Abel,

I didn't say there was a problem, however we can discuss the inferrences.
Rich Hanson mentioned several times for several years before he resigned to become the FAA rep that he would like to step down if someone were willing to step up and take the DVP seat. None were willing. Being an AMA DVP is a considerable investment both in time and presence at other club meetings/events in the district. We were very fortunate to have Rich as he was a pilot for a major airline and flew anywhere he wanted on a moments notice for free and therefore was able to attend almost any event anywhere in the district that he had the time to go to. Filling Rich's shoes is going to be impossible as the next DVP (Jim Giffin) will now be required to live within the district budget for travel and attendance at events must go way down. Probably a major reason that no one wanted Rich's job, you knew going in that you were going the be the DVP that was going to disappoint a lot of clubs that had come to rely on Rich's convienent travel ability.

I was Rich Hanson's #2 pic to fill in should he become incapacitated. I go to several events and belong to several clubs in San Diego. I also go to several events in So Cal, Utah, Arizona and Nevada, so have a fairly good feel for areas of interest in at least a small part of the district. I also serve on an AMA Committee and previously served on another, so have a working relationship with other AMA DVP's. Additionally one of my closest friends was a past AMA President and he instilled in me the notion that AMA is really a sum of it's members, so the members should be involved. I've tried to live up to the standards that Cliffie instilled and therefore follow what goes on in AMA and participate in AMA Leadership where I can. This makes me a natural fit for being a "fill in" guy for the DVP. I know what's going on so would require very little time to come up to speed, I'm interested in making AMA better and I already have a working relationship with current AMA leadership.
Now to the reality. I have a pretty high stress job. I'm the Integrated Warfare Systems Manager for Commander, Naval Air Forces, the Navy organization that "owns" all the Navy's airplanes and Aircraft Carriers. I'm responsible for any changes or modernization to the guns, missiles, radars or combat systems computers on our 11 Aircraft Carriers. I travel at least 1 week a month for my job. I also still have 2 of our 6 children still living at home with all the Karate, Piano, ice skating, dance lessons/recitals et al that that entails. I'm willing to fill in, if required, but doing even a full term would not allow me to represent the district in the way the members deserve and would also likely end in divorce. I'll do what I can for AMA, but they have to be third choice after family and job, and I think a very large portion of the people who could do a great job as DVP fit into the same category. They're willing to do what they can, but can't devote what's essentially full time to a volunteer job.

By the way, I know Don Madison well and think he'd make an excellent choice. So when will you be moving back to nominate him?????????