Red Scholefield

My Feedback: (9)

It is interesting how the various AMA District VPs run their district.

How many of your District AVPs are available by e-mail? Here is a breakdown of the districts that list their AVPs e-mail address on the AMA web page.

First number is how may AVPs out of total have e-mail address listed.
Second is how many Frequency Coordinators have e-mail address listed.
Third Y or N - District weg page.

Does your district have an official e-mail list - supported by the VP ? I have listed only those that I know that have one. Last item

District I 1/6 0/1 N ?
District II 11/12 2/2 Y Y
District III 4/10 0/1 Y ?
District IV 7/8 0/1 Y ?
District V 2/20 No FC Y N
District VI 0/8 0/1 Y ?
District VII 6/8 1/2 Y ?
District VIII 3/11 1/2 Y Y
District IX 0/10 0/1 Y ?
District X 0/11 0/2 Y ?
District XI 6/7 0/1 Y ?

There seems to be no consistency from District to District what information is presented on the the AMA web site. Some Districts list complete contact information while others only put phone number.

What would it take to make all the listings consistent?

Mailing address, phone number, e-mail (if they have one)? Why is there so much difference now?

Why is there such a disparity in the number of AVPs in the different districts? District V has nearly twice as many AVPs as any other district, but are only the second largest in membership and 6th in square miles covered.

Red S.
AMA 951
Leader Member/CD

Hossfly

Red, is the District VIII list truly supported by the incumbent VP?

Bill Lee OWNS it and will kick one off that fails to dance to his version of music.

Since I am not in tune with BL's notes, I wonder just how much SF uses the list.

OTOH, BL also does the D-8 web and Sandy is definitely in the front-lines there. In addition there one can find the voting instructions. (http://www.ama-dist-8.org/)

While the voting instructions are there, there is no mention of the choices available for the 2004 AMA DVP.

J_R

Hi Red

All I can offer is my opinion of Dist X

The facts are that we have a lousy web page
We have AVP's, city and phone number listed, in MA, and on the web
The DVP is listed only in MA by a PO Box and phone number. His e-mail appears in MA and on the AMA site.
The Dist Page on the AMA page is not the same as listed in MA, neither have any value. It appears that the AMA may be setting up new Dist pages (try www.ama10.org )
Dist X is the largest district in terms of members and size, yet does not have as many AVP's as others.

This would all lead you to the erroeous conclusion that it is difficult to communicate with the District officers. Nothing could be further from the truth. An e-mail to Rich Hanson will draw a response, although it may take a while. A phone call is answered or returned promptly. If the situation calls for an AVP Rich will either put you in touch or have the AVP contact you.

Now, on to an issue that is different in different areas of the country. This district is, shall we say, well populated. It is populated not only with normal people, but with some that are.. different. Persoanally, I would not want my address or e-mail to be listed on any AMA page where the public has access to it, nor in MA for that matter. If you don't understand why, turn your TV to the news and watch for Dist X news items for a couple of days, or read some of our local newspapers on the net.

I hope the impression I am leaving is that it is easy to contact the officers out here, just not by mail, either snail or electronic. Once a contact has been made, e-mail is often used. Because of the differences in the population in different parts of the country, different standards are appropriate.

Should a method be available to contact the officers? Yes, and D X does that.

JR

Bill Lee

The AMA web page is notoriously lacking in a lot of different ways, Red.

Please check out the D-8 web page, take the link to "Officials" and revise your D-8 count: ALL of the AVPs have an e-mail address listed, both frequency coordinators, and most of the other volunteer workers of the District, too.

Regards,

Bill Lee

J_R

As anyone knows that follows this group, Bill Lee and I do not see eye to eye. Having said that, I am a member of the D8 e-mail groups that Bill Lee owns. When I joined, I agreed to abide by his guidelines. I have pushed them to the limits, on occasion. Maybe even bent them some. I have been "guided" back in line, BUT.. NEVER ONCE was a threat made to throw me off of the list.

Fair is fair, and BL applies the rules fairly, IN MY OPINION. There are other members here; has anyone else ever been threatened with exclusion from the D8 lists? Does anyone know of someone, besides Horrace, that has actually been removed from the list?

JR

Red Scholefield

My Feedback: (9)

You bring up a good point about the AMA web page lacking. Why couldn't it be fixed as far as current listings of officers in various districts, by the VP appointing someone from his district to take responsibility and be given access to his Districts information for purposes of updating?

