Awful new AMA sUAS website
05-18-2016, 05:17 AM
#126
Another thought to add ,
I wasn't going to post in this thread because I knew it would end up like all the other threads where someone tries to point out a mistake or other misdoing by the AMA . The reason I did post here is because Franklin has attacked no one here , all the man did was point out something he felt wasn't right , and I thought he deserved better than to be called a troll for pointing out the clunky website . Some folks looked at his complaint and saw that it had merit . Some folks looked at his complaint and immediately attacked him personally for it , calling him a troll and questioning his loyalty to the AMA , as though loyalty means supporting both the good and the bad . I think what the folks who see red at any mention of an AMA mistake are missing is that loyalty means caring enough that mistakes should be called out , rectified , and all the better for everyone . Is there some advantage to us members not having timely reports of the working details of our organization ? Is it Franklin's fault that the insurance report is almost a decade late ? Does a clunky poorly laid out site do our image as "cutting edge technologists" any favors ? RC Ken is right and has shown FAR more patience and tolerance tword us than we have shown each other and of all of us , it's Franklin whose behaved most "above board" and doesn't deserve the attacks he got for pointing out mistakes our money has paid for . I guess at the end of the day it does come down to loyalty , are we loyal enough to examine and rectify any and all mistakes our organization makes , or are we content with whatever we get for fear of being called , of all things , disloyal ?
And now , to end on a happy note , here's some nice old transmitters whose days have come and gone , enjoying a nice quiet retirement as display pieces ....
I wasn't going to post in this thread because I knew it would end up like all the other threads where someone tries to point out a mistake or other misdoing by the AMA . The reason I did post here is because Franklin has attacked no one here , all the man did was point out something he felt wasn't right , and I thought he deserved better than to be called a troll for pointing out the clunky website . Some folks looked at his complaint and saw that it had merit . Some folks looked at his complaint and immediately attacked him personally for it , calling him a troll and questioning his loyalty to the AMA , as though loyalty means supporting both the good and the bad . I think what the folks who see red at any mention of an AMA mistake are missing is that loyalty means caring enough that mistakes should be called out , rectified , and all the better for everyone . Is there some advantage to us members not having timely reports of the working details of our organization ? Is it Franklin's fault that the insurance report is almost a decade late ? Does a clunky poorly laid out site do our image as "cutting edge technologists" any favors ? RC Ken is right and has shown FAR more patience and tolerance tword us than we have shown each other and of all of us , it's Franklin whose behaved most "above board" and doesn't deserve the attacks he got for pointing out mistakes our money has paid for . I guess at the end of the day it does come down to loyalty , are we loyal enough to examine and rectify any and all mistakes our organization makes , or are we content with whatever we get for fear of being called , of all things , disloyal ?
And now , to end on a happy note , here's some nice old transmitters whose days have come and gone , enjoying a nice quiet retirement as display pieces ....
05-18-2016, 05:54 AM
#127
Thread Starter
On the reports, some say they're proprietary. Well, they they shouldn't be posted at all, and yet they were, annually for several years. You can't have it both ways. Either they are or they aren't. If they are, then the staff was wrong to post them each year for several years (again, where was ED in allowing leak of proprietary information). On the other hand, if indeed it's not, then why haven't they been posted for nearly a decade (again, where's the ED?).
And the survey. It wasn't me or the members that said it would be posted in 2014, it was the AMA. It's on the site. Their words. So does this mean you're ok with them spending money to do a survey, promising to post the results, and then just blowing it off? Apparently so.
Additionally, you ask what I hope to accomplish. Simple: Accountability to the members who pay the bills. Of which one is me, you are (apparently) another, and others on this forum are as well. They dropped Wounded Warrior Project as a charity after reports of money not going where it was expected to go. Yet I'm wrong for questioning money going to Muncie to pay salaries for jobs that are not getting done? How is that any different? It isn't.
And while you belittle changes as a couple links and a misspelling, I noted from the recent minutes there was a discussion of quantifying risk from turbines and EDFs based on kinetic energy. That came from a discussion I had via phone with the EVP several months ago. I also noted that until I sent it via the "Contact AMA" feature, the NOTAMS on the website were out of date, incomplete, and downright wrong. They've since removed some of the expired ones and cleaned up a bit. Still not perfect, but this important safety of flight information is more current.
