Jim Branaum
Oct 12, 2003, 09:32 PM
I spent the weekend with some good folks and had lots of fun flying. My friend and I taught them how to fly in the rain and their event at least broke even Saturday. What a blast. I had forgotten how much fun it is to have a plane hydroplane in the crosswind!
In between the excitement of challenging the weather, we had many good discussions about the AMA, things that I think should be done in the District, and things I believe need to be shared with all in District VIII. Here is a short list of things I think need to be accomplished and some of the reasons for them.
It is clear to all that District VIII needs more than one AVP per non-Texas state. I want to use two. My AVP's will need to travel and submit written reports about once a month. In some areas less frequently unless the AVP is covering a particular segment of the hobby in our District. The logic here is that District VIII is HUGE and one person simply cannot cover it in any manner that makes sense to anyone. However, the average modeler needs to see some evidence that the AMA cares AND the District VP does NEED to know what is going on around the District. Not knowing is similar to not caring.
To aid the AVP's in creating the feeling of 'the AMA family' across District VIII, there need to be fly in's in each state that are attended by the DVP at least once a year. Different areas of each state can be visited each year so more modelers and their club officers can attend. This is the only way to insure that every state is visited regularly and clearly made part of the activity. In Texas there will probably be several different events attended (as a participant) to communicate with the general membership. Part of this is strictly because I live in the middle of that state and part is because of the vast areas covered.
There needs to be a District Newsletter to supplement the column that reports to the officers and newsletter editors of every club in the district (quarterly or monthly that is still in the air) what is happening to clubs around the District. Which clubs are having problems and the nature of the issues and potential solutions along with what good things other clubs have found to improve their image are things that need to be reported. The logic here is that you may never know when your club may need some of those skills, knowledge, or nudges in the correct direction. Everything in the newsletter will be welcome to be included in yours WITH ATTRIBUTION so the membership knows where it came from.
In the District Newsletter we need a section that reports what different things various clubs around the district have done to improve their local image. Local officials make their decisions that effect our flying fields based on their perceptions of the local club and its activities. How to change those perceptions from neutral (or worse) to good also needs to be covered since it impacts almost all of us. We also need a section that recognizes modelers who have accomplished special status for one reason or another. Things like the IMAC Nats placings of some of our better flyers, the standings in the scale world of some of our more successful modelers, and the good results of other competitors.
There was much more, but it seems to me that this is a good place to start.
In between the excitement of challenging the weather, we had many good discussions about the AMA, things that I think should be done in the District, and things I believe need to be shared with all in District VIII. Here is a short list of things I think need to be accomplished and some of the reasons for them.
It is clear to all that District VIII needs more than one AVP per non-Texas state. I want to use two. My AVP's will need to travel and submit written reports about once a month. In some areas less frequently unless the AVP is covering a particular segment of the hobby in our District. The logic here is that District VIII is HUGE and one person simply cannot cover it in any manner that makes sense to anyone. However, the average modeler needs to see some evidence that the AMA cares AND the District VP does NEED to know what is going on around the District. Not knowing is similar to not caring.
To aid the AVP's in creating the feeling of 'the AMA family' across District VIII, there need to be fly in's in each state that are attended by the DVP at least once a year. Different areas of each state can be visited each year so more modelers and their club officers can attend. This is the only way to insure that every state is visited regularly and clearly made part of the activity. In Texas there will probably be several different events attended (as a participant) to communicate with the general membership. Part of this is strictly because I live in the middle of that state and part is because of the vast areas covered.
There needs to be a District Newsletter to supplement the column that reports to the officers and newsletter editors of every club in the district (quarterly or monthly that is still in the air) what is happening to clubs around the District. Which clubs are having problems and the nature of the issues and potential solutions along with what good things other clubs have found to improve their image are things that need to be reported. The logic here is that you may never know when your club may need some of those skills, knowledge, or nudges in the correct direction. Everything in the newsletter will be welcome to be included in yours WITH ATTRIBUTION so the membership knows where it came from.
In the District Newsletter we need a section that reports what different things various clubs around the district have done to improve their local image. Local officials make their decisions that effect our flying fields based on their perceptions of the local club and its activities. How to change those perceptions from neutral (or worse) to good also needs to be covered since it impacts almost all of us. We also need a section that recognizes modelers who have accomplished special status for one reason or another. Things like the IMAC Nats placings of some of our better flyers, the standings in the scale world of some of our more successful modelers, and the good results of other competitors.
There was much more, but it seems to me that this is a good place to start.