ORIGINAL: rcflyertim
//SNIP//
JohnBuckner
You have a valid question. I am one of the 3 CD's that can not attend. I would almost be willing to change my plans to take care of the event, but based on what happen at last years event with one rebel child, I am not going to bend over backwards for the club until this individual is put on probation or kick off the club. After last years event that I CD'd I called my VP and wanted some help to get this individual who is a real bad apple and gives the whole organization a bad image some idea how to get ride of him. The VP said there is nothing AMA can do on the local club level with individuals. I can see his point put it really gives me no power to do anything about him. SO....I am not willing to participate until the local club to host events until they either revoke his membership or at least put him on probation. The club took no action against this individual and it was a real slab in the face to me. He has only been a member for about 4 years and thinks he runs the show and no one yet other than myself is willing to oppose him.
As the CD, you have all the power that really exists. Only YOU can exercise that power. If the host club president/officers fail to back you, then there is the local Sheriff and the "Disturbing the Peace" charge. You have the list of the entries in the event. Given that your charge is true, all those troops either have to support your charge or risk perjury. As CD you are the boss. What you elect to do with being boss is up to you. See my last paragraph below.
Any suggestion on how to resolve this delima?
It is hard to help when you have someone who doesn't want to listen to reason. When that individual becomes verbally abusive I think it is time and would be benifical to remove such individual from the club. I am a BIG suppoter of AMA and I like what they have done for this sport/hobby. I want to comply with the requirements that AMA sets and feel they try to impliment changes when needed. I do wish that individuals like this could be dealt with on the national level by suspending thier AMA licsense. I wish the local VP could be more involved in mediation. I wished more club memeber would want to follow AMA and not just wear a cloak for the insurance coverage.
As CD. you have the option of making certain rule changes for your event. In all fairness. these rules should be pre-advertised. In my Pilot Briefing, if there is some late unadvertised change wanted by contestants/entrants, then it is explained, a vote taken, and the vote has to be 100% for the change, or we go as advertised. That has worked well for 45 years, and I have CDed 1-5 events per year for almost each of those years. Exceptions being 1983-88 when I went fishing for a while.
I know that I am not the only one that has had trouble at events with someone who wants to be a "jerk", and be loud, and yell, and make a scene just because they don't like rules and they don't want to follow AMA "competition" rules just to have a fun fly or jumbo event. In their eyes, it is silly and rediculos to make all the rules. They want to come, be loud, and have fun....to them, that is what it is all about. The problem is......is some ways....the CD, who has allowed them at some previous event to get by with it. So a pattern develops and they continue to march on!
I really would like to see the event continune in the future and I really hope that we get this iron out. There needs to be some changes and some education to club members about AMA events and how to do it right. When you have a divided camp it makes it hard to have cooperation. I am out of ideas....HELP!!
Please Tim. don't think I am being smart-butt or critical. It's, IMO, just that YOU have to be well ahead of the game in knowing just how YOU plan to proceed, especially when the pilots start arriving. You never allow anyone to think that you just might not be in charge. If you do you are toast.
That comes not with threats, fussing, mind-changes, etc., but with a firm assuredness, that is evident in how you are handling the job. Personally, if the rules are AMA rules, or my own, then they all are MY rules. I don't ever make excuses for the rules. If you set that tone in your briefings, by kind of a joking fun tone, not threats, then the vast majority of modelers will be on your side and the rest will soon fall into step.
OTOH, I am not against using whatever I have to use to make sure the event progresses well for all concerned. If an unpopular call has to be made, even to throwing someone out of the event, then that will be done. While some discipline calls have had to be made, and some rule violations handled along the way, none have ever really required calling out the peace-keepers. One of the strongest tools you, as a CD, have is "Peer Pressure". The unruly usually turn rather meek as soon as they plainly see that YOU with your knowledge, willingness to help, and a smile on your face while performing labor for the benefit of others has those others firmly supporting YOU. Best of luck.