Please read this and consider my request. Thanks.
For several years I have been watching, as others, and have concluded we need some changes within the AMA. We need to change the approach used within our own organization so that it serves the hobby rather than the hobby serves it. Currently we seem to have an insurance problem because as a group we have failed to install accident prevention activities as a priority. As AMA members we have seen dues go up significantly due to the increase in insurance costs but not seen any recommendations from the AMA as to moves we could take to prevent future cost increases.
The AMA was founded to foster competition and yet today, as a group, most modelers do not compete. Since the goals of the membership have changed, it is clear we need to adjust the goals and directions of the AMA. Some changes in the goals and possibly the by-laws of the organization are being discussed now and we need effective representation to help the hobby grow with the AMA. District VIII represents enough modelers that we should be part of that process and yet it seems to be behind closed doors to most of us. To my way of thinking and doing business that means we need to have improved two way communications between the membership and the elected leaders rather than strictly leader driven communications. Good ideas are not the property of a few, but grow when there is free and open communication between respected parties. There is evidence that open communications still do not exist in District VIII.
Not to long ago many of us thought Sandy Frank was going to take a breath of fresh air to the AMA for those of us in District VII, but that seems to have turned out to be a vain hope. Horrace Cain was nominated and returned the favor to two of his friends. Sandy Frank was nominated and HE nominated Bill Lee and Doug Powell for the job. There were seven nominations made and the AMA Nominations Committee was forced to put three poor choices on the ballot.
In February I decided that I was having too much fun being a modeler and flying with my friends all over the district to bother running against Sandy. I even discussed that specific decision and the reasoning behind it with Bill Lee and other friends as I have crossed swords (or horns if you prefer) with Sandy frequently. However this latest moral failure demonstrated by someone in a leadership positioin has made it clear that was a mistake. For these reasons I have decided to run a write in campaign for the District VIII AMA VP slot.
I would like your help. Please take this to the flying field this weekend and discuss it with your friends. As Sandy's letter says, most do not vote. Let's change that. Please write my name and AMA number on your ballot and send it to the correct address (NOT MUNCIE!) when it comes in your renewal packet.
Thanks,
Jim Branaum
AMA 1428
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