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In the Club House forum there is a thread about Lake County Modelers of Il.

Interesting. Go there for all of it.

Here is a bit of it: Some out of context.

>>>>>>>>>
RC Sport / Chicago

Well the Lake County Forest Preserve Board has screwed us over. They are going to close down the Flying Site at Lakewood Forest Preserve in October. They say they are getting complaints from the local Equestrian riders that the planes are spooking the horses. This field was opened May first after years of pestering from our club. It's not the best facility but in an area that has little open land for flying it's adequate. The horse people say that several people have been thrown from their horses and injured after an airplane "buzzed them". We checked with the local fire dept. and they say they have no records of having been called to the area for emergencies. The real truth has come out that after our club cleared the land and planted the grass at our expense that the riders decided it would be a great place to use for their practice facility. What really irks me is that the riders pay nothing for use of the trails and are not required to purchase permits, we flyers had to spend $30.00 for a permit. It also came to light that 2 of the Board members are riders, hmmmm, interesting. This is only the second public flying sight in the area, the first one is almost unflyable, but there are hundreds of mile of trails in the county and the riders are demanding that 400 acres of forest preserve be dedicated solely to riders. To think I voted last year for the referendum to allow the forest preserve to purchase more land makes me sick. Lake County voters remember this when the next elections come up.
__________________________________________________ __

Hossfly

>>>>>>>>>
Well the Lake County Forest Preserve Board has screwed us over. They are going to close down the Flying Site at Lakewood Forest Preserve in October. They say they are getting complaints from the local Equestrian riders that the planes are spooking the horses.
<<<<<<<<<<<

Have you contacted Charlie Bauer and requested a visit from AMA with the Board?
Charlie is a very well learned gentleman and could himself present a good case.

OTOH, horses are big business. My step-daughter's husband is in the business and does a lot of contract work for a lady that owns over 50 million yankee-dollars worth of show horses and equipment for her "HOBBY". These people have a lot of political power behind the scenes.

Sorry for your loss.
__________________
Horrace Cain
AMA 539 CD & Leader
__________________________________________________ _____________________________

RC Sport
................ We found a great area that they could move the field to, but wait, that area is going to be another equestrian trail in the future.
Hoss, we contacted Charlie once before about another issue and I 'm sorry to say he really was no help. The AMA right now does not have the funds to be running around the country to the aid of clubs.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<,

Yep, so much for another flying site.

Hey, JR, write another letter and post the replier's sad story here.

Let me know if such situations in such heavily populated areas where RC and model aviation are really active (I did live there and still have friends there, plus a few un-friendlies!!), yet AMA cannot field a force to go forth and present some kind of case, is either the lack of funds -- EVP's decision -- or just "POLICY"?

Some 3-4 hours away from Muncie by auto. Sad story.

Who the He-l are they going to sell their insurance to when the flying sites are all gone?

YUCK!!!

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Well, Horrace, if you really want to help, get on the phone to Carl or Joe Beshar. You know who to contact. You know the area. Get off your butt and help, or , as I suspect, are you all talk?

The AMA saved Torrey Pines just south of me last year and it is a heck of a lot further than IL from Muncie. Carl, Wes De Cou and Rich Hanson led the charge.

"We once called Charlie" is a pretty poor excuse for watching as your field disappears. So much for more of your BS Mr. "I'm gonna make a difference".

JR

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Never mind Horrace. I will make the calls tomorrow. I don't know the situation and I don't know the area, but, I will see what I can do to help.

You really should go back to whoever you claim to have learned leadership from and ask for a refund. You have zero in my opinion.

I won't bother to even acknowledge you in the future, your not worth the keystrokes.

JR

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1.8 to 80 mhz on AMA web site. I think we are in there some where.

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>>>>>>>
I won't bother to even acknowledge you in the future, your not worth the keystrokes.

JR
<<<<<<

Thanks Jr. Best news I've had in a long time.

You go right ahead and stick your nose into THEIR business.

I'll grab some beer and a bag of popcorn and enjoy the show.

Best of luck to all concerned.

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WHAT!

How can you possibly say the *A*M*A* saved Torey Pines?

It sure looked like J.Spence, er Sandy Frank was trying to lead something in the direction of Torey Pines last year with his world wide appeal for letters to the authorities there. Maybe these guys want to get him to help them since they are not in his district either.

Or was that another Torey Pines?

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ROFL!!!

Jim-
They 'saved' it, as in putting it in a bank vault. This former world-class site is now 'members only,' and the club also happens to hold the only permit ever issued by the City of San Diego to operate unpowered model aircraft on or over property under domain of the city. For the rest of us sans the unobtainable permit, it's a misdemeanor - a much more serious charge than an infraction, as issued for such petty misbehavior as smoking dope.
We got our priorities here on the left coast.

Abel

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Small town politics is what makes and breaks fields. Its quite simple, the board has voting members who ride horses and not fly airplanes, so, the horse guys get the land.

