Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

The Park Pilot Program is looking for volunteers. http://www.modelaircraft.org/parkflyer.aspx#Partner

I'm sure you have seen this.

Park Pilot Partner

An Opportunity to Share Your Talent and Knowledge

The Academy of Model Aeronautics is establishing a newcomer help system for those who are just getting started in this sport and may need assistance. It will be referred to as the Park Pilot Partner program.

In order to assemble the necessary resources to accommodate such a service we are asking our members to step up and make themselves available via E-mail to answer questions generated from these new participants. This is an opportunity to share your expertise with those who may need your assistance.

Those who are interested must be current adult AMA members willing to share their E-mail address. Those addresses will be posted on the AMA Web site in the "Members Only" section and searchable by geographical area to provide efficient and effective assistance.


To sign up as a volunteer, make sure you are signed in to the AMA site and click the link below.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/profile.aspx

Thanks!

Frank

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

Thanks for the volunteers so far fellas. Every time I check to see how many folks have volunteered, there are a few more on the list. Without the help of you all, this program will not be very successful and we cannot help those new pilots getting into our hobby. So thanks to those that have already signed up and for those who will be.

Frank

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

Thank you for posting this. Without you I would not have known about it and would not have signed up.
Thank you for your time,energy, and diligence.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

I suggest you also create a volunteer "recruiters" area off the members site as well. A potential PPP member lands on the PPP homepage, click here talk to a recruiter live. It will then ping one of the recruiters computers if they are online and will answer any new potential member questions. If you get 100 members to sign up as a recruiter, I bet more then 10% will be online to answer questions. It's pretty easy to setup the software and pretty cheap too. There is even freeware available too.

While you've come up with a good program it's very limited as to whom can view it and the likelihood of someone clicking on a live person to ask a question is many times greater if it's live.

Good program, I just suggest you widen up it's potential audience and technology.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

You got to be kidding me! We help anybody who comes to our field now irregardless of type of plane, including gliders, control line, foamies, toys, kites, whatever! Now we are supposed to help them form their own "specfic interest" AMA club so they can compete with us for local resources from local government agencies? Hello! Wake up people!

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

are you really threatened by this? Local resources from local government? Are YOU Kidding? Are we not self sufficient enough that we have to be so threatened and so dependant on local government? This is an introduction to the AMA based ont he level/kind of interest the individual has. Otherwise they will do what they want at local parks without regard for safety, frequency control, etc. And when something happens, the local government that you depend on so heasvily will not make the distinction between a PF and a Gass/glow. They will be seen as R/C aircraft, period. this is a way to bring into the fold individuals for our own safety and sake instead of shunning them.
By the way irregardless is not actually a word.......kinda hurts the intellect of the argument when we use words that have no meaning, or gramatical integrity...

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

If you haven't noticed yet the AMA currently has many names listed on the public website and your current district websites with names and email addresses of people whom can answer your questions and they've had this up for years. So don't just think the AMA works for PPP's, they've been doing this for everyone for a long time, this is nothing new.

Perhaps they are trying to keep the new costs of the PPP program down and calling upon members whom actually care about their organization to give a helping hand. I certainly want the AMA to disprove that this program is going to fail. Seems to me they are putting plenty of effort on it .... and they should. Getting PPP's on board is better then not having them at all. I guess this is the AMA's way of saying ... hey guys this thing is growing too fast, we need your help.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

Checked three dictionaries, all list irregardless as a word. Did I misspell it?

Yes, without our local city and park districts we would not have a flying field. They have already told us they do not want more than one RC club to deal with.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

So that should tell you A.)private sources are a viable option B.)First come first serve C) Buy your own land as a group
Here again, if they do not have a group to join they will still fly, just wherever they can find an open space putting an increased risk in complaints or a total ban of the r/c hobby....
Oh and by the way this is from dictionary.com:
ir·re·gard·less (Ä*r'Ä*-gärd'lÄ*s) Pronunciation Key
adv. Nonstandard
Regardless.


[Probably blend of irrespective and regardless.]


Usage Note: Irregardless is a word that many mistakenly believe to be correct usage in formal style, when in fact it is used chiefly in nonstandard speech or casual writing. Coined in the United States in the early 20th century, it has met with a blizzard of condemnation for being an improper yoking of irrespective and regardless and for the logical absurdity of combining the negative ir- prefix and -less suffix in a single term. Although one might reasonably argue that it is no different from words with redundant affixes like debone and unravel, it has been considered a blunder for decades and will probably continue to be so.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

irregardless = regardful ? [&:];)
He grabbed the M&Ms, then irregardless of color ate only the brown ones.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

Which is why we voted to welcome the PPP flyers into our club, no strings attached, under the regular dues that we all pay. This way, our city only needs to deal with one club and one flying site.

Realistically, we're not expecting a massive wave of PPP flyers since we're not sure that this is something the typical park flyer will want to mess with. None the less, we've got everything set up for them just to help keep it easy for our city.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

Till they find out that voting rights has it's privliages and then break off to form their own PPP club which they can then in turn ... vote.

