January 22 2022 Minutes

1. Opening Business

• In attendance:
  • President Rich Hanson, Scottsdale AZ, Fishers IN; EVP Randy Cameron, Springfield MO; CFO Keith Sessions, Burlington KY; Executive Director Chad Budreau, Parker City IN; District I Andy Argenio, Smithfield RI; District II Eric Williams, Schenectady NY; District III Mark Radcliff, St. Marys WV; District IV Jay Marsh, High Point NC; District V Andrew Griffith, Jacksonville FL; District VI Gary Himes, Kansas City MO; District VII Randy Gibson, Lansing MI (partial attendance) and AVP Peter Van Heusden, Bloomfield Hills MI (proxy for Randy Gibson); District VIII Lawrence Harville, Hurst NY; District IX Jim Tiller, Custer SD; District X Greg Stone, Yorba Linda CA; District XI Phil Tallman, Medical Lake WA; Greg Principato, NAA; AMA Foundation Chairman Rusty Kennedy, Poquoson VA.
• Others in attendance:
  • District I AVP Daren Hudson; Tyler Dobbs, AMA Government Affairs; Felix Gora, AMA legal counsel; Paul Bretsen FNIC insurance representative; Dave Lindley, National Free Flight Society president; Rob Kurek, AMA Communications; Rachelle Haughn, recording secretary.
• Additions to Final Flight list:
  • Bob Warner, Narragansett RI.

2. Consent Agenda

1. Approval of October 30, 2021, minutes.
2. Motion to approve consent agenda.
3. Approved by consensus.

3. President’s Report (Rich Hanson)

Most of Rich Hanson’s (President) work has been done virtually. He attended ASTM standards meetings, Advanced Aviation Advisory Committee (AAAC) task force meetings, and council subcommittee meetings. The ASTM subcommittee has been working on equipment and compliance standards for Remote ID for about three years. They recently finalized the draft standards that will go out to the ASTM members for a vote.

The AAAC taskforce has been working on task group 12, which is the development of K-12 curriculum for UAS. Emily Rice (Staff, AMA Education) and Chad Budreau (ED) represent AMA on the committee. They are wrapping up recommendations this next week.

The celebration of Hazel Sig-Hester’s 100th birthday is coming up. Rich has decided to present the AMA Presidential Award to her for contributions to the hobby. Australia is having a fun-fly with Sig Manufacturing products. Rich suggested Randy Cameron (EVP) consider recognizing this milestone as a component to the AMA National Fun Fly.

4. Executive Vice President’s Report (Randy Cameron)

Rich Hanson (President), Chad Budreau (ED), and Randy Cameron (EVP) went to the Round Top R/C Expo in Texas. The November event was well attended.

Randy (EVP) discussed changes to the 2022 EC committees. Greg Stone (X) has been added to the Nominations Committee, Lawrence Harville (VIII) was selected as the Insurance Committee chair, and Gary Himes (XI) is now the Publications Committee chair. Andy Argenio (I) noted that he should be added to the Safety Committee.

Rich reminded the EC that all financial committees were combined in 2021 under the title Finance and Budget Committee. This committee is co-chaired by Keith Sessions (CFO) and Russ Miller.

The following were submitted to Randy (EVP) during the meeting as VP replacements:

• District I: Daren Hudson and John Yassemedis.
• District II: Michael Wong and Gary Fitch.
• District III: Randy Adams and Jeff Black.
• District IV: Rusty Kennedy and Nic Burhans.
• District V: Bill Barbee and Darrell Sprayberry.
• District VI: Don Way and Leo Rodriquez.
• District VII: No names provided.
• District VIII: Tony Breyen and Gary Strickland.
• District IX: Brandon Koch and Terry Wiles.
• District X: Jim Bonnardel and Allen Friedman.
• District XI: Rick Crow and Mike Ingram.

Randy (EVP) asked if Rusty Kennedy (AMA Foundation Chair) could serve as interim District IV Vice President and still serve as AMA Foundation Chair. Rich said Rusty could not serve in both positions at the same time, so if Rusty remains as Foundation Chair, Nic Burhans would have to serve.

5. Chief Financial Officer’s Report (Keith Sessions)

Keith Sessions (CFO) reminded the council where they could access the Travel and Expense Policy (T&E Policy). He said that EC members need to be prudent when using AMA funds. It’s important to get expense reports submitted in a timely manner. These include airline tickets, even if the flight will not take place for a while. Receipts and documentation are due within 30 days of the purchase transaction.

Each year district council members must submit to the Comptroller an asset list that includes all assets in each district, such as computers.