You guys need some lobby support in the local government. This is something that AMA cannot help with.

You guys are getting screwed, yup, you paid for all the upgrades and put money in the coffers by paying for permits and most likely, may have been planned that way so that others may benefit. Now you need to fight back. Have a big BBQ and invite some council members to steak, wine, and cheese. Get them flying. Send them cards on their birthday, chocolates, or whatever to get them to acknowledge that your serious about keeping your site.
Take a member to lunch.
If they are elected, take them with you when you do demonstrations at schools or for the public.

We had the same issue, but with power walkers. The wives of the council members would complain that the planes interfered with their morning and evening walks. We just got a new city manager, invited him and his son to a funfly where his son went nuts and joined the club. Many of us had him over for dinner and became real good friends with him and another city commissioner. After all this fellowship occurred, the issue of evicting us from the flying site just disappeared.

I belonged to a club where the president was the park and rec manager and we also had two city council members who flew. I felt that we were on the same level as those horse guys, because we got anything we wanted from city, and even the state just because we had members in high places.

Isn't democracy great.

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Scottrc,
Your response demonstrates the good high social visibility modelers need to get and retain flying fields. I note that you had to take people to your demonstrations and I think we need to use the air time and exposure the media constantly hands us. Currently it appears (with some notable exceptions - Dave Brown is one) that most throw those public communications tools on the ground without effectively exploiting them.

This is one thing I feel is a MAJOR issue for the future of the hobby and the AMA. Doing good deeds that are not seen is wonderful but non productive. When we read MA today many of the reports of community events are still internal feel good things rather than 'out reach' communications tools that are neededd to retain and get more flying fields.

Thanks for sharing with folks here the approach you have seen that works.

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Good Points Jim. If you do win this election, I hope that you too will fight for NATIONAL NEWS MEDIA Publicity so the fact that model aviation, a very worthwhile sport/recreation/hobby will filter down. Local politicians will be knowledgeable that those flying sites are sorely needed to enhance an activity that has so many educational, technological, and social advantages for people of all ages. I'm pleased that you are following my campaign ideas.

Hang in there.

Warm and fuzzy feeling
 

Well you guys sure make me feel good! Maybe the AMA VP terms should be 6 months so as to keep all the hugs and kisses going. Nice to see all the concern about a loss of a flying field without all the negative dispersions as to the character/honesty or communication skills of those involved.

I am sure J.R. will come to the rescue with the calvary. I can here the bugle in the background now.

BTW where can I get a pair of those rose colored AMA glasses like J.R.'s? I have looked all through the AMA web site and can't seem to find them!

Hmmmmmmmmm
 

Hmmmmmm Hoss I think Jim implimented LOCAL chairty events over eleven years ago for Elf Louise christmas project here in San Antonio what have you done for the local hobbyist's?

Re: Hmmmmmmmmm
 

My subject was NATIONAL publicity to accept Model Aviation as a SPORT.
Ironic that today's mail brought a letter with a Pin in it to wear stating: "Help promote Model Aviation as a Sport."
Came from John Brodak. I have prepared the snail mail of THANKS, now ready to drop in mail box.

So for the "Hobbyists", maybe very little, but for the LOCAL Sportsmen and Recreational Fliers, well I found, negotiated, purchased, made available, helped in the development, and help keep going a rather nice flying facility for a very active club.
100 x 600 smooooth contoured grass RW.
30 of 100 acres now belongs to Club.
Highway frontage, Water, Electricity (available to all stations), Indoor Facilities, 3800 sq. ft' shelter over concrete, with kitchen
fenced spectator protection, heli-pad, pylon cages, semi-hard parking lot, protected flying stations (much more than in picture above which is old), and many good times.
In addition I instruct a bunch.

BTW what do you do other than day-dream?

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What does one club that you purchased the land for out of your pocket and sold to the local club have to do with the surounding community of flyers? And I am simple working man what are you?

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You asked about the LOCAL: "....what have you done for the local hobbyist's?"

I answered your question, and now it's your time to answer my question rather than imposing more questions to enlarge the perimeters.

Listening!!

Then let's get the thread back to Lake County. IL. JR must be bubbling over with good news about his latest, "What they told me." You know like the magazine *reviews* where it didn't take any trim and performed aeronautical wonders.

