Re: Re: dissaponted
 

Very well said.

District V needs a frequency coordinator
 

I disagree. This _IS_ a public forum and the proper venue to discuss this AMA issue. ncneill has the right and ability to participate in this discussion. If he chooses to continue with his "head in the sand" stonewalling, so be it. Candidate Stillman chose to participate here and there is no reason why ncneill can't.

Re: Re: dissaponted
 

Red,

You just hit the nail on the head. I am in Dist X. I have no interest in some of the complaints you have. Dist X has a virtually non-existent web site, yet the Rich Hanson uses his AVP's well and there is good communication with him. I don't really care about a frequency coordinator. Our club has two individuals with scanners. They are cheap.

Now.... what I do care about:

EC Minutes 11/4/2000

Review annual AMA Dues payments - McNeill
A District VP has received email expressing the desire to have AMA annual dues collected at a time other than the end of the year. They cited club dues and the holidays as a part of their reasoning for moving the date. The ED pointed out that it is not just a matter of shifting dues collection; other items to be considered include the annual election, insurance, and financing the organization. The ED suggested looking at fiscal year membership renewals, but the subject should be under the auspices of a committee. No action was taken.

Comment: Do you realize what this would have done to clubs keeping track of current AMA memberships? Does he have a clue what goes on at the club level?

EC Minutes 4/28/01

CD (ad hoc)-McNeill
The initial question to the committee was what a district vice president could do, if a Contest Director was negligent or lax in his responsibilities and obligations. It was decided that a section dedicated to Contest Directors, be included in the Standing Rules. Items for inclusion will be the ability for the VP to suspend a CD license for up to seven days pending consultation with the President, and if needed, a review by Council. The CD will have the right to address Council at the next meeting, either in person or in writing. A description of CD responsibilities/obligations will be included in the Standing Rules. The committee will come up with wording and present at July meeting.

EC Minutes 7/9/01

CD censorship- After reviewing the document, some council members preferred the option of allowing the district vice president to suspend a CD's license on the spot for egregious misconduct or offense. Some felt that any officer (including the President and EVP) should be afforded this authority. Consensus of Council was to provide any AMA elected officer the authority to suspend the CD license immediately (B. Nelson's version).

EC Minutes 10/27/01
Moved by J. McNeill (V), seconded by C. Bauer (VI), To accept the document Proposed Method of Handling Complaints re: CD’s. (Below)
Complaints regarding a Contest Director (CD) while acting in their official capacity as a representative of the Academy of Model Aeronautics should be made in writing to AMA Headquarters, who in turn will forward to the VP of the District where the complaint originated or where the infraction occurred.

The VP would review the written complaints and contact the complainant if additional information or clarification is required.

The VP would then contact the CD, explain the complaint and request a response in writing.

The VP will review the complaint and the CD’s response, and take whatever course of action is appropriate to resolve the problem, whether it is a warning or a revocation of the CD license. If there is a reprimand given, it should be in writing. The CD may appeal any action taken by the VP, in writing, and request the matter be reviewed by the Executive Council. The Executive Council could uphold the action taken by the VP, overturn it, or refuse to hear it.

Any elected officer of the Academy of Model Aeronautics shall have the same rights as a VP for purposes of the document.

EC Minutes 2/9/02

It was moved by J. McNeill (V), seconded by C. Bauer (VI), Complaints regarding a LEADER MEMBER should be made in writing to AMA Headquarters, who in turn will forward to the VP of the District where the complaint originated or where the infraction occurred.
The VP would review the written complaints and contact the complainant if additional information or clarification is required.
The VP would then contact the LEADER MEMBER, explain the complaint and request a response in writing.
The VP will review the complaint and the LEADER MEMBER's response and take whatever course of action is appropriate to resolve the problem, whether it is a warning or a revocation of the LEADER MEMBER status. If there is a reprimand given, it should be in writing. The LEADER MEMBER may appeal any action taken by the VP, in writing, and request the matter be reviewed by the Executive Council. The Executive Council could uphold the action taken by the VP, overturn it, or refuse to hear it.
Any elected officer of the Academy of Model Aeronautics shall have the same rights as a VP for purposes of the document.

