An Open Letter to Sandy Frank

[Jim Branaum]

This is being published on many venues to insure it is read.



Sandy,
I have not always agreed with you and have frequently thought your directions were wrong, but for the good of the organization I determined to just let you do your thing for another three years until your actions of early summer. I have known about some of your flaws, the penchant to give the impression of a threat of physical violence at EC meetings, the apparent encouragement of others to file or threaten lawsuits against modelers for various reasons, and most of the many various 'screen' pseudo names (UNOWHO, and J.Spence to name a couple) you have hidden behind. But none of those flaws appeared to be strong enough to seriously weaken your position as District VIII AMA VP with the electorate. In fact during your trip to the Valley in February I shared those thoughts with Bill Lee and told him that and that I would rather model than run against you.

Your actions of nominating your friends to run against you smacks of unethical and immoral conduct and is unacceptable behavior from someone who is in a position of authority. I am sure that many in the district share that view as you have never bothered to tell exactly why you felt it necessary to launch a direct attack on very fabric of the fraternal organization we know as the AMA. Your absence from discussions on the subject smacks of an attempt to hide from the responsibility for the actions you have taken.

Someone has suggested that you took that action because you were afraid of Horrace Cain. I find that incredulous because even Horrace admits he cannot beat your in an election. I had thought you had more courage than your actions seem to demonstrate, but I have been wrong before. The impression your actions seem to give is that the AMA is to be run by kings who appoint and anoint their successors and assigns. Now is the time for you to come out in public and tell us why you have taken actions many view as a direct attack on the ability to chose given modelers within the AMA. Now is the time for you to tell why I am wrong.

I remain,

the write in candidate for District VIII AMA VP

Jim Branaum AMA 1428


On some venues A.K.A.
Six_O'clock_High
Target_Lock@Guns.com

[easytiger]

You are getting yourself sucked into the same weirdness and strange politics that you are complaining about. Nobody except for a handfull of people know what you are talking about, or care to read carefully enough to TRY to follow the story here.
About elections:
People talk about "spoilers" and such, supposed corruption by the nominating commitee...
Well...why are you not on the ballot? Did you get all your stuff in on time?
And...there is no such thing as a "spoiler". Whoever gets the most votes wins. Period.
If YOU want to win, you had better start just focusing on the issues, and present a positive outlook, and run away from any sandy frank and horrace cain weirdness.
Or maybe you want to drop out and regroup until the next election...

[ICTHRMLS]

Originally posted by easytiger
Nobody except for a handfull of people know what you are talking about, or care to read carefully enough to TRY to follow the story here.
So true, So true:(

[easytiger]

And so sad, so sad. I DO believe your heart is in the right place, though, Mr. Branaum. I think you are just getting sucked into the strangeness.
Fly above that stuff, if you want to get people interested.

[J_R]

deleted

[Jim Branaum]

Originally posted by J_R
Jim Branaum

I think a full, FACTUAL, non-self serving explanation of your decision to become a write-in candidate is in order.

JR

That is fairly simple.

The nominating process permitted these two candidates to abuse the system in their belief that they were helping someone other than themselves. The rules do not prohibit the actions they took even though what was done is clearly unethical. One even brags about how he used the system to his advantage. I don't think the intent of eithor was the benifit of the AMA rather the opposite.

The actions of these two people do not represent the rest of the folks on the AMA EC and yet they have both implicitly painted the EC as a bunch of good old boys. The third candidate is non-communicative and that is contrary to what the AMA and the District need.

In short none of the on the ballot candidates represents the type of person I believe we need or want in office.

[OneHump]

Do any of you read your posts? What an unbelievable turn-off to anyone who might want to join the AMA or stay a member.

OneHump

[H Hand]

It looks like they'd rather spout off than read the comments they make or questions people ask.

Such lost opportunities. The large photos at the end of the large posts are not even interesting. Same photos used many-many times. Hey, WE SAW THEM THE FIRST TIME!!! PLEASE SPARE US!!! PLEASE TALK ABOUT OTHER TOPICS THAN POLITICS!!!

Maybe they heard the yelling but somehow I doubt it.....

[ICTHRMLS]

Originally posted by H Hand
The large photos at the end of the large posts are not even interesting. Same photos used many-many times. Hey, WE SAW THEM THE FIRST TIME!!! My thoughts exactly!!!

