recognition from the American Mathematical Association and won a letter in Mathematics. He is musically active (Academy Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band and Symphonic Band) and served as Intramural Sports Captain.

• Mitchell "Mitch" Robbins — $1,000. Member of the Skymasters RC Club (Rochester, MI). Active and successful in Pattern, Pylon, and Scale contests; holds a private pilot's license and plans instrument and commercial training. Enrolled at the University of Michigan (Aerospace Engineering). His one‑sixth scale, scratch‑built reproduction of his father's 1948 Ryan Navion includes detailed panel lines, rivets, flaps, and sequenced retracts. Graduated Athens High School (Troy, MI) in 1980 in the top 6% of his class (GPA 3.8), National Honor Society, Physics Department Achievement Award.

• Dale Doty — $750. Aerospace Engineering student at Parks College (Cahokia, IL). Former member of Hawaii Radio Control Club with many contest trophies. In three years completed 10 RC models (six scratch built) and designs his own planes. High school National Honor Society member; active in music and sports; GPA 3.67 at Kailua High School. Interested in computer programming as it applies to aerospace.

• Clifford (Cliff) Telford — $500. Enrolled at Georgia Tech in Electrical Engineering. Active at Walt Whitman High School (Bethesda, MD) as Yearbook Photographer; top score in the MAA National Math Test; took flying instruction and will soon have a private license. Worked with RS Systems building R/C models for the U.S. Army; member of Prince Georges County RC Club; youngest flier in the top 20 at the 1980 Nats in his category.

• William (Bill) Brown — $500. Attending University of Wisconsin (Madison) for engineering. Kimberly High School (1981) graduate, National Honor Society, final GPA 4.0. Active in church, photographer with darkroom, musician (pep and jazz band, brass choir), and member of Valley Aero Modelers. Enjoys R/C boats and cars and outdoor activities with family involvement in modeling.

• Barry Zeigenfuse — $500. Attending Penn State for Electrical Engineering. Exeter Township Senior High School (1980) graduate (GPA 3.57). Active in varsity wrestling; received awards for academic excellence from the American Biological Institute and a Who's Who Among American High School Students recognition; served on prom committee.

JANUARY '82 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (Editorial Summary)

• AMA will now support a reigning World Champion to the same extent as team members if the champion competes for and wins a place on the team.
• Official nomination procedures for 1982 now allow a maximum of three persons on the ballot for each office; plurality vote elects; write‑ins permitted.
• A Technical Noise Committee was established with Ed Izzo (District I) as chairman and a $5,000 budget; committee will set standards and criteria regarding noise issues across modeling areas.
• Indoor was created as a fifth primary interest group (in addition to CL, FF, RC, Scale). A moratorium on implementation was placed until the close of the Spring Executive Council meeting to allow comments from interested parties.

Executive VP's Report

Jim McNeill Executive Vice‑President 617 South 20 Avenue Birmingham, AL 35205

• Jim McNeill thanks the many members who supported him in the November election and January runoff and pledges dedication to serve.
• Members, not HQ staff or officers, ultimately run AMA by setting policies and electing representatives.
• Example of member influence: due to member feedback (Bill Sievert, Santa Clara Pioneer RC Club), AMA credit vouchers were redesigned to plainly state they may be exchanged for a check if desired.
• Contest Directors are encouraged to write to their district VP about the proposal to periodically expire all CD licenses and require a written test for reinstatement; McNeill is opposed and seeks member input.
• Guest editorial included a letter from Dr. T. R. Passen (Jasonville, IN) expressing concern about Control Line coverage; McNeill thanks him for his opinion and notes the strength of American Control Line Combat teams internationally.
• Many modelers transition between Free Flight, Control Line, and Radio Control, bringing skills across disciplines. Example: Joe Harden, formerly FF and CL, now a top RC flier.

See you next month.

Foggy Lenses Department

• Photographs and captions from various events: Jersey Coast Sport Fliers, STARS Spangled Rally (Olean, NY), Romano Garabello Memorial Meet (Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, NY).
• Personal note: John Franke, Editor of Limerick Lines and member of the 1,000 Islands RC Modelers, has retired and moved to North Carolina.

