11092019 EC Minutes
Executive Council Meeting
November 9, 2019
Muncie, Indiana
Draft
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; representing District II, AVP Gary Fitch, Delevan NY; District III Mark Radcliff, St. Marys WV; District IV Jay Marsh, High Point NC; District V Bob Brogdon, Powder Springs GA; District VI, Gary Himes, Kansas City MO; District VII Tim Jesky, Monroe MI; District IX Jim Tiller (via teleconference), Custer SD; District X, Lawrence Tougas, Fairfield CA; District XI, Phil Tallman, Medical Lake WA; Greg Principato, NAA; Felix Gora, AMA legal counsel.
Others in attendance: Ilona Maine, AMA; Tyler Dobbs, AMA; Angie Martin, AMA; Eric Bachmann, AMA; Donald Way, AVP District VI; Randy Gibson, District VII AVP; Tony Stillman, AMA; Paul Bretsen; Liz Helms, recording secretary.
Additions to Final Flight list:
- Ron Carroll
A moment of silence was observed.
2. Consent agenda
- Approval for EC meeting motions on October 3, 2019, including date for 2020 National Model Aviation Day, changes to Flying Site Grant programs, decision to sunset AMA Expo West; approval of minutes from August 3 meeting.
- Motion to approve the consent agenda was approved by acclamation.
3. President’s Report (Rich Hanson)
Rich discussed approval the appointment of Phil Tallman as District XI vice president.
Motion I: Moved by Randy Cameron (EVP), seconded by Tim Jesky, District VII, to appoint Phil Tallman to replace Bryan Wood as the District XI Vice President to the AMA Executive Council.
Motion passed. One abstention (District XI)
The FAA is looking to the industry to voluntarily implement Remote ID. Rich expects it to be two or three years before it is official in the US. DOD, DOJ, and other security organizations still have concerns about activity around sensitive facilities. He has participated in discussions with DAC concerning VLOS/altitude restrictions operations for official activities. One item of interest is using VLOS for reviewing facilities maps. Rich has asked to be assigned to the taskforce for this workgroup.
ASTM meeting: FAA has to publish the standard in order for the ruling to be law. It might be applicable to the LMA and turbine programs. Rich feels that these programs might be better off remaining under the current AMA certifications.
AMA Expo: It was announced at the AMA Expo event to sunset the gathering. Rich discussed plans to support smaller district or regional events across the country in lieu of a national event.
FAA: Rich has been receiving complaints about AMA not doing a good job of communicating FAA information to the membership. He currently feels that there is a wealth of information available with the current videos, podcasts.
Government Relations: Tyler Dobbs reported that 50 or so clubs have applied for permission to fly at higher altitudes. He discussed the letter of agreement process. FAA has formed a panel to explore waiver process for flying model aircraft at higher altitudes in controlled airspace. Discussions are currently at a standstill until dates are determined. He also noted the willingness at the local level to work with AMA clubs.
The testing requirement is upcoming. Jay Marsh (District IV) asked if AMA wants to consider administering the test or allow FAA to do so. Rich is uncomfortable with the use of the word/term drone that the FAA insists upon using.
Rich commented on Class E airspace which is the base of airway traffic. Rich asked if the FAA was looking at all airports or just towered airports. Andy Argenio (District I) asked how the FAA will enforce the ruling and waiver.
Lawrence Tougas (District X) suggested that AMA should keep hammering at the FAA. We need to concentrate on AMA’s safety record, especially in areas where the FAA authority seems to be unclear. AMA members have votes but don’t have the money to pursue this course. Rich stated that AMA sanctions roughly 3,000 events per year. Many do not take place at traditional fields and will require additional leeway.
Lawrence Tougas (District X) suggested that AMA put in another call to action. Many members still don’t know what is going on with the FAA. Chad Budreau (ED) noted that we had used additional platforms to reach members but agreed to increase messaging. Rob Kurek (Publications director) mentioned that many toy manufacturers are concerned about the possible tariff activities and are scaling back. Rich commented that perhaps AMA is causing members to “tune us out” because there was just too much being put out on so many social media platforms and not all was relevant to the FAA situation. Rob is currently in charge of a full audit of what content AMA is releasing. Andy Argenio (District I) suggested a more directed approach. Chad and Rich mentioned legal recourse/options and Chad noted that while AMA must advocate for the hobby, we also must not violate any 501(c)3 limitations. There was discussion concerning legal options/efforts and AMA’s status. Lawrence Tougas (District X) suggested negotiating a mutual agreement. Andy reiterated the congressional intent that there be a mutually negotiated agreement, not simply FAA-mandated ruling.
Mark Radcliff (District III) mentioned the viability of businesses/industry/organizations with the proposed FAA ruling. Discussion ensued on possible legal recourse.
Lawrence Tougas (District X) suggested a full-page ad stating in effect that “FAA is holding a gun to this industry’s head.” Jay Marsh (District IV) asked if FAA is delaying establishing a CBO is intentional so they don’t have to deal with AMA.