MOTION withdrawn.

Questions arose as to the type of infraction that could lead to this procedure. The President tasked the By Laws Committee when reviewing the Standing Rules with the intent of creating a better mechanism to reprimand a member outside of expulsion, for conduct detrimental to the Academy.

Comment: The foregoing were a vindictive attempt to control one person, in my opinion. A waste of the time and resources of the EC and AMA. The EC so diluted his intent as to negate it.


Each District be allowed 2 pages in Model Aviation-McNeill
Due to the number of clubs in his District, the VP was requesting an additional page for his monthly column. He desired to cover the "routine items" on the first, allowing the second page to be devoted to clubs. It was pointed out that the process for adding pages is not as simple as adding the desired one or two pages; additions or deletions in pages must be done in increments of 8, 16, etc. No action was taken.

VP authority between AMA web and club web links-McNeill
It was brought to Council's attention the desire to cut a clubs link to the AMA web page, due to negative comments made about a council member. Any problems or concerns about the web site should be brought to the Publications Committee who will address the concern.

No political nature advertising in Model Aviation-McNeill
There was concern over the accuracy of advertisements of a political nature.

MOTION VII: It was moved by J. McNeill (V), seconded by B. Oberdieck (VII), No advertisements of a political nature will be accepted in our AMA magazine MODEL AVIATION. After discussion, the second was withdrawn and the motion died due to lack of a second.

EC Minutes 5/4/02


Distribute any paid MA candidate ads to all EC – McNeill

It was expressed that these ads don’t need to be distributed to all of the Council, only the VP that is affected. The purpose of this proposal is to eliminate the element of surprise. No action was taken.

Comment: The above are an obvious attempt to control the election process in favor of the incumbent. To the credit of the EC, it was seen for what it was and no action was taken.

EC Minutes 10/26/02

Change VP column photos to color
A motion was made (Dist. V) and seconded (Dist. VII), that the eleven district reports in Model Aviation be done in color. Various magazines and newsletters were distributed to Council for review.

The discussion that followed included:

· The estimated cost would be between $42,000-$84,000/year.

· The cost listed above, is for the publishing costs involved only; it would take additional computer equipment (such as for scanning), would create additional work for staff and possibly require another staff member. The Publications Committee deemed it was an unnecessary cost.

· It was felt by some that some people never read beyond where the color pictures stop. In an attempt to increase readership of the VP columns, could examine the possibility of moving those columns to the front of the magazine.

· It was explained how the magazine is put together in "signatures" of sixteen pages, and adding additional pages, or color to certain pages, is not as simple as it may sound.

The subject was referred to the Publications Committee for further study. The committee should look at how moving the VP columns, or the whole AMA News section, would affect readership and cost.

Comment: You gotta be kidding? after just raising the dues? once again, the EC had the good sense to ignore... oops, send this for further study.

That's enough facts for a start, and it is just the start; the tip of the iceberg. Why is this guy leading my organization? It's the fault of you guys in D5! Do something!

JR

Voting system
 

Red,
No longer being a child, I understand the voting system VERY well. I don't remember how long I have been voting, but as I am NOT very far from retirement age, I guess it's been quite awhile. I'm not trying to pick any side in this issue, just suggesting that as Americans, we go with the majority of the votes (maybe we need to get the voters to vote in the next election).

My suggestion still stands. Lets get someone that is impartial and fair to approach Mr. McNeil with a list of folks that meet the criteria to be a QUALIFIED frequency director and see if this matter can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion. I know Dennis Martin quite well and believe he might be a good person to approach Mr. McNeil. Dennis is a moderator in the rcuniverse and a very likable individual. As for the rest of us, how about some suggestions as to who might make a good frequency director.

Re: Voting system
 

No problem, lets open it up by having Dennis call him and see if he would consider appointing a Frequency Coordinator. Then if he is amenable we can recruit one.

