LEADER TO LEADER
What Does it Mean to be a Leader Member?
by Frank Geisler,
Chairman Leader Member Committee
My name is Frank Geisler and I am a
member of the Gloucester Area Modelers Association
in Gloucester, Virginia. I have recently been
appointed by Dave Mathewson and Jim Rice to chair
the Leader Member (LM) Program Development
Committee. I was reluctant at first to accept the
position, but when I read our mission statement
below, I soon realized that LMs play an important
role in the AMA and I thought I could make a
difference in helping to develop LMs in the AMA.
“The AMA Leader Member Committee is tasked with
developing new and creative ways to communicate
with, and utilize, the diverse education,
motivation, and talents of our Leader Members. This
potential volunteer force represents nearly 3,000
members that could benefit the Academy and the
general membership.”
I am in the process of assembling my committee and I
look forward to working with other LMs to help make
the Academy and the sport of model aviation prosper.
In discussions with other Leader Members in my
district, the questions I hear most are; “What does
an LM do besides vote on bylaws?” or “How can we get
more involved?” However the one concern that seems
most disturbing to LMs is “the AMA does not utilize
their Leader Members enough.” I hope to answer those
questions and address the concern in this column.
First, we need to review a few definitions. We know
what the AMA Membership Manual states about an LM.
Two key points I’d like to note: “The Leader Member
is identified as an individual performing an above
average interest in the Academy and its functions”
and “The Leader Member is the highest level of
membership...”
Webster defines a leader as “a person who leads: as
a guide.” LMs, due to their dedication, use
influence, talent, and skills to help guide members
of the AMA, their districts, and clubs in their
areas for the betterment of the Academy and most
importantly model aviation.
There are many reasons why each of us became an LM,
but I’m sure it all boils down to this; we wanted
model aviation and the AMA to prosper. We all felt
that we could help accomplish that goal. We wanted
to belong to a first-class organization that helps
promote model aviation and is also focused on people
willing to help others. LMs by nature should all
share this common denominator of having a positive
can-do attitude or we simply would not have sent in
our application to become LMs.
We should all take a step back and examine the
issues that concern us the most and see what we can
do to fix them. As LMs we should not sit idle and
instead take action to correct things that we see
are wrong.
Few are in a better position to correct things
happening in your district or club than you are.
When was the last time you e-mailed the other LMs in
your district? Have you checked the AMA’s Web site
to ensure your club’s contact info and Web site are
correct? Have you checked on other clubs in your
area? It sure is frustrating to attempt to contact a
new club via the AMA Web site and discover the
e-mail or Web site address is a dead link. These are
a few very simple things each of us can do in a
matter of 15 minutes that can help open up the lines
of communication.
My committee can’t do this alone. We are seeking
ideas that will help energize the LM program and I
support this effort whole heartedly and look forward
to LMs across the US taking on more active roles in
an effort to help promote model aviation.
As you know, the AMA has established a forum where
AMA members can discuss issues openly with each
other. Unlike other forums, moderation in this forum
supports open communication, but does not tolerate
personal attacks, so a person can post there without
fear of being attacked because his or her opinion
may differ from another’s. In that forum, a LM
section has been implemented that is only available
to LMs.
Currently, more and more LMs are being added.
If you have not received an e-mail yet, please go to
“Ask AMA” and send a request to Greg Minch and ask
that you be added to the list of LMs. Be sure to
include your name and AMA number in your request.
Please stop in, introduce yourself, and share any
ideas and concerns you have with the other LMs
posting in the forum.
I am looking forward to working with you to help
promote model aviation and the Academy.
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