JimRoss

Although I have no idea what your discussion with Sandy covered, I will venture an educated guess that most of the input to the EC about what we want comes to them through the SIGs (Special Interest Groups). As an example, the JPO (Jet Pilot Organization) was instrumental in putting forth a set of rule changes. The actual membership of the JPO was small enough that it did not include the majority of turbine waiver holders, yet, the SIG knew the concerns of the waiver holders, along with the reality of their situation. They worked with and within the Safety Committee to come up with a set of rules that were palatable to enough of the EC to get their changes.

Most segments of areomodeling are represented by SIGs. If you have a particular interest where you want to have input, it might well be that you want to become a member of that SIG. Realistically, you have to realize that if 170,000 members were polled on any issue, it would have to take the form of specific questions with specific answers. There is not way all of the individual opinions could be taken into account. Any time a poll like that is done, many responders will take exception to the choice of answers, and even with the queries.

Although Sandy attempts to receive input though the Leader Members of his district, my guess is that very few participate, relative to the number of Leader Members in his district. The last time I checked, the count of Leader Members, nationwide, was about 3500. My guess is that number is decreasing. Most of the Leader Members were given that status years ago when it was part of being a CD (contest director). As the organization gets older and we lose those older members, I doubt that they are being replaced at the same rate as the loss. Over the years, the AMA has not taken advantage of the Leader Members any meaningful number of times. The future may hold something different, but, for now the SIGs are the ones with the input. The active members of SIGs really do have the expertise to give meaningful input, where the membership at large and even the Leader Members often do not.

Getting out the vote is an entirely different matter. The past three elections have proven that whining on the internet has no actual effect on the number of ballots cast, as shown in the election returns. Those that read forums like must get up from behind the computer and convey the message to the members of clubs. This is something that has not taken place in the last three years, if the election ballot totals are a meaningful reflection of results.

The AMA has changed things to make it easier to vote. Even the postage is now paid on the ballots. Campaign statements are on the web site, in Model Aviation, and included with the ballots. Apathy is, indeed, the problem. Personally, the last thing I want to see is indiscriminate voting by members. I would love to see an increase in voter turnout, but, only if the members were educated about who they are voting for. Anything else is just another way to insure the incumbents will be returned to office. It falls to the candidates to get their message out, to educate us to their visions and plans. Spending huge amounts just to get the vote out is not desirable, in my opinion. Bottom line, IMHO, you have to give the members a reason, and the education, to vote intelligently.