Candidate forum impressions
 

Well now, what do you think?

Mark has respectfully answered some tough questions with out the need to qualify the persons asking. He has answered all queries and hasn’t any red Zeros in his reply column. Even though the PPP is sort of his baby he went on to illuminate the fact that is costing us considerably. I can truly respect that.

Horrace has failed to answer many questions mostly due to his personal prerequisites. He has many Zeros in his reply column. It is most unfortunate since I truly would like to rally behind him and ask him a few questions. I know it could never happen since Horrace will stick to his guns to the bitter end no matter what but if he somehow he could find the strength to acquiesce and consider something greater than his views I think he would be great asset for us.

As of now, my vote will have to go to Mark.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

I'm with you here, LCS. I'm impressed with Mark's apparent honesty and respectful demeanor.

I too would like to support Horrace, if he wasn't such a...Hossfly.

But I may still, I haven't fully decided yet. Waiting on my ballot.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

I got my ballot in the mail today.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

Clearly Mark Smith is man for AMA EVP. His answers are clear and not demeaning. He has the respect of the EC and his District.
Cain on the otherhand failed to even mention in his MA Campaign Statement he was a former AMA Dist VP. You would certainly think when you are addressing the AMA voting membership in the Official AMA magazine that you would want them to know your past AMA affilation. I take his campaign statement as it stands. He does not provide any info about his AMA experience not even at club level. So those ( unless they have personal knowledge) reading it will conclude he has never been involved with AMA other than as a member. Inexperience is not something AMA needs in the #2 position. That is what you are left with , no experience . His Campaign statement in MA is his offical statement to all voting members of his qualification to be AMA EVP. What he states in RCU and other fourms is read by very few of 150,000 plus AMA members.

As a side note I gave my neighbor the magazine and asked him to read both campaigh statements. Based on the information provided he chose Smith. When asked why he said it did not appear the other guy had any experience.

I will vote for Mark Smith.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

"I'm with you here, LCS. I'm impressed with Mark's apparent honesty and respectful demeanor.

I too would like to support Horrace, if he wasn't such a...Hossfly."

Well said. Mike

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

My only problem with Mark is that he is very close with the Executive Committee. Do we want an insider there, or do we want a watchdog, that is not a lapdog? If we had a person such as this serving as the EVP, would we have gotten the PPP rammed down our throats? Perhaps, but would it not have been more difficult? I know that some of you are very pro PPP, but it's not paying it's own freight, and the prospects of it doing so for several years look very bleak.

On another issue, there is too much that is done in the various committees that are played too close to the vest, and keeping the identies of the various committee members secret, or concealed is not my idea of accountability.

The third issue that immediately comes to mind is the melding of the two powerhouses in the retail/wholesale part of the hobby getting into bed with the AMA, and perhaps (I didn't say that they were actually doing it) deciding how the PPP should be admisistered, and deciding which models qualify for that tier of membership to be able to use. On the surface, it could appear that these manufacturers/distributors would be profiting from this arrangement, at the expense of other manufacturers.

Guys, you may not like Horrace as a person, and I'll be the first to admit that he can be abrasive, but I still wonder what is the agenda of each one of the candidates?

We won't have many opportunities to want to talk with the EVP. He won't be your DVP (who should be getting these questions), but you guys probably want to have a one on one with the guys who are running for the office of POTUS too.

What I am trying to say is that I don't want a nice guy watching over the AMA, I want a hard nosed, crusty S.O.B. that can't be pushed around, and who does not owe his allegience to anyone on the Executive Committee. I would like to see the staff work for the Executive Committee, rather than having an E.C. that feels that they must do what the staff says. Someone needs to remember who works for whom.

Bill, AMA 4720

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

Bill, I think I know where you are coming from - you are still smarting over no AMA representation at Top Gun. And from reading some of your posts the only real modelers are those that build giant scale gas models from scratch. That fits the Horrace Cain (my way is the only way) mold perfectly. Horrace has made frequent referance to how screwed up the officers of of his own club, Jetero R/C are - while he doesn't seem to have the leadership qualities to get them back on the track he would prefer. I sincerely hope that the majority of voting AMA members will want to see someone elected to the EVP position that is a team player that can help move the AMA in the right direction.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

One side represents a person who wants to win and has the experience to get the job done.

The other side personal agendas and the poster child representation of how to throw your own election in the trash.