I would volunteer (BS EE) but I don't want to taint any reply that might come from Mr. McNeill.

Are their any other "less controversial" readers of this list that would be willing to step forward?

District V needs a frequency coordinator
 

My bigger question is, I haven't found anyone say anything nice about this guy and he won the District? How can that be??? :confused:

a simple suggestion:
 

I wonder how a proposal to take the "Incumbent" mark off of the ballot would go over at the EC.

In the statements, etc it would be clear who is the incumbent, but the BALLOT itself would not have anything like that marked on it.


It would at least make people think a bit more.

District V needs a frequency coordinator
 

I have seen Red and others try to get the word out on mr. McNeilll in past elections and just could not reach enough people that would even bother to vote. With the amount of traffic on this site it is going to help their cause and help get the word out. I can only hope that more of us will take the word out to our clubs and start getting them more involved in our AMA than just needing the insurance to fly. When the time comes, (and it will) that the cost to be an AMA member is beyond the means of some, and more than some care to pay just to go out on sunday and take a couple of flights we will loose members and be hurt even more. I guess what I'm trying to say is this might just get enough people talking to at least let others hear there is more to be concerned about than just insurance to fly and how much that will cost next year and maybe change things in their ditrict to at least get some service to justify these costs. If Mr. McNeill thinks he is worth the expense money he receives, he will come here to this forum and he can prove it. Show us Red and the others are wrong, that is what a forum is all about after all. He maybe doesn't come here but you can bet some of his buddies do so he knows it is here for him to participate.

District V needs a frequency coordinator
 

I doubt if a man so parnoid that he refuses registered letters from members would even remotely consider such an open forum as this.

Red S.

District V needs a frequency coordinator
 

If I (we) may ask, what was the content of the envelope?

District V needs a frequency coordinator
 

Certainly,

On November 11th 1998, the last day of the election for D-V VP, I received a phone call from Mr. McNiell telling me I was being dismissed as AVP. I told him I had expected it as I had supported another candidate (Norm Deputy) in the election. He denied this was the reason. Stating the reason was because of the letters received at AMA Headquarters complaining about my treatment of an individual in a private e-mail and other members of the EC were urging that he remove me from the AVP position. I asked him to please confirm the reasons for my dismissal in writing. He refused. This prompted the letter that was sent to him via certified mail which outlined the reasons as they were explained to me and asked for any corrections if I had misinterpreted the phone conversation in any manner.

Mr. McNeill later commented to me that because of his legal training, Juris Dr. of Law, he never accepts certified mail that can prove that he received it should there ever be litigation of any kind where contents of the letter could be called as evidence.

As a side note, requests to see copies of the letters reported to have been received by AMA headquarters were denied.

Draw your own conclusions.

Red S.
AMA 951

District V needs a frequency coordinator
 

Sounds like paranoia!
We have doctors that can fix that!

District V needs a frequency coordinator
 

Then what you do is send two letters, one via certified mail, the other by regular post, with the footnote "sent via certified and regular mail". When the certifed letter is returned, refused, you keep it unopened as evidence that the sister letter was delivered.
I've done that with my denied "frequency scanner requests".

McNeill appoints Kaulf as AMA Advisory Consultant
 

Noteing the District V Report in May 2003 issue of Model Aviation

Has anyone figured out the significance of McNeill's listing of Steve Kaluf [AMA Technical Director] as AMA Advisory Consultant under where he lists himself as Frequency Coordinator? Is he saying he doesn't have a clue about scanners and analyzers and has to use Muncie paid employees rather than appoint a qualified person from his own district to the job?

Red Scholefield AMA 951 Dist. V Leader Member/CD


----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Kaluf" <[email protected]> To: "'Red Scholefield'" <[email protected]>; "ama5" <[email protected]> Cc: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 8:05 AM Subject: RE: District V Report - May 2003 Model Aviation


Red, I really think you can answer that question yourself. Mr. McNeill felt this was the best way to give the district qualified people and avoid the political game the district is so embroiled in. A large portion of my job is to answer this type of question, so it certainly is not placing any additional burdens on me. I probably get 99% of the questions from all the districts in any case.

