View from HQ
Joyce Hager Executive Director
Spring is here, and flying season is coming into full swing.
As I write this column, club rechartering is in full swing. As of March 8, we had processed 1,248 charters with 1,564 additional insurance certificates. This is slightly less than half of the total number of clubs for the 2001-2002 season.
If you have not received a club charter kit, you can find it on the Web site, but I must warn you that it is roughly 29 pages long. You can also E-mail Club Secretary Lois Pierce at loisp@modelaircraft.org to receive a copy in the mail. All club charters and additional insurance certificates will have expired at midnight on March 31.
I have received several letters addressed to the "Executive Director of AMA." They are often stating a problem with a club in a certain area or complaining that they never see anything in the magazine about their club. Occasionally they are protesting another member's actions and asking AMA to look into the situation. The problem is that none of these letters are signed.
In order for your association to follow through on such things, we need information—especially if the item of concern pertains to safety. Safety should be everyone's concern. I know it is ours.
In your letter you can indicate that you do not want your name disclosed. We can still address the issue with the club or individual and contact you for additional information.
At one time AMA had a suggestion box for employees. Many used this box for excellent suggestions ranging from employee working conditions to ways to increase non-dues revenue. Yes, at times we got complaints that were unsigned.
I feel that if you believe in what you are writing, you should sign it. It is easy to complain, expect someone to do something about it, and not get involved. Please, if you send us a letter, be sure to include your name and AMA number.
In another letter, one member requested to see a plot of the facility at Muncie, IN. We are working on a revised version (one was printed several years ago) that would show where various structures are, including the permanent bathroom/shower facility, designated camping areas, dump station, the road that circles the property, and the runways.
I received this letter from Juni Marusich, and I want to honor his request and include it in this month's column.
"As a reader of Model Aviation magazine, I wonder if it would be possible for you to put a small note in the magazine as I would like to try and contact two old modeler friends of mine. One is Dennis Hunt who had a model manufacturing company in the Rhodesia and subsequently immigrated to somewhere in the U.S.
"The second is Jim Simson who at the time I knew him he was working for EK Logitrol in Texas, then moved on to another model company in the U.S. He was involved in the World Glider Championships that were held here in South Africa during the 1970s.
"Joyce, I would appreciate it if you could help. Hoping to hear from you soon."
Juni's address is Box 688, Swellendam 6740, South Africa, his telephone number is (028) 514-3024, and his E-mail address is patricia.juni@sdm.dorea.co.za.
Spring is here, and flying season is coming into full swing. At the end of the column I have included a current schedule of events that will be held at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie.
Please be sure that the site will be open for your particular type of flying when you plan your visit. The weekends are quite full, but the site is normally open during the week. You can always call or inquire by E-mail before you leave. I hate disappointing people.
Happy flying,
Joyce
Joyce Hager Executive Director jhager@modelaircraft.org
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
