In a past column, I extolled the virtues of the District IX leadership meeting in Denver. Those people do a great job of helping one another and sharing resources.
Spurred by that success, we hosted two more leadership events. The first, on February 20, 2016, in Kansas City, Kansas, found 33 people from 12 clubs discussing AMA-related issues.
The next weekend, on February 27 in Fargo, North Dakota, 16 people and five clubs hashed out the same issues.
I can’t tell you how pleased I was to host these events. Being able to see your fellow modelers and engage them in conversation has a value that can’t be underestimated. Thanks to North Dakota Associate Vice President (AVP) Brandon Koch and Kansas AVP Paul Frankum for the logistical help in making this happen. Thanks, also, to District VI Vice President Randy Cameron for attending the Kansas event and bringing a contingent of modelers from across the river in Missouri.
The consensus of all who attended these meetings is that they are a valuable tool in building cooperation and understanding among local clubs. Without exception, the attendees urged that these meetings take place again next year.
At the Kansas meeting I recognized the 95th Street Group and Bill Alexander for their outstanding support of the District IX Camp AMA Scholarship.
Their generous donations helped us to send young AMA members to this dynamic event in Muncie, Indiana. We couldn’t have done it without them.
From AMA Headquarters on down, we have been busy responding to questions about the continuing process of FAA registration. Colorado AVP Rick McCaskill took it one step further by developing a presentation about these issues for clubs. One recent meeting was with the Jefco Aeromod’lers in Denver.
At the meeting, Rick covered the history and process of creating the regulations, how AMA continues to work for its membership, and what members must do to comply.
There were many questions, but when it was over, all felt better informed about this ongoing hot topic. Peter Thompson, president of the Jefco Aeromod’lers summed it up by saying, “This type of discussion was a great benefit to our members and cleared up many misunderstandings. Thank you, Rick, for being here.”
Unlike many of you who have fair weather all year, in District IX we enjoy quite a bit of indoor flying here in the “Outback.” I had a great time at the Bismarck Flurry Fest indoor event in Bismarck, North Dakota. This annual event is held at the City Parks and Recreation’s Golf Dome––a grand indoor flying site. The Missouri Slope Model Aero Club hosts this gathering as part of a citywide winter activity promotion. A video of this event is available with the digital edition and on the District IX Facebook page.
In Rapid City, South Dakota, thanks to the associated Student Model Aviation Club at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, members of the Rapid City Propbusters RC Club are able to fly indoors at the new King Center on the Mines campus.