Steve Kaluf Technical Director



----- Original Message ----- From: "David Harkey" <[email protected]> To: "Red Scholefield" <[email protected]>; "ama5" <[email protected]> Cc: "Steve Kaluf" <[email protected]>; "Jim McNeill" <[email protected]>; "Jim McNeill" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 8:01 AM Subject: Re: District V Report - May 2003 Model Aviation

We understand. We also understand that the retention of paid AMA employees is at the discretion of the Executive Council.

Red S.

I expect we have a number of qualified electrical engineers, ham radio buffs, electronic technicians out of over 20,000 members in District V that are qualified to take on the job if asked.

Red Scholefield AMA 951 Dist. V Leader Member/CD


I was wondering that myself also. We have a highly qualified person in District V that was frequency coordinator and for some reason he is not anymore. I believe Tony Stillman should be frequency coordinator for District V again since he knows more about this than anyone else in the District.If Tony will be frequency coordinator please let him be it again.

David Harkey AMA 3771 Dist.V Leader Member/CD

I've been "asked" to be Freq. coordinator
 

Just to let everyone know, Jim McNeil e-mailed me a couple of weeks ago with the biggest slap in the face, backhanded attempt to offer me the position of Frequency Coordinator....

here's his e-mail to me:

Tony Stillman. Your buddy and your principle Campaign Manager Red Scholefield has been making a big deal out of my doing my own Frequency Coordinating for my District. I'll be glad to turn it over to you if you really want it. I'll mail you the instruments I have. A couple are currently out to clubs but due back soon. Richard Jackson, AVP in SC has one permanently. Do you want to be the Dist 5 Freq Coordinator or is that just a lot of bla. Jim McNeill, Dist V VP


After reading it, I was pretty mad... I told him he would have to explain to me why he fired me the first TWO times, and if it was just because I was running for VP, then he would have some apoligizing to do.. Well, he would have none of that! I told him that I didn't have to be the one, but he should get someone that has some experience with frequency problems. Sounds like his best answer was to involve Steve Kaluf. That is one answer, but there are people in the district that would do a good job.

So, I'm out of the picture as a freq. coordinator. That's fine, but I would hope he would include people from the district to do district work!

Tony Stillman

What You Dont want it Now??????????????????????
 

So after seeing page after page of Reds diatribes about the Dist 5 Freq situation, and you being the guy for the job, its all about "HURT FEELINGS" ??????????????????????? JM does what Red wants him to do, even if a little questionable in the method and you want a personal apology ? Then you must not be the man for the job. Better inform Red and Bill of your choice. If something as small as that would deter you, I would question your commitment to D5 in the first place. Win the war and quit after you won, because he wasn't nice to you ? Common. Red and Bill, OK Whats up here ?

Vince AMA 7051

Vince:
 

Vince , hurt feelings , I don't think so . I don't know how long you have been in Dis. V but this goes way back. back into the early 70'sand 80's. JM only knew freeflight nothing about R/C ( read some of the old VP reports ) some of the phrases he uses and words ,you can tell he does'nt have a clue. As far as Red goes he's our cheerleader!:p

hurt feelings?
 

Vince:

No, it's not about "hurt feelings". It's about doing the job, correctly! It is very difficult to work for someone when he will not support you. How would you like a boss that does everything he can to trip you up all the time? That's not gonna work for me. Jim has no desire for me to do the job. He really does not want anyone else doing it either. Any way that he could do EVERYTHING himself would always be prefered!

I pointed out to Jim that I would NOT be his puppet, and that I WAS running again. If he didn't like that, then he best look for others to do the job.

If you read Red's comments, he does not point to me directly as the only choice for frequency coordinator! No, I'm sure we have many talented people in this district that could do the job. Since Jim really didn't want me anyway, I was trying to tell him to pick someone else that IS qualified. Heck, it can be one of his very, VERY, important buds....

The idea here is to get someone who knows what's going on in the RF world. I am NOT the only choice.