Keith reported that 2021 was a great year for AMA. Expenses were in line with what was expected. Revenue increased, including membership dues. AMA has now had two strong years financially. Keith is concerned that the economy will slow down in 2022. Federal officials are expected to slow down inflation and raise interest rates.

Chad Budreau (ED) added that inflation is impacting operations. This includes vendor rates and office supplies such as toner and paper. Chad and Keith commented that the cost of labor and shipping has increased a lot. Keith predicted that expenses will be higher in 2022.

Andy Argenio (I) asked if AMA’s T&E policy could be discussed during the executive session. Rich Hanson (president) said it could.

6. Executive Director’s Report (Chad Budreau)

Chad Budreau (ED) reminded the council that the 2021 AMA Annual Report is available for council members to review and provide feedback before being published. Andy Argenio (I) shared the draft report to some club officers in his district, who all spoke highly of the document and efforts. Andy asked if the EC could use the 2021 AMA Annual Report as a marketing tool and to share with members. Chad agreed noting the annual report should be shared with members and stakeholders.

Tyler Dobbs (Staff, Government Affairs Director) briefly reviewed the Government Affairs Annual Report. He also updated the council on the status of Controlled Airspace letters of agreement, as well as coordination efforts with the FAA waivers in Class G airspace. Safety Risk Management panels are still taking place. It is rumored that Advisory Circular 9157C will be released at the end of April 2022. It will allow AMA pilots to resume operations at night in controlled airspace. Tyler mentioned that Sen. Todd Young wrote a letter of recommendation to have Chad added to FAA’s AAAC.

The Government Affairs team and Tony Stillman (Staff, Safety and Technical Director) are investigating the launch of 5G and whether it could impact model aircraft flying. Initial investigations indicate that the frequency bands should not be affected. Staff will continue to meet with frequency specialists.

AMA and the FAA are discussing FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs) to include environmental impacts. AMA has obtained legal counsel for guidance with the environmental issues.

Chad continued his ED report by stating that membership numbers in 2021 outpaced 2021 goals and 2020 month-by-month numbers. Mark Radcliff (III) asked how the paid AMA Youth membership program was doing. Chad said AMA currently has approximately 3,000 paid Youth members.

Chad shared with the EC fourth-quarter 2021 efforts which included presentations at the Consumer Electronics Show, advocacy work, attendance at NAA events, and operational workflow updates. Chad then provided status reports on the motions from the previous council meeting to include implementing how the minutes are posted, removing SIG statuses, updating the MAAC Affiliate membership arrangement, and renaming Site 4 to the Mike Barbee/NASA site in 2022.

Chad also provided an update on first-quarter projects in the 2022 Program of Work. Efforts include the development of an AMA digital card to allow members to view, save, and print their membership card from their AMA online profile. The online camping registration portal is also on pace for a March 1 launch.

Chad then discussed insurance and FAI competitions. FAI requires an awarded host country to provide no-cost insurance to guest pilots from other countries during an FAI event. Historically AMA would provide complimentary Affiliate memberships to global guest pilots during an USA event. The complimentary Affiliate membership would begin immediately prior to the awarded event for practice and setup and end on the last day of the event. To fulfill this FAI mandate, Chad’s interpretation of the bylaws requires the EC to either modify the standing rules or authorize staff through a motion.

Motion I: Moved by Randy Cameron (EVP), seconded by Mark Radcliff (III), to authorize staff to offer complimentary affiliate membership to non-US permanent resident FAI competitors, managers, and support personnel immediately prior and during US hosted FAI CIAM awarded world events.

Motion passed: 13 Yes (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, NAA, EVP).

7. NAA Report (Greg Principato)

Greg Principato (NAA) shared that NAA held its Collier Trophy event and had its Wright Memorial Dinner in December, where Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden was honored. Greg stated that the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) plans to nominate the Mars Ingenuity team for the 2022 Collier Trophy. The 2023 FAI General Conference is set to take place in Dayton, Ohio.

Lunch/Executive Session

MOTION II: Moved by Andy Argenio (I), seconded by Mark Radcliff (III), to accept the recommendations from the ED Evaluation Committee for the 2021 period bonus and to renew Chad Budreau’s Executive Director’s contract for the next three years.

Motion passed: 13 Yes (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, NAA, EVP).

8. Committee Reports

Marketing Committee

Eric Williams (II) reported that the Marketing Committee had its first meeting a week or two before the council meeting. The committee discussed increasing memberships at club and national levels through utilizing different channels of communications.