You pick who goes where.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

What you are saying is you want someone constantly playing the gotcha game with the EC and Muncie staff. You picked the right man for that.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

ORIGINAL: Red Scholefield
[quote]

Original: Red Scholefield

What you are saying is you want someone constantly playing the gotcha game with the EC and Muncie staff. You picked the right man for that.
Red Scholefield[quote]




No Red,

If that is what I wanted, I would write in your name. Only, you would be playing the gotcha game with the membership, and if the Executive Committee stopped quickly, you would need to have your head surgically removed from one of the committee member's prosterior.

Bill, AMA 4720

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

All but one of those zeros are questions from stl. Now, would you bother answering him, since he probably can't vote anyhow? You know as well as I do, he is just stirring the pot on Hoss's forum.

Looks to me like your just trying to make Hoss look bad, IMO

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

Many of the questions on Hoss's forum are not more than him saying he will not answer the question because the name or AMA # or blood type was not posted.

I got my ballot today...

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

My impression is that the focus of many has not been on who has the most workable plan to strengthen the AMA, it's more about superficial stuff and old grudges.
We've witnessed the anti-Hossers present an elaborate fairytale about his non involvement with the frequency deal.
We saw Hoss produce evidence in short order that he was wrongly accused.
We saw Mark asked about how much his PPP has spent to date, how much has been budgeted.
The answers to those questions should have been right at his fingertips, but they weren't, nor have all the questions been satisfactorily answered yet.

I see where BillyH is endorsing MarkS based on his involvement with PB functions and I'll guess also because Mark can do better blenders than Hoss. :eek:

My impression is that political corresctness counts for more with many here than substance, ability, know-how, vision, honesty, etc.
That is what the real issue here is, Hoss is less politically correct than the other guy and that carries more weight with the tire kickers who can't even figure out how to pop the hood.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

Ahhhhh, this is in reply to the red zeros post, not about what he did or didn't answer to.

No ballots here either.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

That is a sad non-productive philosophy lcs. You are entitled to vote your choice and whatever choice you make is your business.

If your vote goes to personality, bending to your will, and saying what you want to hear, plus business as usual within the hierarchy of AMA, then your choice is the way you should vote.

OTOH if you are voting for an AMA that just might have a chance of truly advancing the sport of model aviation along with more productive methods of doing business, then perhaps you might give a long reconsideration of your current view point.

Ball is in your court.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

Red Zero threads?
A lot of them?

Lets see what the various topics of these Red Zero threads were:
Will you answer questions from potential AMA members?
[Awaiting Approval] <wow, why didnt Hoss answer this one :eek:
What makes a person a good communicator?
Red Tape, Yea or Nea?
Memebership based participation
Your stance on personal invasion privacy
Hoss, what do you have against more children becoming AMA members? <that is the entire 1line post
Why are you against clubs trying to encourage new membership? <that is the entire 1line post
What do you think about Mark Smith?

All but the MarkSmith, Children, & Clubs New Membership questions are just the same thing over & over:
Crying one way or another about Hoss wanting ID in the candidate forum.
The Children & Club ones are just silly "WHY do you hate puppies" tripe.

And of course, there is a pattern of who is asking the red zero questions.

But fear not,
I went ahead and copied in some of the insane questions for MarkS to answer for comparison.


What do I think about the Candidate FORUMS?
One if them is littered with the same gripe in 5 or 6 red zero threads about requiring poster ID.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

Hoss, did you get my pm I sent a few hours ago?

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

I did see a stark contrast in personality types by reading the two forums. Very different leadership styles indeed.

I am still unsure on which style would be best suited to help lead the AMA in the future. Do I want someone who clearly disagrees with the current direction of the AMA and who seems to want to rock the boat, to what end I'm not sure, OR, someone who appears to work well with the current leaders, but who might share too much of the same interests and just maintain the status quo? Although I have read a number of things Dave Mathewson has written and he seems like he is taking the AMA in the right direction.

Decisions, decisions. I am kinda surprised that people who actually know the candidates have not come on here to support them and provide commentary.

Frank

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

Responded.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

Kid

You must know, that I know, as elsewhere, STL's prime directive is to stir stuff in Hoss's candidate forum. That really goes without saying...but a simple reply to any relevant question would go along ways to quell even the most idiotic attempts to cause trouble. It would be a simple matter to address any question one way or another, even just to say” that’s silly".

Now on to a real ball buster. Hoss is touted as being a "watchdog" but openly admits being party to doling out 10g of AMA funds without any accountability to the members...then or now...yea a mute watchdog is of some real use.