Lastly, you asked why I haven't contacted Chad on these issues. Simple: he's responsible for Government Affairs and Public Relations, not responsible for the overall performance of the staff.
I'm questioning how much money we're paying for people to do jobs that are clearly not being done. If you pay someone to mow your grass and they just don't do it...am I to understand you're an advocate of paying them anyway? Your arguments would seem to indicate so.
05-18-2016, 06:33 AM
#128
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: El Paso,
TX
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Interesting choice of words, "shame." Given that the definition of shame involves "feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior," then are you saying that the disparity between the performance and what we paid for that performance involves consciousness by the ED of wrong or foolish behavior? This is a simple issue, and it's about what we're paying for him to do vice what he isn't delivering. Again, the ED's job is to manage the staff. And what is their performance? A important survey of member thoughts on drones they promised they would post in 2014 still isn't up almost two years later. Insurance reports that were published for several years, they haven't published in nearly a decade. Or that clunky website. This is net savvy group they say they're targeting (youth, millennials, etc.), yet it's not even mobile friendly. And there's not much attention to detail - an official press release announcing it and the electronic links within it don't work.
On the reports, some say they're proprietary. Well, they they shouldn't be posted at all, and yet they were, annually for several years. You can't have it both ways. Either they are or they aren't. If they are, then the staff was wrong to post them each year for several years (again, where was ED in allowing leak of proprietary information). On the other hand, if indeed it's not, then why haven't they been posted for nearly a decade (again, where's the ED?).
And the survey. It wasn't me or the members that said it would be posted in 2014, it was the AMA. It's on the site. Their words. So does this mean you're ok with them spending money to do a survey, promising to post the results, and then just blowing it off? Apparently so.
Additionally, you ask what I hope to accomplish. Simple: Accountability to the members who pay the bills. Of which one is me, you are (apparently) another, and others on this forum are as well. They dropped Wounded Warrior Project as a charity after reports of money not going where it was expected to go. Yet I'm wrong for questioning money going to Muncie to pay salaries for jobs that are not getting done? How is that any different? It isn't.
And while you belittle changes as a couple links and a misspelling, I noted from the recent minutes there was a discussion of quantifying risk from turbines and EDFs based on kinetic energy. That came from a discussion I had via phone with the EVP several months ago. I also noted that until I sent it via the "Contact AMA" feature, the NOTAMS on the website were out of date, incomplete, and downright wrong. They've since removed some of the expired ones and cleaned up a bit. Still not perfect, but this important safety of flight information is more current.
Lastly, you asked why I haven't contacted Chad on these issues. Simple: he's responsible for Government Affairs and Public Relations, not responsible for the overall performance of the staff.
I'm questioning how much money we're paying for people to do jobs that are clearly not being done. If you pay someone to mow your grass and they just don't do it...am I to understand you're an advocate of paying them anyway? Your arguments would seem to indicate so.
On the reports, some say they're proprietary. Well, they they shouldn't be posted at all, and yet they were, annually for several years. You can't have it both ways. Either they are or they aren't. If they are, then the staff was wrong to post them each year for several years (again, where was ED in allowing leak of proprietary information). On the other hand, if indeed it's not, then why haven't they been posted for nearly a decade (again, where's the ED?).
And the survey. It wasn't me or the members that said it would be posted in 2014, it was the AMA. It's on the site. Their words. So does this mean you're ok with them spending money to do a survey, promising to post the results, and then just blowing it off? Apparently so.
Additionally, you ask what I hope to accomplish. Simple: Accountability to the members who pay the bills. Of which one is me, you are (apparently) another, and others on this forum are as well. They dropped Wounded Warrior Project as a charity after reports of money not going where it was expected to go. Yet I'm wrong for questioning money going to Muncie to pay salaries for jobs that are not getting done? How is that any different? It isn't.
And while you belittle changes as a couple links and a misspelling, I noted from the recent minutes there was a discussion of quantifying risk from turbines and EDFs based on kinetic energy. That came from a discussion I had via phone with the EVP several months ago. I also noted that until I sent it via the "Contact AMA" feature, the NOTAMS on the website were out of date, incomplete, and downright wrong. They've since removed some of the expired ones and cleaned up a bit. Still not perfect, but this important safety of flight information is more current.
