Frank V. Ponteri
IMAA District One Director
95A Quannacut RoadWesterly, RI 02891
Telephone: (401) 322-8358
E-mail: snipped-for-privacy@cox.net
December 7, 2005
Tom Hayden, IMAA President
1649 TecumsehLancaster, Ohio 43130
Dear Tom,
It has been almost twenty years since you and I attended our first IMAA Board of Directors meeting. The details of that Friday night special session are as fresh in my mind today as they were the day of that meeting. A lot has transpired during the time since that meeting, some good, and some not so good. We have seen the IMAA membership rise to a high of over 12,000 and decline to 1991 levels of 7000 members.
Throughout the good and bad times, we never forgot that the IMAA was founded "to create an atmosphere where pleasure, recreation, fellowship, and co-mingling can be fostered and found to exist amongst individuals enjoying the sport of building and flying large radio controlled model aircraft." In our quest to build the IMAA, we often disagreed and at times our tempers flared but none of it ever became personal. We were always able and willing to find a middle ground. It is apparent that over the past year, "fellowship" and respect differing opinions has gone from the IMAA Board of Directors.
On February 11, 2005, District II Director Frank Fels, wrote in a letter (e-mail) sent to the Officers, Directors, and employees of the IMAA:
"GENTLEMAN,SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A CANCER IN OUR ORGANIZATION."
I thought at the time that this statement would have brought forth outrage from the other members of the board, however, none of my fellow Directors showed any outrage. It is apparent that the lack of a response to this type of behavior gave license to others to partake in the same type of un-professional behavior.
On October 10, 2005 District VIII Director and President Elect Tom Hammer sent an e-mail to a number of IMAA members that contained in part the following: "I haven't seen all that is on RCU. But I have been told by several Imaa directors. That some of you, my friends and personal advisors, have been supporting the radical district one director. If this is true shame on you. For heavens sake, please remain calm, and don't be tricked by the evil one.......
NO Matter how good it sounds whatever he says he has nothing good in his =
heart for Imaa."
I forwarded this message to a number of IMAA Directors and their response was again silence.
On November 2, 2005, Frank Fels wrote in and e-mail to the Board "I PERSONALLY CAN'T WAIT TO GET IN THE BOARD ROOM AND BE WITH YOU ALL, JUST TO SEE THE WHITES OF YOUR EYES AND NOT HIDING BEHIND YOUR KEYBOARDS,"
On November 5, 2005 I received a telephone call from Bill Hamby that was reordered on my answering machine in which he resorts to name calling and threats. Unfortunately my wife has been subjected to these e-mails and telephone message.
Yesterday, President elect Hammer sent another e-mail to members of the Board in which he belittled my service and contribution to the IMAA.
During my twenty plus years of service to the IMAA, my wife Jean has always supported my service. Year after year she would give up vacations so we could attend the IMAA Rally and Board meetings. In the early years when I served as District Two Director, she would spend many weekends working the IMAA table that we would set up at local events to sell accessories and sign up new members. What has transpired over the past months has made us feel that our home has been violated and our service demeaned. We feel that the IMAA Board has gone to a place that we do not care to go.
After considerable reflection and discussions with friends and family, I have decided to resign the position of District One Director. My resignation will become effective upon the appointment (vote) by the IMAA Board of Directors of a new District One Director who will complete my term in office. Until such time as a new Director is nominated and approved, I will continue to carry out the duties of District One Director. I will give the new Director as much help as he/she may require in order to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Yours truly,
Frank V. Ponteri
IMAA District One Director AMA District One AVP AMA Leader Member AMA Contest Director AMA Experimental Aircraft Inspector