After getting beat-up by him over the past four years, I would be a FOOL to open myself up to that again.

NO THANKS!

Looks like change to me
 

The fact that JM even offered you the job, is a big change in his way of doing business. As Freq Coord you would be in contact with a lot of clubs concerning their problems. Then you could do the job, meet and communicate with lots of D5 people and clubs. There doesn't seem to be any downside here for the near term. As for working with JM, well your grownups aren't you ? Do like Oprah and Dr. Phil would do, get together with counselors if needed and see if you can work out your differences for the betterment of all. Old Dogs can learn new tricks if they try. The way I see it, a gesture has been made to you, now its up to you to take it and run. Well what ya gonna do call Ghost Busters ?

Vince

Re: Looks like change to me
 

Vince, Give it up . . . you will never understand. While our hobby is model planes, McNeill's is serving on the EC and collecting his $15,000 a year travel allowance. He has not participated in ANY phase of this hobby in the past 20 years other than to stop by a meet for 30 minutes or less on his way to antique shopping.

His AVP appointments are made to people he knows will never rise to the position where they are a threat to his seat. He has to name a replacement in case he can no longer serve. Is it one of his AVPs? No . . . it is Don Lowe - who has no interest in going back into the AMA politics game. Why does he appoint non AMA members to key positions and then give them a membership - because they are from large clubs and get him votes.

Why when one of his AVPs (quite a prominent modeler) dies does he not even mention it on his web site with a memorial statement? Dead men don't vote!

People have tried to work with him . . . building a first class web site, setting up a district V forum like other districts . . . He will have no part of it . . . He wants no communication between district V members . . . too easy to compare notes.

Look at the idiotic motions he has placed before the EC . . . district reports in color, VPs' right to suspend members and CDs . . . baring any political adds in MA . . . etc. etc. etc.

Wake up and look at the facts! He won the last election by the skin of his teeth - slightly over 40% if the votes . . . can he pull it off again? Or has he played all his tricks and run out of trump?

Will District V finally elect a VP in 2004 that we can all be proud of . . . or will we have to hang our heads in shame for another 3 years as other districts laugh at us.

Red S.

Red GIVE IT UP !!!!
 

You finally have some movement from JM, and this is the kinda stuff you do, rationalization, postulate and pontificate to benefit your position. At the very least its a start, and you guys are just throwing it away. Gotta say you guys take the cake as far as I see it, you seem to be no better than JM. I would have to put you and TS one step below JM at this point. At least he made a gesture, and you guys passed it up, thats on you. Im done with your little Payton Place theatrics and postings. I wont bother you any more, live in your own little world, I will go back to the real one.

Vince

District V needs a frequency coordinator
 

jus to put the JM gesture in perspective, we are fighting a war to remove a gesture maker. jm's gestures down through the years have been every bit a worthless in practice as that sad dam fellas.

got to be kidding
 

MONGO

how in the free world can you compare a american man to sadam i am a moderator here and can say no more, however if you would like to discusse this problem call me at 843-753-3599

dennis1943:D

VINCE
 

Vince go back to your original District .You have no Idea of what the people in District V has put up with over the years! Yes I said years ,I've had dealings with JM and the AMA for over 30 years .And he still has no clue! So go back under that ROCK!:mad:

whatcha gonna do?
 

I guess I didn't do a very good job of painting the picture. I was not "offered" the position, it was more of a threat! I'm sorry that you don't see it that way, the that's just how it is. I am not Jim's slave to do his bidding whenever he wishes and throw me away whenever he wishes...

There are others that can do the job.

Remember, I was the freq. coordinator for Jim for two years. He fired me once for running against him and was talked into re-hiring me by our AMA President. However, it didn't last long. He just couldn't handle anyone having the gall to try to capture "HIS" VP position.

No, I'm not gonna do that. I have too many other things going to have to put up with Jim's antics.

If I am elected to be VP in 2005, I'll put forth all of my efforts to do the job. Right now, Jim needs to advertise that he is looking for someone out there to do the job.

Tony