<<<<<<<<<<<<&l t;<<<<<<<<<<<< <<<<<<<<
From the HC candidate forum:
quote:


2. Do you know specifically how this money was used?


No.
<<<<<<<<<<<<&l t;<<<<<<<<<<<< <<<<<<<


Yep…. some more of that is what we need…

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

But there are things Mark should know that he doesnt appear to.

CP mentioned the PPP cost/budget answer

And when I asked about optional MA he spouted the dogma about being required to get info to the members. When confronted with the PPP having their chioce of magazines, his reply was as if he was unaware of that option:
Maybe not every member of the EC is very familiar with PPP details,
but it is Marks baby.
How can he tell me that when we all know about the -$10+$36 MA option for PPP folks to not get the parkie magazine?

He answered with old partyline dogma that we've shot holes in here for the past year,
and I wonder just how much he knows about the PPP with that magazine mantra answer.


And Bob's question on corporate reorganization got a vanilla politician non-answer
Thats something that takes planning & work.
Come on, I dont expect him to give a tort lawyer answer, but lets have a little opinionated answer in that fluff.
The part I dont get is Bob, who hounded Hoss over a bunch of threads on the Organization subject, just accepted this non-anwser with complete understanding. Dang, Hoss should have just given Bob a 20 word answer and look like a saint too



Looks like this is going to be a popularity contest instead of voting the issues.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

Kid,

Maybe he should know...And yes his answers were/are/will be a bit guarded or measured but answer he did...Although a few answers seemed a bit condescending by being reiterative of immediate previous posts…Yes, I picked up on that…

I have a few more questions and you certainly have raised a few for Mark also. We will continue to see...Its not over until the fat lady sings...Roseanne isn't even clearing her voice yet....As doubtful as it is, maybe Hoss can come around.

As I said before, I would like nothing better than to support Hoss but his ego continues to get in the way. I think a arrogant ego is a common kryptonite for many otherwise great people. Really hate to see Hoss fall victim to it... I imagine there are many others that would be grateful if he could be freed of its death grip.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

If you will go back to the question that I asked Mark, and the answer that I got, I asked for a clarification, and got the exact same answer as before. I called him on it, and so far there has been no further response. I doubt if I will get one either. He comes across as a typical political hack. His answers appear to be, "Canned". Have you noticed that there is a substantial amount of time before he answers any question? Does he wait until he has some help to craft a carefully worded response that has been pre=approved? I don't know.....I just don't want a carbon copy of who is already on the E.C. Make mine Hoss.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

Yep, I noticed. And I agree on most of your other points as well but there are only two choices. Mark may be able to acquire rope faster than Hoss. Hoss likely will only be quarantined from the onset. I have faith that Dave M can put into effect better performance from Mark than he might with Hoss. Mark’s ability to answer hard questions here, when pressed, is litmus positive. Bottom line, which one of the two will assist Dave the most?

I really believe Dave is immune to encoding and capable of recognizing strengths as well as faults and will give proper directives as needed. He just needs someone to follow through. I think Mark might fit the bill better.
.

RE: Candidate forum impressions
 

You are entitled to your opinion, and to vote for whom you wish. For the life of me, I can't see how we will be better off with a rubber stamp in that position. Already, you cannot and will not find out who is on what committee. The tail is wagging the dog in Muncie, and I would like to see that stopped. The staff needs to find out that they are nothing but hired help, not the elected officers of the Academy. So far, no one has had the cajones to inform them of that fact, so we still get the staff telling the E.C. what information to pass along to the troops, and what they can and cannot say. That is BassAckward.

You are correct in your assessment that Dave Matthewson can perform better with a tame lapdog. I don't want him to put on a good performance, I want him to perform well for the Academy. There is a vast difference. I think that Dave has done a reasonably good job so far, in correcting some of the misadventures of the previous reign. I just don't like the way that things get shoved down our throats whithout us having any say in the matter, other than at voting time. I put up with a marginal DVP for years, with his, "I attended", reports. Now my current DVP is doing pretty much the same thing, and his local Toady/Lackey/Boot Licking Dog Robber is carrying his flag for him. I'll do what I need to do to try to defeat him next time he runs. I'm sick and tired of the Good Ol' Boy way of running the AMA.

It's time for the Executive Committee to become open in their dealings, and put everything out for all to see. If they don't want me to know who is on which committee, and how that person voted, WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?

As I said, you have the right to support who you wish, just think about what I just asked before you do.

Bill