Just Out:

Academy of Model Aeronautics selects new executive director


M U N C I E - The Academy of Model Aeronautics has appointed past AMA President Dave Mathewson as its new executive director, effective immediately. Mathewson was the AMA's prior president and leader of its governing Executive Council.
Succeeding Mathewson as AMA president, per the bylaws, is former Executive Vice President Mark Smith. Smith will remain president until a special election for AMA president on the regular ballot for AMA officers in September. The Interim Executive Director Joyce Hager, will resume her duties as staff director and assistant executive director.

"Dave has been an exemplary leader for the AMA," said Smith. "The Executive Council is behind him 120 percent. For more than three years, Dave has been an outstanding president and we're very confident he will bring this level of success to his new role."

Mathewson will move from his home near Syracuse NY to Muncie IN on or around

June 1.

"meet the new boss, same as the old boss. we all get screwed again."
as i remember the old rock and roll line.

Hardly. I think Dave is an excellent choice. He knows the AMA from the side of the EC and I am certain he will be able to be an effective manager of the paid staff. Plus he has a modeling background, and I think he's a great guy. But I can see why you have a bad attitude, you know, have to complain about something, right?

Appointing Smith is bad news. He spent a brief period as the head of the Heart of America Airshow Team. Did such a lousy job that the team voted him off a few months later. One of his first actions when he became an AMA official a few years later was to effectively destroy the Airshow teams. Viewed as an act of retaliation by many and an abuse of power. Please keep a close watch on him. He is convinced he is destined to lead us and has been chasing positions of authority in the AMA for a long time.

I am not familiar with the process or this individual, but one thing is for sure, if any of this that you have typed is true then this is certainly NOT the type of leadership needed. We have too many type of these clowns sitting in governnment seats at capital hill!

I am hoping that people finally are seeing the light with all these dishonest greed hungry power mongering thieves and liars that are our elected officials. I need to stop I am making myself angry again [:@]

I won't call Mark a liar or theif, he's none of those things. He does however rule by his will, not that of his constituents. His excuse for his actions was saving the AMA money. Each team used to receive $500 a year, and that was removed. The next excuse for cancelling the Airshow teams was the cost of the brochures that we were required to hand out at the airshows. The cost was not that high, as I recall, and NOTHING compared to the cost of airplanes and travel expense we incurred doing the shows. He reallly had no valid reason for championing the cause of cancelling the teams. Bottom line....vendetta.

Our last year of operation we flew in front of nearly 100,000 people. He claimed the Park Pilot program was a better program for enticing the public to become involved in model aviation. Bull.

Mark is not a bad man, just the wrong man to be in a position of authority. He has a desire to serve, but he shouldn't rule. He trusts his own judgement too much.

100,000 people enjoyed WATCHING rc airplanes fly. What happens when/if they ever get excited enough to get into the hobby/sport and then possibly find a club, and HOPEFULLY a friendly club? AMA is like auto manufacturers who spend millions in advertising and flying clubs are akin to auto dealers/salesman. Although unlike auto dealer/salesman, flying clubs instructor/sales force have little to no real incentive for growth. Get my point? This is the main reason why AMA cannot grow.

fliers1

Is that the same Mark Smith
that ran a 3man committee made up of him as czar plus 2 guys under Conflict Of Interest gags?

Didnt we have to ask him a question over and over during the campaign
before we finally had to get the answer from DM cause MS just wasnt giving the info

I certainly hope I did not paint too broad of a brush stroke with the word "these" as I don't know this individual at all, however the higher percentage of the time folks like this do not have the best interest of all concerned at heart and it is only a matter of time before the underlying paint shows through to the surface. It does appear from your post that the underlying structure was revealed.

Smith was not "appointed" in the sense that the EC made some decision to pick a replacement. It is in the bylaws, that's just how it works.

I t just fascinates me how anytime anything happens at the AMA people come out of the woodwork complaining about how terrible it is, how awful the person is and on and on and on.

Somebody correct me if I am wrong here..... I believe there will need to be two positions up for election on the September ballot:

1.) AMA President
2.) AMA Executive Vice President

plus any DVP positions in that cycle.

So for the complainers you have your chance to make a difference in this years elections ....... unless it's all talk no action......................

Brad

I can at times understand the fascination with people just complaining for the reason to complain. I am not dissatisfied or annoyed with the AMA at all and I don't beleive my posts reflect that. I think it is a good organization. I do believe the AMA, as well as any non-profit, needs to be held to high levels of scrutiny.