I'm sorry that my account was colored by looking at where one would expect to find the correct and current information for a District. I should have known that your D-VIII web page would be correct rather than the AMA data.

Red S.
D-V where District web page content is not important.

J_R

Bill Lee

Is Horrace Cain's assertion that Sandy Frank has done a snail mailing to all of the members of D8 factual?

If such a mailing took place or is going to take place, was/is it political in nature? (regardless of to what degree)

If so, how was it funded? Was it done privately, or with AMA funds?

If this mailing was or is to be done, are the names and addresses of the D8 members available to all of the other candidates for D8 VP? If so, from what source?

The fact that Sandy Frank donates some of the proceeds from SWAC to AMA is apparently a accepted fact. Are all of the profits donated?

If all of the profits are not donated, how can the use of the D8 VP column in MA be justified? (If the answer to the previous question is in the affirmative, this is a moot question)

Bill, you are the D8 web master. Do you approve of using the District 8 web page for political purposes by Dr. Frank? Do you consider it's current content to be political? (including the picture of Dr. Frank as a youngster)

Bill, do you personally feel that an incumbent has an advantage on the exclusive fact that he/she is an incumbent? Do you think that should be addressed in the election process? If so, how, if not, why not?

Is Sandy Frank willing to debate the other candidates at SWAC?

You have represented Dr. Frank before, so if you don't know the answers, please ask him and tell us the answers.

JR

P-51B

My Feedback: (5)

Are you saying that if someone doesn't own a computer (ie have an e-mail address) that this implies they are somehow not supportive of their district?

Seems like a big jump to me.

Or, are just saying that the format should be the same for all, and the e-mail should be left blank for those that don't have one to list?

mongo

My Feedback: (15)

jr,
dunno ifn the snail mail wet to all members in the district, but i got it. it was political in content.

J_R

Thanks Mongo,

Now that we know that Bill Lee is still monitoring this forum, it will be interesting to see what he and Sandy have to say

JR

Red Scholefield

My Feedback: (9)

You want to share its content with the rest of us?

Red S,
District V

mongo

My Feedback: (15)

looked like his campaign statement. or at least an early draft.
along with some blurb about the convention thing he does.

scan it for anything of possible import and trash it material.

P-51B

My Feedback: (5)

I would like to repeat the question from up in post #8.

SAPropbuster

My Feedback: (5)

I am an AMA Leader Member and Contest Director in District VIII and I didn;t get a copy....guess I am on SF's s^&T list 'cause I back J. Branaum...

I SURE WOULD like to see that document....

J_R

SAPropbuster,

The following was sent to me second hand. Since I did not receive the original, I can only assume it is accurate.

Mongo, or anyone else that got an original, Is this what you received in the mail?

JR

The copy follows:

