Jim Branaum
Posts: 1669
Joined: 10/22/2002
From: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, USA
Status: offline
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Me hide? Surely you jest!
I have owned my own company and now am a semi retired Systems Analyst in my mid 50's with growing children of school age. Previously I tried on a limited scale some free flight, rubber, and control line but was very dissatisfied with my results. I guess that is what happens when there are not enough interested hobby folks around. Changing that is one of my goals since it is clear that if we don't reach out effectively enough, we loose our impact and flying sites nationwide.
I have been in the hobby (this time) for over 20 years. I fly indoor electric, S.M.A.L.L., .40 sized stuff and giant scale birds. I tried helicopters but got bored with them as they encouraged private flying rather than the social events I frequent. Some of the folks in Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico have seen me fly and crash airplanes at their events for over 18 years as part of my pursuit of that goal. In short, I travel to interesting events or places whenever the opportunity is presented and it matches up with my interests and sometimes with my flying skills.
When I joined my first club (I now belong to three) , the San Antonio Propbusters, the membership was running around 40 or 50. Shortly after I got involved I served a couple terms as Club Secretary and started some of the changes done to do encourage the club to survive. Today I have been treasurer for 7 years and the membership is well over 150 adults and growing. We have two temporary flying sites and an active search for a new site.
I have been watching, as others, and have concluded we need some changes. 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. Note that does not mean new rules because rules do not prevent accidents, the membership does. 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. As a club officer, I have learned to listen respectfully to all the members because even those I have disagreements with have good ideas from time to time. I have used the ideas of a competitor when they were good, but I generally make sure that the individual was recognized for the contribution. We need to use this method in the AMA and in District VIII.
Some have suggested to me that a 2 term limit should be place on the District Vice Presidency, and I think that should be discussed and some limit set as too many get too far away from the average membership after too much more than six years.
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Jim Branaum AMA 1428
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Write in Jim Branaum 1428LM for D8-VP - 
We need a Debate at SWAC. - 
