Bill Oberdieck - Dist VII VP on AMA elections  
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Bill Oberdieck - Dist VII VP on AMA elections - 10/17/2002 6:23:48 AM   
J_R


 

Posts: 4446
Joined: 1/4/2002
From: Corona, CA,
Status: offline 		If you are having a hard time deciding who to vote for in the current AMA EC
election, these were Bill Oberdieck's comments a few months ago on the Dist
VIII discussion group. Bill is the current Dist VII VP, and is running for
re-election. Read it carefully, and take it to heart. Think about it. Cain
or Holland for EVP? And for those of you in Dist VII, Oberdieck or Gish? In the special election, Teague vs. Elliott in Dist. IV. Which will
it be?

JR

Bill's comments (BTW, the typing is his, not mine.) :


I had a few minutes free and made a mistake by checking the list. I am
having serious doubts about some of the members on this list.
It appears some might lay awake at night thinking of things to crab
about.
Some of them don't read too well. and some have nothing else to do.
And some think they are intitled to know where and how money is spent.
If they were stock holders in a corporation, then yes to have a say
so. But as a member of ANY organization they are intitled to the benefits
and
any protections offered by said organization. To my knowledge the only
place a member of an organization can have a say so is at the local club
level. Now if said members are disatified as to how the organization is
being
managed they have the option of trying for an officer seat and or
voting others into office that may or may not do a better job.
Now I do not recall anyone twisting anyones arm to join the AMA.
True,if that person would like to fly at a AMA chartered field they have to
be
a member of the AMA and also the club.BUT it isn't necessary if that
person just wants to fly his/her model at a non-chartered field.example is
the current Park Flyers.
Now to change the subject, unless you certain individuals have a way of
seeing into the future, we will just have to rely on present methods
of trying to predict the future.
Hindsight is always 20/20
I expect this will generate some flack, but don't expect me to answer
to it.
Just remember as a member you can voice your opinions to whomever you
voted for to represent you. Thats why you voted for him/her. You did vote
didn't you? sure all 12 percent.
Have a nice holiday.
       Post #: 1

Bill Oberdieck - Dist VII VP on AMA elections - 10/17/2002 6:31:39 AM   
J_R


 

Posts: 4446
Joined: 1/4/2002
From: Corona, CA,
Status: offline 		Please remember that each member of our AMA leadership is an individual and has his own thoughts. Once a decision is made, they tend to support it together. Having one person represent the leadership is not a wise move. It would rapidly be come 'them' and 'us' and that is just not the case. Unlike the previous post, this is my opinion, the previous one is not.

Search out the information on the candidate of your choice and vote.

JR

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       Post #: 2

Time for a change - 10/17/2002 8:49:49 AM   
P-51B



Posts: 6173
Joined: 10/11/2002
From: An Iceburg in, ANTARCTICA
Status: offline 		I voted today...no incumbants.

Like I always say, if your not making waves, your not doing your job.



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Bill Oberdieck - Dist VII VP on AMA elections - 10/17/2002 9:43:56 AM   
RCadmin



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From: Belle Mead, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		When is the deadline to vote? I already voted a few weeks ago and don't remember the deadline date (I just knew I made it).

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Bill Oberdieck - Dist VII VP on AMA elections - 10/17/2002 10:10:21 AM   
J_R


 

Posts: 4446
Joined: 1/4/2002
From: Corona, CA,
Status: offline 		Ballots need to be POSTMARKED no later than November 15.

JR

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       Post #: 5

Bill Oberdieck - Dist VII VP on AMA elections - 10/17/2002 3:46:40 PM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		A lot of what Bill says is correct and holds true for many people in the USA. Not everyone votes. EVERYONE has an opinion. Someone will think that another person's opinion is outlandish. Others will agree. I just don't see where what he says is wrong. It may be politically incorrect, but not wrong.

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How does my money get spent? - 10/17/2002 6:42:42 PM   
raistlin12



Posts: 125
Joined: 7/1/2002
From: Euless, TX, USA
Status: offline 		In all he said, I think the thing that irritated me most was his implication that I had no right to question what the AMA does with my dues. WRONG!!! I pay my dues, I have a RIGHT to know how MY association is spending them. Whether I vote or not, whether I feel qualified to make a decision on who should or should not represent me, I am still a member. True, no one twisted my arm to pay my dues; that is unless you consider the fact that there is virtually no place you can legally fly RC other than at a club field, and in order to fly at a club field, you MUST be an AMA member, or the club can lose its charter. Nope, no strong arm there.

Bottom line, you people in AMA ARE accountable, you're accountable to us for every penny you spend and every decision you make. If we, the AMA membership, do nothing about it, we deserve to be run over by your freight train, but that doesn't lessen your accountability!

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       Post #: 7

Bill Oberdieck - Dist VII VP on AMA elections - 10/17/2002 7:05:30 PM   
lov2flyrc



Posts: 4565
Joined: 12/6/2001
From: New Smyrna Beach, FL, USA
Status: online 		Very well said raistlin12 !!


Lets let the AMA know how we feel

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       Post #: 8

Everyone needs to Vote! - 10/18/2002 2:41:53 AM   
latch66



Posts: 1145
Joined: 4/27/2002
From: Oskaloosa, IA, USA
Status: offline 		Irregardless of whether you disagree or agree with Bill's statement, his most powerful argument is his last point.

Only 12% of the AMA membership voted.

That shocked me when I first saw the election results when they were originally posted in AMA.

If we don't vote, nothing will change.

IMO, if you don't vote, you don't have a RIGHT to complain!

Sorry if that offends anyone, it's just the way I feel about the issue. (And yes, I feel the same way about Presidents, Govenors, Senators, and Representatives.)