OK, so it won't be that bad. But I have seen clubs break off to form their own clubs on public sites so they can play by their own rules and participate in their own games, based on their personal politics and flying diciplines. I think the AMA sees having more clubs as a better solution then combing PPP's with current clubs, or they would have never mandated no voting rights. How could you belong to a club and pay the same dues in which you can't vote? So the more clubs ... the better.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

They can join our club also, rather have them with us than fighting us.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

Why is something new, different, progressive and welcoming received with such a nasty and negative reaction. I really do not understand why we as a group, who have been shunned by local ignorance of our safety, noise and other preconceived notions would then want to keep out people who have the same interest as us!! So if it is not a gas/glow it is not r/c? This whole idea of the PF's will ruin it for the rest of us is ludicrous. They fly R/C!!!! Just like us!!!! We are just offering a venue for them to do it in a safe, measured, reasonable manner that protects them and us for the mutual benefit of everyone!!!
If a PF gets in trouble because he hurts somone or damages property and he says "well I had no place else to fly, it's not my fault. I had noone to teach me,it's not my fault" then in some small way we would then be to blame...If we offer this to them we remove the excuses and they then become their bes attribute or own detriment...
this is not really a difficult concept to understand.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

Just how us hicks in the midwest talk, or is it speak?

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

All for having PF guys in AMA, just don't agree that multiple club types and tiered dues is the way to do it. (Hope my English and word usage meets with your approval!)

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

Well, I have yet to run into a plan or idea that has met with universal approval in any facet. The problem lies solely with the fact that there are always more people looking to criticize others than who can come up with a better plan or idea themselves. There is no such thing as a perfect plan, but what bothers me the most isthe arrogance to complain or shoot down an idea to improve several deficits in the AMA, without a plan or idea of their own. There are several people in the AMA that are quite willing to help others. Wether they run for office of their local club, become a CD, a Leader member, a pilot instructor, or go on to run for DVP or AVP. These people are the ones that realize that the flaws in a plan do not out weight the benefits and work diligently to make the plan work and improve the deficits a long the way. Saying that this is not the way to do it, begs the question, then whats your idea and have you spoken to your DVP about it or have you implemented it locally? Helping thos who come to your field is great!!! Believe me that is how I got into the hobby, but what about all those who do not stumble onto your field, what of those who are lacking the knowledge to tap into the resources....What of those who are at the Parks trying their darndest to fly....Sometimes bad decision is far better than indecision. The current list of willing people It is a testiment to the majority of the member s of the AMA.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

You are quite welcome. And thank you for signing up. I've said it before, this programs success lies squarely on our shoulders.

Frank

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying here. Would you mind explaining?

Thanks,

Frank

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

I believe the PPP is a mistake, as does everyone else in my club. We help anyone who asks for help now, with any type plane. We also believe those that want help are able to find us. We advertise in the local hobby shop, we have a web site, we are listed on AMA, we are listed in the park districts brochures. It will just complicate club administration, with different dues types, monitoring who flys what according to his membership type, will lead to more "specfic interest" clubs competing in the community for fields and frequencies. All for bringing in the PF guys, advertise the benefits, tell them we are there to help, etc. but they should pay the same and not be urged to create their own clubs. PPP is here, so be it. The impact of this program may be good in some areas bad in others. Just not needed everywhere nor are the potential benefits worth the potential risks. Forest Gump here, "And that is all I am going to say about that".

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

Thanks for the response.

Hmmm, I'm not sure I understand why you are so quick to discredit this program. The should be no additional work for your club or its members. Remember, the main intent of this program is to help park fliers and help the AMA grow. It has been said many times that the AMA's dues were too high and that they did nothing for the "park flyer" community. Now the AMA has taken actions to help bring in those folks and to help grow membership in the AMA. It is most likely that folks who join in the PPP will eventually upgrade to open membership when they feel a need to fly airplane larger than what the PPP allows.

I would think, as an AMA member, you would want to help grow membership in the AMA and welcome new members on board rather than shut these new members out. What does it hurt to extend them an open hand?

Frank

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

Hmm... it seems that fear of change is the fear. You bring up frequency issues, well AMA has guidlines for working out frequency issues that would not be there if the Pf's just head to any open spot and turn on the TX. So that argument doesnt work.
You assume that people know where to find out information they seek. Fankly not true. They buy a plane on line it comes to their house they fly it at the park, that scenario misses all that you stated on finding you. Again you say you help those that come to you regardless of what they fly. So if they fly a PF at your field and jhoin the AMA and your club do you have a problem with that? of course not, but then you ought not to have a problem with the program because it accomplishes the same thing. i do not see how you find competition a bad thing......if two small clubs are competing for space, they could unite and have a larger membership a better field and be a local leader for R/C. You also speak of the local government, we once had a problem with an elected official...We rallied behind a person running agaist him, held signs, donated money and met with him, and our problem did not get re-elected. We have on a regular basis met with our state reps and senators and our local government and they realize they work for us and understand that small groups can effect an election. further they understan that short of an out and out ban they can't stop us.
Your arguments lack merit and sem to be a knee jerk reaction to nothing more than change. I am sorry you are so negative, but the fact is that there is a lot of positive in this program dealing with the very issues that were brought about a year ago in dealing with the PF surge. What would be you suggestion and I again ask if you have spoken to your AMA DVP and tried to implement a program locally?

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

Is not a club responsible if a PPP member tries to fly a plane bigger than his membership and thus insurance allows for? How can you say it is not added work for club officers to administer? We are not trying to shut them out, please read my previous posts, they are welcome, let them pay the full price like the rest of us.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

You got all the answers.

RE: Park Pilot Volunteers Needed
 

K3, Thanks again for the response.

Full price for what? AMA membership or club dues? If it's AMA dues you are referring to, they pay less because they get less. Wouldn't you prefer to have new members join at a discounted rate, get hooked on the hobby as we all did, then upgrade to an Open membership rather than not join at all?

Thanks,

Frank