Edition: Model Aviation - 2002/09
Page Numbers: 164

District VIII Report

Arkansas / Louisiana / New Mexico / Oklahoma / Texas

Contact

Notice: For a listing of all district volunteer workers, consult the previous magazine issue or the above web address.

Important Notice to All AMA Members and Chartered Clubs

To all AMA members and chartered clubs throughout the country: The following information is of critical importance.

Recently, emergencies have occurred where providing complete and accurate directions to emergency medical services so they can locate a model aircraft flying field and provide assistance in a critical situation has become a significant concern. With the proliferation of cellular telephones, the ability to contact 911 and EMS services is greatly increased and welcomed, but when there is incomplete location information available, critical minutes can be lost. Many model aircraft flying fields are located in isolated and off-the-beaten-path locations.

Please permanently and indelibly post complete and accurate directions, locations, addresses, and/or information that can be provided to emergency personnel during a time of crisis at your flying field. Use either the formally accepted street address or accurate latitude and longitude coordinates that allow Global Positioning System (GPS) location of your flying field.

Given the possibility of accidental physical injury and the increasing incidence of emergency medical situations (such as an unexpected coronary condition), this request to post accurate information is of the utmost importance and could be a matter of life or death. Please consider posting accurate flying-site location information as a high-priority item and institute it as soon as possible.

AMA — the glue that bonds modelers together!

Henderson Field News (North Little Rock, AR) — Gerald Martika

The following is from the Henderson Field News, North Little Rock, AR, written by the club president, Gerald Martika.

"Do you recall the last time you volunteered for anything? Do you remember the last time you thought, 'Gee, I wish someone would do things a little differently'? Do you think just paying the dues makes you a member of the group?

"If your answer to any of these was no, then you should find a way to be a better member of that big bunch of people called the human race. If you answered yes to the third question, well, just sit back and let 'them' do it all—whoever 'them' is. If the second question was a definite yes, then 'come on down!' We need all the help we can get.

"We will be having a cleanup day before every major event at the field, and routine yard maintenance during the rest of the year. A member of the executive board will call and ask for your help.

"Please, if all of us pitch in, these chores won't take up much of the day, and if the calls for volunteers are spaced out over the membership roster, everyone will have the opportunity to help.

"Currently, we have approximately five members who seem to do most of the work. One of them, Steve Coffman (who has a full-time regular job), always finds time to bring his mower, his truck, his gas, and a borrowed trailer out and keep the grass and the runway looking great. I also might add, he has been the bulldozer operator and the bush-hog driver. For all of this, what would you charge after working all day?

"I am only using Steve as an example here. Many other hard-working people have put forth a major effort to bring this club to the point where we are now.

"Please, when you read this, just ask yourself, 'Have I done my part here?'

"The monthly meeting is scheduled for the seventh of May, at the same place. We have been meeting for a snack and some old-time fellowship at about 6 p.m., and then on with the meeting. We want you to be there with us, because this is your club. This is where you have your say in the club business. Don't let someone else have your vote and your say in how things are done."

Ft. Worth Planesmen Model Airplane Club — Yard Sale

The Ft. Worth Planesmen Model Airplane Club presented a novel event concept: a model airplane yard sale.

  • Admission and parking were free.
  • The sale was held at the home of Fred Wolfe in White Settlement, TX. Tel.: (817) 246-6777.
  • Many active modeling enthusiasts from throughout the region attended.

The event provided many of the public-relations benefits of an aeromodelling mall show, with interested non-modelers stopping by, seeking information about becoming modelers, receiving directions to the club's flying field, and learning about the Ft. Worth Planesmen MAC.

Bay Port Aero Club Newsletter (Willem Dykstra)

Willem Dykstra, editor of the Bay Port Aero Club newsletter, sent the following:

"Get your newsletter by Email! We are trying to reduce the cost of publishing by reducing the number of newsletters we have to copy and stamp for mailing.

"All you need to read the newsletter is Email access. All you do when you receive the Email is double-click the attachment (which will be the newsletter) and you will see it in color! This is not complicated; it will save the club much in printing and postage costs.

"If you have any questions, come to the meeting and we will work it out."

If you have any questions about how this program is working, please contact him at: tacomaweb@aol.com.

Fort Bend Radio Control Club — Storage Solution (Sam Grice)

Sam Grice sent an interesting and creative solution to a club storage problem.

"About two years ago, we at Fort Bend Radio Control Club in Rosenberg, TX, had a need for a way to secure our mowers and other club equipment at the flying field. We had our share of vandalism and were anxious to find a fast, easy, and inexpensive solution to our problem.

"I found that we could purchase a 20-foot galvanized steel shipping container from a company that deals in surplus containers (these are normally carried on a flatbed trailer or loaded onto a cargo container ship). We bought an inexpensive one that was slightly damaged or had outlived its design limits.

"Being made of heavy steel with really heavy watertight doors made this a perfect solution for us. For $1,200 plus $100 shipping to our field, we found ourselves the owners of a steel, watertight storage locker that provides many years of weather protection and can last for decades without maintenance.

"If you get a painted one, it can be repainted to match other buildings on your field. Beware: some used containers have been heavily modified (for example, with windows cut for food service) and may not be what you want."

AMA — modelers sharing solutions with other modelers!

Flying, fun, and fellowship!

Dr. Sandy Frank Your representative to the AMA Executive Council

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