Rich Hanson (President) stated that he provided some suggestions for marketing initiatives, but in the general context, the budget is tight. Rich stated that he didn’t think council members are interested in increasing membership dues at this time. The committee needs to focus on increasing interest in the hobby or adding more non-dues revenue.

Museum Committee

The Museum Committee would like to recognize the West Baden Springs Hotel, French Lick, Indiana, as a National Model Aviation Historic Site through its National Aeromodeling Heritage Program. The hotel’s 200-foot diameter atrium, built in 1902, has hosted numerous Indoor Free Flight contests, including world championships. David Lindley (National Free Flight Society President) shared historic events and celebrated the significance of the building as it relates to aeromodeling.

Motion III: Moved by Randy Cameron (EVP), seconded by Gary Himes (VI), to accept West Baden Springs Hotel as a National Historic Site under the AMA National Aeromodeling Heritage Program.

Motion passed: 13 Yes (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, NAA, EVP).

9. Old Business

Meeting Minutes and Motions: Rich Hanson (President) asked the council how the voting record should be posted in the minutes and motions. Council members agreed by consensus that the published meeting minutes should note how each EC member voted.

Bill and Ballot: Chad Budreau (ED) and Rich reminded the council that in July 2012 the EC voted to remove printed campaign statements from the bill and ballot and instead give members directions for how to view campaign statements in other outlets. Chad shared strategies to fulfill this motion and asked for council concurrence. Chad added that the campaign statements are currently published in Model Aviation, on the AMA website, and linked in other media such as AMA Today. Keith Sessions (CFO) suggested that a scannable code be added to the ballot that could take voters to the online campaign statements. The council directed staff to continue efforts to remove the printed campaign statements with mailed ballots in 2022.

Motion IV: Moved by Eric Williams (II), seconded by Randy Cameron (EVP), to rescind Motion III from July 2012 and replace with Motion V from the EC meeting on January 22, 2022.

Motion passed: 13 Yes (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, NAA, EVP).

Motion V: Moved by Gary Himes (VI), and seconded by Mark Radcliff (III), to remove printed campaign statements from the ballot and instead specify on the ballot where the campaign statements can be found: in the magazine, online, or accessed through other channels. The Standing Rules will be updated to reflect this change.

Motion passed: 13 Yes (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, NAA, EVP).

AED and FSIG: Eric stated that in 2012 or 2013 he made a motion that clubs could apply for Flying Site Improvement Grant (FSIG) funds to purchase AEDs. While this has been implemented, Eric felt that FSIG applications that include AEDs should also be given priority over other FSIG requests.

Rusty Kennedy (AMA Foundation) said that more clubs applied for grants in 2021 and there is not enough money to fund every project request. Randy (EVP) stated that he would like to separate requests for grant funds for AEDs from the FSIG program. Andy Argenio (I) suggested that a separate grant program be established for AEDs. Eric added that he would like requests for AEDs funds to be considered separate from traditional FSIG requests. There was some discussion whether the AMA Foundation should tackle this topic or an ad hoc committee. Rusty suggested this effort be led by an ad hoc committee.

Motion VI: Moved by Eric Williams (II), and seconded by Randy Cameron (EVP), to form an ad hoc committee chaired by Eric Williams to explore an AED grant program for 2023 and to provide recommendations to the EC by the June 26, 2022, EC meeting.

Motion passed: 12 Yes (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, NAA, EVP); 1 No (III).

FSIG Funds: Randy (EVP) said he wanted to increase the amount of funding for 2023 FSIG. Council supported the recommendation, but there were some concerns how to fund this request. The council discussed ways to generate more FSIG funds. Chad suggested since budgets aren’t decided until October, the council could wait on the motion. This would allow for more investigation to include studying the impacts of inflation, exploring revenue sources, and taking into considerations the June report from the recently formed FSIG ad hoc committee. Randy requested the EC consider the motion anyway.

Motion VII: Moved by Randy Cameron (EVP), and seconded by Jay Marsh (IV), to increase the FSIG funds allocation by 10¢ beginning in 2023, from 25¢ to 35¢ per Adult paying member.

Motion passed: 12 Yes (I, II, II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, X, XI, NAA, EVP); 1 No (IX).

10. Closing Business

Awards

Motion VIII: Moved by Mark Radcliff (III), seconded by Randy Cameron (EVP), to award the Johnstown RC Club the AMA Award of Excellence for their 60th anniversary.

Motion passed: 13 Yes (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, NAA, EVP).

The award will be presented March 26, 2022.

Jim Tiller (IX) will be presenting a District Service Award on March 26, 2022.

12. Adjournment

Adjournment at 3:36 p.m.