VI District Report

Jim Sears District VI Vice‑President PO Box 308 Burgin, KY 40310

Associate Vice‑Presidents:

• Loren Holm, 643 Hill and Brook, Quincy, IL 62301
• William Kern, 1808 12th St., Bedford, IN 47421
• Glenn Lier, 819 Mandrake, Batavia, IL 60510
• Bruce Maloney, 1916 Keeneland Pkwy., Owensboro, KY 42301
• Raymond Meyers, PO Box 243, Smithville, MO 64089
• Helen Olsen, 820 Oel Bonham, University City, MO 63132
• Bill Zimmer, Box 72, Verna, IL 61375

• Jim Sears introduces himself as the new District VI VP (previously an AVP). His interests are RC sport and Scale; he does some contest flying.
• He is organizing AVPs to have set groups of clubs to correspond with on a regular basis to improve communication and representation.
• Clubs and individuals are encouraged to write with news, concerns, or newsletters; Sears will respond promptly.
• Photos and event reports submitted by Bud Bozioch feature Combat fliers and the Frozen Finger Flying Festival (Chicago Aero Angels).

"The sky is ours!"

(Iowa • Michigan • Minnesota • Wisconsin)

VII District Report

Hardy Brodersen District VII Vice‑President P. O. Box 11404 Birmingham, MI 48012

Assistant Vice‑President:

• Tony Iasiano, 1655 Revere Dr., Brookfield, WI 53005

Associate Vice‑Presidents:

• James Clark, 4444 Woodview Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
• John E. Lorbeth, 6847 N.E. 67th St., Milwaukee, WI 53218
• Robert D. Lundberg, 4928 Tioga St., Duluth, MN 55804
• William Rohling, 4944 Tanglewood Tr., St. Joseph, MI 49085
• Al Schneider, 5103 County Dr., Monona, WI 53711
• Ron Sears, 1532 S. Ralfe, Pontiac, MI 48054
• Terry Taylor, 8088 Lombardy Lane, Crystal, MN 55422

• Brodersen recounts the Council debate over alcohol at contests; initial motion to disqualify persons with alcoholic beverages in the flight line/pit areas passed then was reconsidered and ultimately canceled after enforcement concerns.
• Report from the Spirit of America Show (Belding, MI) praised the event: large spectator turnout, successful Fun Fly, professional performances by the Michigan Aerobats Show Team, and family‑oriented attractions (scale demos, aerial ballet, comedy routines, dogfight reenactments).
• Highlighted was community engagement and successful contest events with broad public interest.

VIII District Report

Ted White District VIII Vice‑President 1109 Greendale Bedford, TX 76021

Associate Vice‑Presidents:

• Bob Friend, 5512 Southwood, Little Rock, AR 72205
• William Morley III, 927 Commerce, Pleasanton, TX 78064
• Dan Parsons, 11809 Palmer NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111
• Ed Perez, 11002 N. Tarrant Rd., Grand Prairie, TX 75050
• Al Rabe, 1904 Valley Oak Ct., Irving, TX 75061
• Larry Sartor, 1415 Manor Dr., Batesville, OK 74003
• Ed Shearer, 3416 David Dr., Metairie, LA 70003

• White discusses an exchange about RC Scale judging: criticism of judge interpretation and enforcement (Dave Platt) and a rebuttal by USPJA president Howard Crispin. Platt's response argued that rule violations and judge‑imposed changes harm competitors and the sport’s integrity.
• Note: the Scale Masters Committee decided not to use USPJA judges for the 1982 Masters.

IX District Report

Travis McGinnis District IX Vice‑President 8027 W. 81st Circle Arvada, CO 80005

Associate Vice‑Presidents:

• Robert Ball, 2625 S. Coffman, Casper, WY 82601
• Dean Cox, 2809 Lawson Dr., Prairie Village, KS 66206
• Glenn Larned, 5425 E. Stanford Pl., Aurora, CO 80015
• Glen Law, 3704 S. Teal St., Littleton, CO 80226
• Tim Mathern, 429 Dogwood, Grafton, ND 58237
• Jim Ricketts, 516 S. Cloud, Sioux Falls, SD 57103

• The Nats will be held August 1–8 in Lincoln, Nebraska (District IX). The Lincoln Sky‑Knights will host.
• Dale and Joan Alyea were approved by IMAA as District IX directors for large model activity.
• Robert Ball (Casper, WY) joins as an AVP; thanks to Chuck Brannon for past service.
• Associate VP Jim Ricketts (South Dakota) reports on the Rapid City Propbusters: active club, excellent facilities, annual banquet and awards, strong community involvement, and significant donations to the AMA Building Fund. The Propbusters also have many "All Seasons Flyer" members.
• Emphasis on recruiting and supporting junior participation: clubs and hobby shops that mentor youth were recognized for their positive impact on the hobby.

Additional Notes

• Indoor film and other AMA film materials were shown at several local club meetings and were well received.
• Building Fund: donations are sought to reduce borrowing for the new HQ; donations of $50+ will have names placed on an honor scroll in the new building.
• AMA display booth: available for clubs; contact district VP for arrangements.

DON'T FLY CONTROL LINE MODELS NEAR POWER LINES!

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