HC

Horses displacing planes
 

This thread gives me the feeling of de je vue all over again<G>! Many years ago I was part of a group of guys (about 20 of us)that flew every week for five years at a remote section of Santa Terressa Park in Santa Clara County, CA. This section of the park was so remote it was virtually unused, except for we modelers. We were not a "club" in the formal sense. We mowed the field, had a strict flight line and safety code including frequency flags, etc. We even had an instructor. But we had no officers, no meetings, no dues. Some of us were AMA members. The Park Rangers and Sheriff's Deputies used to come up there to watch us fly. We were very happy for about five years. Then some yahoo with money built a rental riding horse stable right next to the park. He used the public park land for his riding trails to further his commercial ends. We were soon told by the "city fathers" that we could no longer fly there. Some of our "members" (I take no credit) began attending every possible county planning meeting and raising cain. Eventually, after about two years, the county decided to end their personal pain by setting aside some county land for a flying field. They gifted a large flat area near Coyote creek to the R/C group. This group then formed an AMA chartered club (of which I was a charter member). called the Santa Clara County Flyers, or Tomcats, if I remember correctly. I understand that the club has grown to over 400 members. (I left the area long ago). My point is that local politics can be really rotten, but persistent (orderly and professional) "in your face" opposition can bring about some good results.
Puff

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Yep Puff, it's really all up to the guys at the local level to fight their own battles, whether they need to go out and shake hands and kiss babies, or sit in the front row and stare down the members at every city council meeting. The club must make the dedication themselves. Not cry to the AMA or ask the AMA to cry that everyones losing flying sites in every copy of MA.

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>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yep Puff, it's really all up to the guys at the local level to fight their own battles,.......
<<<<<<<<<<<<<


That is very true, however AMA could well set the moods through NATIONAL leadership and public acceptance, of a very fine recreational activity with many advantages for all ages.
Negotiations are much better when both sides have a "We can work it out" attitude rather than the current attitude of one side, "Let's get rid of that bunch of noise-making overgrown kids with those dangerous toy airplanes."

The battle is by local commanders, the policy is national.

Reason # 357.....
 

This is why I steer clear of the AMA, and the whole "political scene" that it involves.
Opening my own private field for those that just want to fly.
Thought this was all about fun/learning/skills/?

Ready to duck and cover-
Jetts

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BTW,
Very interesting that the mods pull apicture of some bikini clad women, but let you guys bicker, and insult each other like 5 year olds!
Just a thought.

Jetts

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Jetts, it's great you have a private field, we have a gentleman that also lets up fly on his land, but he is getting up in years and his family wants to turn the runway into pasture for raising horses. That is why we had to look to the City for land. And that gets political, and I hate politics as well, but if I want to fly on my limited budget, then I need to get political.

So far, I've seen a few little rabbit punches that are directed inside between JR Horrace and Jim, but I do not see any "bickering" whining, or name calling in this thread.

Since I'm going through a club thats trying to break away from AMA and trying to hold on to a landing site, these guys have been a great help to me for just letting me talk things out so I can work these issues out.

Scott

Re: Reason # 357.....
 

Well GOOD FOR YOU. You just happen to have the open land in a convenient area and the financial means by which to procure and develop it. Not everyone has that luxury.

Think this hobby is all about fun/learning/ skills? You aren't going to learn SQUAT, develop any skills, or have any fun without a flying site, and we all can't just go out and purchase a 100 acre plot of land.

Think your flying site is safe? Wait'll the neighbors start moving in. Suddenly you'll find yourself visited repeatedly by the local law enforcement for noise complaints, and/or defendant in a lawsuit, even though Harleys go roaring by at 75MPH night and day, the neighbors race dirt bikes at all hours, and full-scale planes with straight-pipe exhausts take off and land on a private airfield in the backyard.

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Sorry. WRONG. It is the business of the AMA...and by extension the membership.

If they did something stupid to lose a field, that is one thing, otherwise, all AMA members should stand together to support our fellow modelers retain their fields. That is what choosing to be part of an organization is...rather than the that's your problem leave me alone attitude I see above.

Part of what we pay dues for is for the AMA to support clubs gain/retain flying sites when these types of problems show up.

Don't hate me because I'm lucky!
 

Scott,

My point being this- the energy thrown into the "little rabbit punches" is wasted time/energy that should be put into solving the problem, not "my Dad's bigger than your Dad" stuff.
Bickering or what ever you want to call it, is non productive. That's all I'm saying.

Matt, Don't need a "hundred acres", as I've said, I've been to some AMA fields, and NOT ONE WAS AS BIG AS THE AREA I AM FLYING IN.

As for "neighbors moving in", I'm thinking you don't realize that sometimes "out in the middle of nowhere" means just that. I am not worried about anyone moving in, at least not in my lifetime. Also my former flying field was half this size, and in16 years never once has anyone complained, called the law, or any other thing but to stop in and say, "Can I try that"? or "I have always wondered what this was all about." I have neighbors on all side of me! Several have become my students.
Maybe I am ultra fortunate to live in a very nice part of this country.
Of course you won't learn squat if you don't fly! My point exactly- no clubs -no fly, -no fields, no fly, no fly, -no fun/learning/skills/ect.
Of course you could always pursue the alternative-
crawling under the bed, asume the fetal position, and have a nervous breakdown!
If you only look for the negative, that's what you will get.
If you have neighbors that ride dirt bikes make Harley noise, ect., and then only you are hassled because you fly, I feel for you brother!

Jetts

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http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...20#post1343008]