Lastly, you asked why I haven't contacted Chad on these issues. Simple: he's responsible for Government Affairs and Public Relations, not responsible for the overall performance of the staff.
I'm questioning how much money we're paying for people to do jobs that are clearly not being done. If you pay someone to mow your grass and they just don't do it...am I to understand you're an advocate of paying them anyway? Your arguments would seem to indicate so.
Mike
05-18-2016, 06:51 AM
#129
Thread Starter
As of this morning, AMA's website shows 2207 clubs. If there are four officers per club that got pins, that's 8828 pins. I did a quick search for recognition pins. Using this one as an example, and plugging in an order of 8828, it's just over $8,000. Then add labor to sort them and mail each one to the 2207 clubs.
So, we can buy a bunch of pins or we could put that same $8,000 into field grants (from $23K to $31K) - almost a 35% increase. And they chose pins?
https://www.4imprint.com/product/127...160518144548:s
Last edited by franklin_m; 05-18-2016 at 06:53 AM. Reason: forgot link to sample pin, added number for grants
05-18-2016, 06:52 AM
#130
This country is now full of a bunch of complaining protestors. I support the AMA and their efforts. You should too.
When is the last time you saw a group of people show up to support anything.
Why don't you ask to work at the AMA and try to fix whatever it is you think the organization is doing wrong.
Sad, just sad.
SunDevilPilot
When is the last time you saw a group of people show up to support anything.
Why don't you ask to work at the AMA and try to fix whatever it is you think the organization is doing wrong.
Sad, just sad.
SunDevilPilot
SDP I shal be returning in just a mear 4 months, 29 days. Think I'lls bes in time fer the NewPort Maiden.
Last edited by HoundDog; 05-18-2016 at 06:54 AM.
05-18-2016, 06:56 AM
#131
Banned
My Feedback: (8)
Another thought to add ,
I wasn't going to post in this thread because I knew it would end up like all the other threads where someone tries to point out a mistake or other misdoing by the AMA . The reason I did post here is because Franklin has attacked no one here , all the man did was point out something he felt wasn't right , and I thought he deserved better than to be called a troll for pointing out the clunky website . Some folks looked at his complaint and saw that it had merit . Some folks looked at his complaint and immediately attacked him personally for it , calling him a troll and questioning his loyalty to the AMA , as though loyalty means supporting both the good and the bad . I think what the folks who see red at any mention of an AMA mistake are missing is that loyalty means caring enough that mistakes should be called out , rectified , and all the better for everyone . Is there some advantage to us members not having timely reports of the working details of our organization ? Is it Franklin's fault that the insurance report is almost a decade late ? Does a clunky poorly laid out site do our image as "cutting edge technologists" any favors ? RC Ken is right and has shown FAR more patience and tolerance tword us than we have shown each other and of all of us , it's Franklin whose behaved most "above board" and doesn't deserve the attacks he got for pointing out mistakes our money has paid for . I guess at the end of the day it does come down to loyalty , are we loyal enough to examine and rectify any and all mistakes our organization makes , or are we content with whatever we get for fear of being called , of all things , disloyal ?
And now , to end on a happy note , here's some nice old transmitters whose days have come and gone , enjoying a nice quiet retirement as display pieces ....
I wasn't going to post in this thread because I knew it would end up like all the other threads where someone tries to point out a mistake or other misdoing by the AMA . The reason I did post here is because Franklin has attacked no one here , all the man did was point out something he felt wasn't right , and I thought he deserved better than to be called a troll for pointing out the clunky website . Some folks looked at his complaint and saw that it had merit . Some folks looked at his complaint and immediately attacked him personally for it , calling him a troll and questioning his loyalty to the AMA , as though loyalty means supporting both the good and the bad . I think what the folks who see red at any mention of an AMA mistake are missing is that loyalty means caring enough that mistakes should be called out , rectified , and all the better for everyone . Is there some advantage to us members not having timely reports of the working details of our organization ? Is it Franklin's fault that the insurance report is almost a decade late ? Does a clunky poorly laid out site do our image as "cutting edge technologists" any favors ? RC Ken is right and has shown FAR more patience and tolerance tword us than we have shown each other and of all of us , it's Franklin whose behaved most "above board" and doesn't deserve the attacks he got for pointing out mistakes our money has paid for . I guess at the end of the day it does come down to loyalty , are we loyal enough to examine and rectify any and all mistakes our organization makes , or are we content with whatever we get for fear of being called , of all things , disloyal ?