On to the topic of Mr. Smith, if what the poster stated were facts (I have no evidence that they are, but IF they are) about the person in question then we should by all means watch and scruitinize the individual as well. It is as if we in the US just don't care anymore. If someone has an agenda other than what they hired on to do, then that should be called in to question. What ever happened to accountability in this country?

Right you are about the elections, Mr. Brad.

Yes, there will be some big opportunities blowing in the wind. Letters of nomination from individual AMA members must arrive in AMA by June 16, 2011. Edited to add: ANY CURRENT OPEN AMA MEMBER can submit a nomination for his district's DVP or a national officer. "Git 'er done!"

From AMA Web site, public information: Not yet updated to include President.


BTW I am available for the Executive Vice President: Leader since 1964 and two terms elected as Dist. VI Vice President.
Now Mark Smith and I would make a very interesting pair!! [X(]

So to make sure I understand, somehow Dave Mathewson has gone from a volunteer to a paid full time employee now?

Several others have gone from being in a volunteer position to being hired by the AMA. Wes DeCou comes to mind for one, Rich Hanson for another. I have this happen at the non-profit my wife worked for. One of the Board Members was hired as the ED. Nothing wrong with it.

In this case I think that Dave having so much experience on the volunteer side and truly knowing the ins and out of the AMA will be a real benefit to the organization. I have no reservations about this and think it is a very good thing for us.

I have an idea...Lets take them all down to the lake, tie them to a chair and throw them in. If they float they're guilty, if they drown there good people! Been done before in Salem if I remember my history correctly...

G I G O

Quote from Hossfly : BTW I am available for the Executive Vice President: Leader since 1964 and two terms elected as Dist. VI Vice President.
Now Mark Smith and I would make a very interesting pair!!


That will never work !! Because you are from Texas & he is now living in Arkansas !!

Reminds me of the E.A.A. in the 1990s !! I wonder does Dave have son who flies like Poberenzy did ??? and if so when will he become the AMA's new Exec.

Wonder when the rest of us C Ds & L Ms are going to find out from the AMA ??? I am so glad that I signed up for the e-mails and mailed in all my questionaires !!!

It's there for all:

http://www.modelaircraft.org/aboutama/mediaroom.aspx

Media Room

News Release, Friday April 15 2011
Mathewson ED Release

Perhaps you missed my point. "....interesting pair" relates to absolutely nothing ideologically between the two of us.

Will Mark Smith be listed as "Incumbent" on the ballot?

Not sure how that gets listed. But I would not worry too much about it, incumbents get beaten.

When the ballots come out this Fall, M. Smuith should be on the ballot as "Incumbent." under the AMA Bylaws he moved into the Presidency when Mathewson vacated the position. Of course should something happen that no one would write a nomination letter for him, then he is toast. I am certai that his buddies on his "Marketing Committee" will assure he gets that.

From AMA Membership Manual Bylaws:

AMA Bylaws Chapter X

Section 2. In the event of a vacancy in the position of AMA
President during a regular term due to death, incapacity, inactivity,
resignation, impeachment or removal from office, the Executive
Vice President shall assume the duties of President of the AMA
until a special election can be held for a new President so that the
newly elected President would fill out the remaining position time
of the Presidency until the next regularly scheduled election.
Adopted April 19, 2008

Section 2. In the event of a vacancy in the position of AMA
President during a regular term due to death, incapacity, inactivity,
resignation, impeachment or removal from office, the Executive
Vice President shall assume the duties of President of the AMA
until a special election can be held for a new President so that the
newly elected President would fill out the remaining position time
of the Presidency until the next regularly scheduled election.
Adopted April 19, 2008
(1) The Executive Council may replace a Vice President as
follows: When a vacancy occurs during the regular term of an
elected Vice President, two nominees for his replacement are to
be selected by the outgoing Vice President (or by the Executive
Council in the event of the demise, incapacity, or inaction of
the Vice President), one of whom shall be currently an active
Associate Vice President in that district. Any nominee must be
qualified for the office of District Vice President as provided in
Article IX. An election shall be conducted by AMA
Headquarters by mailing ballots to all Open members of the
District. A plurality vote shall elect. A period from date of
mailing to close of receipt of balloting will be established by
the Executive Council. When a vacancy occurs within three
months of the end of the current term of office, or when a
Council meeting is called or scheduled during the nominating
and voting period, the outgoing Vice President (or the
Executive Council in the event of his demise, incapacity, or
inaction) shall make an interim appointment from among the
active Associate Vice Presidents in the district.
(2) The Executive Council may replace a President or Executive
Vice President.