Maybe they'll read this (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=1370078#post1370078)

[sunnydayfly]

You know this is my first year with AMA. I just received my renewal form. This club is like any other I have observed. Someone wants power for whatever reason. Not for the good of the club but his own. I don't care what your problems are, wise up. I am sure with all the broadcasting over the internet of all the nasty little problems and with the advent of electric's which don't need an approved field that sooner or later the base membership will be dropping. I know I'm looking very carefully at paying $58.00 for only a magazine.

[Hossfly]

Originally posted by sunnydayfly
You know this is my first year with AMA. I just received my renewal form. This club is like any other I have observed. Someone wants power for whatever reason. Not for the good of the club but his own. I don't care what your problems are, wise up. I am sure with all the broadcasting over the internet of all the nasty little problems and with the advent of electric's which don't need an approved field that sooner or later the base membership will be dropping. I know I'm looking very carefully at paying $58.00 for only a magazine.


Mr sunnydayfly:

Would you please indulge me in a discussion of that which you state above?

Your first year with AMA, and you refer to AMA as a "Club".
Sir, AMA is NOT a *Club*. AMA is a national organization, duly recognized as a serving charitable unit via IRS 501(c)(3), dedicated to educational pursuits relative the sport/hobby of model aviation. It is governed by an Executive Council (the Board of directors) elected by the membership and a member of the NAA.
The AMA's paid staff administrative functions are directed by the Chief Operating Officer, the Executive Director, which is subject to the policies established by the Executive Council.
Certainly there are problems. Every governing function has problems or someone is a dictator. I found problems when I served as a Trustee for a medium size church.
***PERSONAL ATTACK REMOVED BY MODERATOR***

There are always those that stand by the status quo.
There are always those that shout for change, yet only shout.
There are those that shout for change and have nothing to offer
outside raw emotion.
There are those that have been in the battle line for years, trying
to maintain an organization that is dedicated to
preservation of the original purposes of the organization
which are just as proper today as they were when
written many years ago.
Have you ever wondered why old conservatives preach
Constitutional Government to all the young people who
think the milk is always in the fridge?

They preach it because they know how things get off track and because they know what the original purposes are, whereas the new/young people have little understanding of freedom. Many of us spent some years defending those freedoms and will continue to do so. Maybe you did.

Everyone is entitled to defend that which he believes. The question comes when the search for public support is needed in the candidate's pursuit of position. Just look at the recent California election and recall. Not too tidy in the final days.
Politics may not be very nice, however it is the only way to get some to pay attention to what IS and what SHOULD be.

Now, I also ask you:
Who led a fight for frequencies that you now enjoy even NOT on an *approved* field? It certainly was NOT the RC Industry of the times.

Who is having meetings with the Home Security people that would like to shut this activity down? Your little electric could become a felony. It certainly is NOT the RC Industry.

You are in the park and your electric goes able-sugar for a number of reasons, maybe that kid with a car and a garage-sale radio. (Frequency?-- What's a frequency??) Your little electric gets another kid just off center from between the eyes. EYE GONE! Just who will provide the service that may allow you to not be near bankrupt for most of your life? Maybe Vice Versa -- someone gets your eyes or whatever. You will need some financial help for your life. IT SURE WILL NOT BE THE RC INDUSTRY.

$58 is a very small price for those services rendered, and more services are there waiting for someone to come unleash them.

***PERSONAL ATTACK REMOVED BY MODERATOR*** For those of you that will not vote or will not vote for one that understands AMA's inner workings, has a proven track record in promoting all of model aviation and will be dedicated to less Club Hindrances, MORE flying facilities, and help therefore, then go ahead and resort to emotional dereliction of objective duty.

You may well get that which you ask for, even though the gift box probably will NOT contain any useful substance.


Horrace Cain

[ETrain]

***Previous post reference removed by moderator, see above***

Shameful, absolutely shameful. If this is the kind of stance and attitude the leaders of AMA have, I can assure you that you'll be turning off entire generations of modelers. I personally will be watching this little election very closely, and if someone with this type of attitude towards a first year member is elected, AMA will not be getting a cent from me in the future. I'll be glad to take my "little electrics" and $58 elsewhere. No amount of "benefits" makes up for being representing by someone like this. I cannot think of a better way to damage AMA's image than with posts such as the above. Bravo, well done. :(

Eric

[Tres Wright]

Hossfly, cut the personal attacks right now. I've heard enough of them. You are a member of the AMA, so is "sunnydayfly". You are no better than him or any other member of the AMA. When you speak on these forums, you better do so with full respect for the other members. Your attacks will not be tolerated. Consider yourself warned for the second time.