>It very soon will be Executive Council (AMA Board of Directors)
> election time in the AMA District VIII region.
>
> Each adult AMA member (almost 19,000) who reside within the states of:
> Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana will be sent a
> ballot (to save outgoing postage this ballot is enclosed within
> their 2004 membership renewal paperwork).
>
> It is NOT required that you submit your 2004 membership renewal at the
> same time as your ballot. In fact your renewal and your vote MUST be
> sent to separate locations to be properly processed (AND COUNTED).
>
> Each year literally thousands of AMA election ballots are improperly
> sent to the AMA Headquarters enclosed within their membership renewal.
>
> (Some have told me that they thought that they were saving AMA postage
> by sending these together by enclosing their ballot within their
> membership renewal paperwork.)
>
> This is NOT at all THE CASE as YOUR VOTE MUST be sent
> to a separate address where the auditors independently
> tally the votes. So PLEASE use the postage paid postcard
> to cast your ballot - just mark it and drop in into the mail. (It is
> pre-addressed and postage paid and will get to the auditors.)
>
> IF YOU ENCLOSE YOUR BALLOT WITHIN YOUR RENEWAL PAPERWORK AND SEND IT
> TO AMA HEADQUARTERS IN MUNCIE,INDIANNA IT WILL NOT BE COUNTED AND
> WILL BE DESTROYED.
>
> The 2004-2006 term of office for the AMA Board of Directors (Executive
> Council) will set the course which AMA takes into the 21st Century.
>
> Your input via your vote is needed and important !
>
> Elsewhere you will be seeing the political rhetoric and campaign
> promises of all the candidates in this election !
>
> Please read it to help you choose who to vote for... or if you choose
> to please contact the candidates directly and personally to ask any
> questions which you may have of them and their candidacy.
>
> ( I gladly publish my contact information and would be HAPPY to
> discuss this election with anyone at anytime ! )
>
> Historically only 10% to 12% of the eligible membership votes in these
> elections.
>
> Many just do not BOTHER to VOTE !
>
> So please vote! Your vote is needed and important !
>
> It is by YOUR vote that you can express how much that
> you are really care about your AMA organization, and its mission and
> its goals and its objectives.
>
> HERE is where I stand and WHAT I stand for !!!
>
> and please consider the following...
>
> [email protected] wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I am Dr. Sandy Frank of Weatherford, TX. I am seeking your vote for
> re-election as your AMA District VIII representative to the AMA Board
> of Directors. In that capacity, I will continue to insure that your
> thoughts, concerns, and issues are brought forward for consideration
> by the entire AMA Executive Council. The 2004-2006 term of office will
> continue to steer the course for AMA into the 21st Century.
>
> Please vote.
>
> I have been an aeromodeler since my earliest recollections, an AMA
> member since 1957, and have built, flown, competed with and enjoyed,
> all types of C/L, F/F and R/C model aircraft. As a child, I was taught
> about modeling and over the following 39 years I have learned and
> experienced the personal fulfillment of AMA volunteer work at the
> local, regional and national volunteer levels.
>
> As a means by which to better serve the AMA members and all modelers
> of District VIII, in 1999 I conceived, organized, and produced the
> first Southwestern Aeromodeling Conference in Arlington, TX. (SWAC
> 2003 - Oct. 3rd - 4th) All profits will once again go to AMA projects
> and initiatives (within the 5 state region of AMA District VIII).
>
> I have been successful in my personal career as a Licensed
> Psychologist (Ph.D.) and have owned and operated a private practice,
> but am now semi retired. My record on Council for the past six years
> is solid proof of my extensive leadership, management, and
> representational skills. I can, and will, continue to devote the time,
> energy, and effort required to represent "YOU" well to the AMA Board
> of Directors.
>
> Your vote is needed and important !
>
> I will support no dues increases or AMA instigated lawsuits. I will
> continue to place local modeling support (especially flying site
> assistance) as AMA's highest priority, and work to even further open
> communications between the AMA and all of its members.
>
> Your vote for me will be a vote for progressive and dynamic
> representation of each and every member of District VIII, and
> sincerely appreciated. I am available 24 X 7 to assist you!
>
> Thank you.
>
> Dr. Sandy Frank - AMA Life Member #L-69

mongo

My Feedback: (15)

that's fairly accurate.
mine had the details about the confrence on it as well.

Elwood

My Feedback: (2)

Is this permitted, using AMA funds (or information/mailing list) to promote yourself? This does not sit well with me. If this is permitted, then the AMA should make these resources available to all seeking election.

ProfLooney

District VI has a website though needs updated badely lol but they also have a page just for email addresses and everyones is listed there but one. also it doesnt even show a frequency coordinator. district VI site is http://www.csam.iit.edu/~amadist6/index.htm

like i said they have a lot of info on it but they need to update it a little. they have most of the important stuff up to date but the reports on events and the like are from 2001

Joe

J_R

Elwood

It is not permitted for the incumbent to either use his MA colmun or his AMA Dist web site.

There is no indication whose funds were used. It is doubtful that Dr. Frank would try to use AMA funds to do this. Since SWAC is mentioned, it may well be written off by SWAC as a business expense, or it might have come out of his pocket. He owns SWAC and that is no concern of the AMA's. The AMA makes mailing labels available to all candidates, including the incumbents, for a small fee, for just such mailings. The idea is that the names and addresses should not be taken from the AMA records by those that have access to them in order to keep all candidates on an even footing. Whether those were purchased by Dr. Frank, or he used some other source is unknown to me.

My instincts tell me that after he made an error during the nominations, that he would not cross the line on this mailing. I have no way of knowing for certain. That is why I asked Bill Lee to step forward and clarify the situation. We all know that he monitors RCU and does post here, yet, he remains strangely quite.

JR