I feel like I need to edit my post due to the need to clarify this point. I had "visions" of Flame Strikes about "I pay my dues and that gives me the RIGHT to complain if I want to!"

We as members of AMA have three ways we can "do something" to change things we feel are necessary.

Option 1: This is the Easiest
Vote. It's that simple. Spend a few seconds and fill out the ballot.

Option 2: This is the Hardest.
Run for Office. This is not possible for most people due to their everyday lives, but it is a way to get your name on the ballot and be a force for change in the organization.

Option 3: This is the most Radical
Quit the AMA. Don't send in the dues.

The point remains that to complain without action is nonproductive. If you want to complain or push for change, you need to "do" something. To keep sending your money in but not trying to push for change is ludricous.

I realize that in many cases there is only one person on the ballot. But if we all (or at least the vast majority) voted, maybe they would be more willing to listen to us. Because if we were all voting, we just might find someone to replace the incumbant if they keep doing stuff we don't like.

I did not vote in the last AMA election. Therefore, I have refrained from complaining until the new election came around. I am sending my vote in this week.

Then I will feel free to complain all I want. Nobody has to listen, but it will make me feel better.

Bottom Line......We all need to vote in this election. That is the only way we can send a message and change anything.

Just my 2 cents.

< Message edited by latch66 -- Oct 17 2002 10:43PM >


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Bill Oberdieck - Dist VII VP on AMA elections - 10/18/2002 2:56:40 AM   
RCadmin



Posts: 13181
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Belle Mead, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		Let's show at least that RCU can make waves...with 16,000 plus members we alone are 10% of the total AMA membership. At current growth rate we will be at approximately 40,000 in 12 months or about 25% of their membership. Certainly enough to make waves now and tidal waves in just a year or two...as a community of members with a voice we can change who represents us (or who does not shall I say).

The AMA is here to stay which is ok but remember the AMA is a non profit organization that is run by people. The corporation itself is never problematic, corrupt or emotional but the people who run it can be. There are people who definitely should no longer be in there for various reasons and our vote is the only way to make the AMA better as it should be.

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D-7VP - 10/18/2002 4:03:18 AM   
stalspin-delete


 

Posts: 234
Joined: 1/26/2002
From: someplace, , USA
Status: offline 		J_R
seems you know Bill O, but you're in california. Anyhow it seems you don't care for what he says. Point is he accepted a nomination to try to help in whatever he could. He don't get paid for all the time he has to put up with people and their gripes. But he chose to help. If you don't agree with what he says thats your opinion, just like what he said was his opinion. But to campaign against him don't seem fair. What do you have to say about GISH?

raislin, I think if you want to know how your money is spent just read the financial report in MA or go to [url]www.modelaircraft.org.[/url] Yes you pay your dues, why?
was it because you knew a group fought to get the frequencies you now use.
or was it because there is a group that help keep and find flying sites.
Or maybe it was only because your flying buddies belong to a AMA chartered club and you just couldn't stand to see them have all the fun.
You state to be able to fly legally, hey, you can fly your model anyplace you like, except at a AMA chartered flying site.

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       Post #: 11

Bill Oberdieck - Dist VII VP on AMA elections - 10/18/2002 5:29:11 AM   
J_R


 

Posts: 4446
Joined: 1/4/2002
From: Corona, CA,
Status: offline 		stalspin

I don't recall having said anything for or against Bill. Some of the EC do make themselves availiable from time to time on other discussion groups. Where do you find, in my words, anything that implies that I have a position on Bill? Are you reading something into his words?

Most folks join the AMA because they are told they must, by the chartered club that they want to fly at, as a condition of membership to the club. The reason given is, normally, insurance. The AMA does have other assets, but, normally the 'newbie' does not have any of those even mentioned to him.

Now, having said that, last year, less than $10 of your AMA dues went to insurance. Are you interested in where the rest went? While I won't pretend to be 'information please', the anwers are out there if you want to dig. At least most of the answers are.

JR

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       Post #: 12

Bill Oberdieck - Dist VII VP on AMA elections - 10/18/2002 5:40:25 AM   
RC Extreme power



Posts: 884
Joined: 12/30/2001
From: AUBURN, GA, USA
Status: offline 		A few years back there was a group that tried to do something about having to be a AMA member to enjoy this hobby and they got sued out of business by the AMA.
Waiting to see how long this thread last before they jump on RCU.
Milton

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Bill Oberdieck - Dist VII VP on AMA elections - 10/18/2002 5:54:24 AM   
RCadmin



Posts: 13181
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Belle Mead, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		RCU is not a war they want...sort of like Russia and USA...we both have too many nukes that neither would win. They have no basis for shutting any of these 1st amendment discussions down & I can get a hold of several of the top 1st amendment lawyers in our great country to any who wish to disagree with that.

We however will make all strides to keep off any content that attacks a person or company rather than their ideas and opinions or facts. If material facts are misstated and it's brought to my attention or a moderators that they are in fact untrue and reasonable evidence is provided we will do the correct thing to remove it as false statements serve no purpose for the members or the AMA. We will not allow libelous statements against anybody to be posted per our rules on the site.

Anyway...I don't want anyone to think I'm anti-AMA as I've said before here. It's existence has always done far more good than bad but like any company sometimes things aren't as healthy as they should be...if you look at the AMA as a pie I am sure that out of 8 slices that somewhere between 4-7 slices of the 8 are perfectly ok. It's the ones that aren't that we need to concern ourselves with.

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Marc
RCU Site Admin
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Visit RCU''s New Banner Free E-flight Only Website: www.WattFlyer.com

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