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We
could learn a lot
from each other by
sharing experiences.
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Congratulations
to the 2009 winners of The Academy of Model Aeronautics Carl
Goldberg Vital People Award. In 1983, Carl and Beth Goldberg
asked AMA to help create an award to recognize special
people who do so much for model aviation at the local level.
As Carl described them, they are “vital people in the
background of the modeling movement whose efforts enhance
the enjoyment of the hobby and whose accomplishments are
seldom formally acknowledged.”
After Carl passed away in 1985, the recognition program
continued until it was sunset in the early 1990s. At our
October 2008 Executive Council meeting, the council
discussed the value of the program and how AMA would like to
do more to thank our members who make model aviation at the
local level more enjoyable for all of us.
We voted to resurrect The Academy of Model Aeronautics
Carl Goldberg Vital People Award. We wanted to leave the
Goldberg name on the award because anyone who was involved
in model aviation during Carl Goldberg’s lifetime knows that
he was the consummate modeler and really epitomized and
defined the intent of this award.
In late 2009 the award was presented to five deserving
members. The recipients were Herb Ziegler (District II),
Bill Jones (District III), Frank Geisler (District IV),
Robert Arata (District VI), and Bob Shanks (District X).
Applications for The Academy of Model Aeronautics Carl
Goldberg Vital People Award can be found on the AMA Web
site. All it takes is one member or club to nominate a
deserving individual. The recipients will be selected by a
committee of members—one from each AMA district—and winners
for 2010 will be announced in late October.
This is an opportunity for you to do something in
return for that member who works so hard to make model
aviation better for all of us.
A few months ago I told you about the chair of our
Education Committee, Dr. Gordon Schimmel, being recognized
as the 2009 recipient of the Dr. Mervin K. Strickler Jr.
Aerospace Education Leadership Award, presented by the
National Coalition for Aviation Education (NCAE).
Recently the chairperson of AMA’s Insurance Committee
was also recognized for his outstanding work in the
insurance profession. Keith Sievers was recently selected as
an Elite 8 honoree by Insurance & Technology
magazine.
Insurance & Technology’s
Elite 8 is an annual award recognizing senior insurance
carrier IT (information technology) executives who have used
technology strategically to successfully support overall
company business objectives.
Recipients are a cross-section of individuals from the
property/casualty, life and health, and reinsurance
insurance sectors. The award is given annually during
Insurance & Technology’s Executive Summit, which was
held in 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona.
AMA recognizes that we have a valuable resource in our
membership. The hard work and effort that members and
modelers such as Gordon and Keith have contributed to AMA
has helped build a committee structure that allows AMA to
provide the level of support that our members have come to
expect.
AMA is proud to have members such as Keith and Gordon
as part of our leadership team.
In mid-December my wife, Ginger, and I were invited
to the home of Pat and Richard Barlow for a dinner reception
in honor of Percy and Rina Attfield. Richard is president of
the Model Aircraft Association of Canada (MAAC) and Percy is
president of the South African Model Aircraft Association (SAMAA).
Percy and Rina were visiting Canada as part of a
vacation that included visits to several spots in North
America as well as a stop at the Arctic. Also in attendance
that evening was Claude Melbourne and his wife, Tina, and
Dave Asquini and his wife, Lisanne. Claude is an MAAC Zone
Director (the equivalent of an AMA VP) for the Ottawa Valley
Zone and Dave is Claude’s deputy Zone Director.
The evening was filled with stories that involved
topics both in and out of model aviation. The original rule
was that we would not talk about model aviation until after
dinner—a rule that went out the window in record time.
However, that turned out not to be a problem for our wives.
Rina, Pat, Tina, and Lisanne are all strong supporters of
their husbands’ work with our respective associations, as is
Ginger.
As the night progressed it became obvious to all of us
that each of our organizations shares similar concerns. Each
has seen a decrease in membership over the last several
years. We discussed what each of our associations was doing
to address this concern and shared ideas that seemed to have
some positive impact, and others that may not have worked
out quite so well.
The issue that AMA is dealing with in helping to
develop guidelines for the operation of model aircraft in
our national airspace is not unique to us. Both MAAC and
SAMMA are facing similar issues, although MAAC has been
addressing model aviation in Canadian airspace for roughly a
year longer than AMA has. The lessons that Richard has
learned so far during the process, I’m sure, will help AMA
as we move through ours.
Richard and I have maintained a close relationship
since I became AMA president. We talk often and I really
believe that this rapport has been a benefit to both
organizations.
As the evening ended, we all agreed that a continuing
dialog between the three of us would be helpful in guiding
our associations toward the future. We could learn a lot
from each other by sharing experiences. MA
See you next time ...
Dave Mathewson, AMA president
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