I am looking for information reguarding the duties of a Field Marshal. Is this an official AMA recognized position? What information is available concerning this position. I ask because even though I am a new pilot I like to help in any way that I can and I see that our field could use some help. I own/operate a Landscaping and a home improvement business so I could potentialy be of substantial help to local club. This has been presented to a few board members and I am sure direction will come but what I was looking for is other experiance and/or input that would help define and promote this position.

Thanks in advance for your help

"Field Marshall" is probably something specific to your local club. I would call your club president and talk to him about it. As far as the AMA is concerned the positions that they recognize is President, Vice-President, Treasurer/Secretarand Safety Coordinator. I know more about these positions that I would like to because we are currently in the process of chartering a new club with the AMA. Any positions beyond these are usually something specific to a local club.

Ken

That's HERR Field Marshall to you and me..... it's certainly not an AMA position, sounds more like Wehrmacht

No, really, it's sort of equivalent to Contest Director; a position in which you are sort of HMFIC at the field, responsible for overall operations, safety, parking, food, etc. The person to go to with any problems that arise. We used to use a Grid Marshall at our club days at the racetrack when I roadraced. Lots of responsibility, can be a hard spot if you have to make decisions nobody likes

This could be anyone on a given day, but should be specific guidelines in the club charter or field operating rules that gives specific duties, responsibilities and especially, AUTHORITY to whomever is the acting person. If you have a busy field, not a bad idea to have one person as the end authority to solve problems, throw troublemakers out, etc.

I guess the information I was really getting at were grounds maintenance, things like proper height to keep the grass, field layouts, Starting stands, signage, charging station, other ideas to make for a better flying field.

Oh, THAT guy. We call him "The Lawnmower Man". I guess a club could appoint someone to make those decisions, but in our club they are brought up as business subjects to discuss at meetings. We contract a willing member to mow, and we have club work days where volunteers show up and we weed eat, fertilize seed, etc. Grass height is subjective, guys who fly smaller planes want shorter grass. Flight stations and their positions are taken care of in AMA guidelines. Field layout is kind of dictated by geography and prevailing winds. Everything should be voted on; I think if one person is given authority to make these kinds of decisions there is too much opportunity for dissent and dissatisfaction from the club as a whole if things get done that even a few dislike. If these things are decided as a group, and a majority of the voters says "do it this way", then no one has as much reason to complain because the choice was made by one person with no input from anybody else..

Of course there are those who won't be happy whatever the group wants, and they seem to be the same ones who don't show up for meetings and make their own wants known. My comment to them is show up or shut up.