And now , to end on a happy note , here's some nice old transmitters whose days have come and gone , enjoying a nice quiet retirement as display pieces ....
Along that line, have you seen this?
http://www.jramericas.com/235042/JRP07432/?pcat=2
$800.00....for a 6 ch....YIKES ! I've had one in my hand, looks and feels great...but seems pricey for what you get. I do like the older colors (red and blue)
05-18-2016, 07:04 AM
#132
Banned
My Feedback: (8)
Not disparaging club officer work at all...it's thankless. But I ran the numbers...
As of this morning, AMA's website shows 2207 clubs. If there are four officers per club that got pins, that's 8828 pins. I did a quick search for recognition pins. Using this one as an example, and plugging in an order of 8828, it's just over $8,000. Then add labor to sort them and mail each one to the 2207 clubs.
So, we can buy a bunch of pins or we could put that same $8,000 into field grants (from $23K to $31K) - almost a 35% increase. And they chose pins?
https://www.4imprint.com/product/127...160518144548:s
As of this morning, AMA's website shows 2207 clubs. If there are four officers per club that got pins, that's 8828 pins. I did a quick search for recognition pins. Using this one as an example, and plugging in an order of 8828, it's just over $8,000. Then add labor to sort them and mail each one to the 2207 clubs.
So, we can buy a bunch of pins or we could put that same $8,000 into field grants (from $23K to $31K) - almost a 35% increase. And they chose pins?
https://www.4imprint.com/product/127...160518144548:s
LoL....unbelievable. More random numbers, more complaints. How dare they recognize club officers.
Since you brought up the work being thankless, have you ever been elected to a club position?
05-18-2016, 07:09 AM
#133
Originally Posted by fragile 
T
The Drones are one of the greatest invention of mankind, and they are here to stay!
This is the future of RC. The Drone events now are world wide, and the prize money is in millions of dollars.
.
Greatest invention of mankind? Wow.
Just how long will the "millions of dollars" in prize money last with no spectators? Show me one event were there is a spectator count. I keep seeing sentences like " biggest crowd ever" and such but never any numbers. Take a look in the magazines pictures of a couple of dozen guys with goggles on and nobody else. Everyones hitching the horse to this and it ani't happening.
Mike
Sorta what the Free Flight and C/L guys were saying in the 50's To expensive crash too much won't ever be worth hit. Just saying times change .. Faster when the O'l Farts die or just get with the program. If U don't try to be part of progress U are the Problem. Remember The world prefers a Joiner and shuns a Whiner.
Just Say'n:
Some of us O'L Farts will just have to move on to that great R/C Field in the sky.
05-18-2016, 07:11 AM
#134
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: El Paso,
TX
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Not disparaging club officer work at all...it's thankless. But I ran the numbers...
As of this morning, AMA's website shows 2207 clubs. If there are four officers per club that got pins, that's 8828 pins. I did a quick search for recognition pins. Using this one as an example, and plugging in an order of 8828, it's just over $8,000. Then add labor to sort them and mail each one to the 2207 clubs.
So, we can buy a bunch of pins or we could put that same $8,000 into field grants (from $23K to $31K) - almost a 35% increase. And they chose pins?
https://www.4imprint.com/product/127...160518144548:s
As of this morning, AMA's website shows 2207 clubs. If there are four officers per club that got pins, that's 8828 pins. I did a quick search for recognition pins. Using this one as an example, and plugging in an order of 8828, it's just over $8,000. Then add labor to sort them and mail each one to the 2207 clubs.
So, we can buy a bunch of pins or we could put that same $8,000 into field grants (from $23K to $31K) - almost a 35% increase. And they chose pins?
https://www.4imprint.com/product/127...160518144548:s
Mike
05-18-2016, 08:06 AM
#136
Not disparaging club officer work at all...it's thankless. But I ran the numbers...
As of this morning, AMA's website shows 2207 clubs. If there are four officers per club that got pins, that's 8828 pins. I did a quick search for recognition pins. Using this one as an example, and plugging in an order of 8828, it's just over $8,000. Then add labor to sort them and mail each one to the 2207 clubs.
So, we can buy a bunch of pins or we could put that same $8,000 into field grants (from $23K to $31K) - almost a 35% increase. And they chose pins?
https://www.4imprint.com/product/127...160518144548:s
As of this morning, AMA's website shows 2207 clubs. If there are four officers per club that got pins, that's 8828 pins. I did a quick search for recognition pins. Using this one as an example, and plugging in an order of 8828, it's just over $8,000. Then add labor to sort them and mail each one to the 2207 clubs.
So, we can buy a bunch of pins or we could put that same $8,000 into field grants (from $23K to $31K) - almost a 35% increase. And they chose pins?
https://www.4imprint.com/product/127...160518144548:s
05-18-2016, 08:12 AM
#138
I conducted my own poll and it shows exactly the opposite. In fact, 100% of the respondents said the AMA did the right thing.
05-18-2016, 08:22 AM
#140
05-18-2016, 08:27 AM
#141
Thread Starter
05-18-2016, 08:29 AM
#142
Thread Starter
My point was that how they spend their money is a reflection of their priorities. They could have put more money into where people actually participate in the hobby the organization promotes - but they chose recognition pins instead.
05-18-2016, 08:48 AM
#143
My point is great leadership understands the principle that states: "people are always more important than things". A small token of recognition for a job well done goes a long way towards strengthening an organization for returns over the long haul.
05-18-2016, 08:54 AM
#144
Thread Starter
And the best leadership recognizes that it's not impersonal trinkets, but rather things like a handwritten note that carry the most weight. One of my most treasured recognitions was a hand written note from a four star - and they cost nothing. When I was chief of staff, if I really wanted powerful statement of thanks, I'd ask the flag to write a hand written note on his stationary. It was more meaningful because it was personal - and took his time. Not something you buy in bulk off ebay.
05-18-2016, 09:01 AM
#145
And the best leadership recognizes that it's not impersonal trinkets, but rather things like a handwritten note that carry the most weight. One of my most treasured recognitions was a hand written note from a four star - and they cost nothing. When I was chief of staff, if I really wanted powerful statement of thanks, I'd ask the flag to write a hand written note on his stationary. It was more meaningful because it was personal - and took his time. Not something you buy in bulk off ebay.
So what's holding you up from starting your own CBO so you can show everyone how it's done?
05-18-2016, 09:02 AM
#146
05-18-2016, 09:13 AM
#147
Thread Starter
(a) "Those letters are often written by secretaries" - perhaps in your experience, not in mine. My flag wrote every one. When I was in charge I wrote every one.
(b) "You entered your FAA comments on line" - has absolutely nothing to do with recognitions methods or items
(c) "What's holding you up from starting your own CBO" - I have a job that I like quite a lot. Not willing to take the pay cut to do the AMA job.
05-18-2016, 09:23 AM
#148
As of this morning, AMA's website shows 2207 clubs. If there are four officers per club that got pins, that's 8828 pins. I did a quick search for recognition pins. Using this one as an example, and plugging in an order of 8828, it's just over $8,000. Then add labor to sort them and mail each one to the 2207 clubs.
(a) "Those letters are often written by secretaries" - perhaps in your experience, not in mine. My flag wrote every one. When I was in charge I wrote every one.
How often did you or your Flag hand write 8,828 individual personalized letters at one time?
(b) "You entered your FAA comments on line" - has absolutely nothing to do with recognitions methods or items
It has everything to do with personalizing one's thoughts and feelings.
(c) "What's holding you up from starting your own CBO" - I have a job that I like quite a lot. Not willing to take the pay cut to do the AMA job.
With your own CBO it will your job and your own ED salary.
How often did you or your Flag hand write 8,828 individual personalized letters at one time?
(b) "You entered your FAA comments on line" - has absolutely nothing to do with recognitions methods or items
It has everything to do with personalizing one's thoughts and feelings.
(c) "What's holding you up from starting your own CBO" - I have a job that I like quite a lot. Not willing to take the pay cut to do the AMA job.
With your own CBO it will your job and your own ED salary.
05-18-2016, 09:32 AM
#150