Motion II: Moved by Lawrence Tougas (District X), seconded by Gary Himes (District VI), to engage with Akin Gump as outlined in its November 4, 2019, engagement proposal.
Motion passed. One abstention (NAA).
4. Executive Vice President’s Report (Randy Cameron)
Randy went to the Erie County Fair in Hamburg NY, with the AMA Model Aviation Experience trailer. He thanked a number of individuals who helped staff the simulation trailer. He met the secretary general of Korean Aero Models Association (KAMA), Hangsik Kim. He mentioned that the Korean government subsidizes the KAMA and was concerned about the government oversight that this entails.
Randy also attended the Spirit of St. Louis air show with the trailer, the AMA Foundation Fun Fly, Nats planning committee meeting, and AMA Expo West.
5. Chief Financial Officer’s Report (Keith Sessions)
The AMA Foundation’s proposed budget is being further reviewed. He will only discuss AMA 2020 budget.
Keith stated that the budget has been challenging this year. Looking forward, the budget is based on a slight drop in membership level. He expressed concerns with the current government/FAA situation and mentioned other sources of income and expense cutting that are being considered to help balance the budget. Rich stated that he hoped this was the most difficult process AMA would encounter and that things will turn around.
Motion III: Moved by Gary Himes (District VI), and seconded by Randy Cameron (EVP), to accept the 2020 AMA budget as presented by CFO Keith Sessions.
Motion passed unanimously.
Rich thanked the board and recognized Keith Sessions with AMA’s Distinguished Service Award.
6. Executive Director’s Report (Chad Budreau)
Chad introduced Angie Martin, AMA’s Membership director. AMA is working with several groups (Air Force ROTC, EAA, CAP) to increase youth memberships. Chad has identified a youth-strategy restructuring workgroup refine the youth categories to best accommodate the potential growth and partnerships needs. AMA is considering offering “free” youth category, but also adding an annual paid Youth membership with member benefits to include insurance and Model Aviation Digital. Discussion ensued concerning Youth membership retention, accurately pricing the Youth membership costs, benefits, current value of the membership, and current cost of Youth members. Chad mentioned the possibility for a bylaws revision and EC buy-in, and asked for EC help/guidance. Implementation will cost money and man hours. There was discussion concerning why the established youth groups were interested in the Youth membership. Most felt that it was access to flying sites. Rich likes the direction the strategy is going and asked for a vetted strategy to be completed for the January 2020 EC meeting. Randy Cameron (EVP), Tim Jesky (District VII), and Andy Argenio (District I) will be the EC liaisons.
Chad noted that the AMA reversed a three- to four-year decline in paid memberships as membership has leveled off in the past 12 months. Chad highlighted marketing efforts attributing to the turn around and marketing and member services moving forward.
Lawrence Tougas (District X) initiated discussion concerning the benefits of auto-renewal, payment by check versus credit cards, cost-cutting measures by banks, AMA demographics, and charging service/administrative fees, creating an incentive for members to auto-renew. Greg Principato (NAA) suggested that the council spend more time on the issue and further discuss it.
Motion IV: Motion made by Lawrence Tougas (District X) and seconded by Lawrence Harville (District VIII), to add a service fee for manual membership renewals outside of auto-renew.
Motion withdrawn.
Motion V: Moved by Lawrence Tougas (District X), seconded by Randy Cameron (EVP), to ask the Marketing Committee to review membership service fees for manual membership renewals that could be avoided by using auto-pay.
Motion passed unanimously.
Chad noted that attendance at the AMA Expo West was dramatically down. He brought up a number of positive accomplishments that the AMA and staff have accomplished. Chad produced a working pamphlet detailing these things and asked if the EC would be behind publicizing it as an annual report to membership. There was general approval.
7. NAA (Greg Principato)
Greg discussed meetings he had attended and updating activities at NAA. He noted that there will be roughly a 30% reduction in the fees AMA pays to NAA for FAI membership and representation because of the change in tier status from Tier I to Tier II, effective in 2020. He also noted the number of youth FAI sporting licenses for the year and the Tupelov award to be presented.
FAI wants an increase in sporting licenses and requirements for said licenses. FAI is looking for ways to increase income. The annual FAI general meeting was canceled two weeks ago and rescheduled for shortly after Thanksgiving. There was discussion that FAI’s current strategy has lost focus, seems to be concentrating on large international events, and needs to review the purpose of the FAI and its various sporting commissions. Greg discussed various dynamics going on within the FAI.
8. Committee Reports
FAI Committee Report (Tim Jesky)
Tim Jesky (District VII) traveled to Italy in August. CIAM President Antonis Papadoupolus spoke with him concerning a contest in conjunction with MultiGP. The US F3A team in Italy captured team gold and the US youth competitor placed first. There was an issue with a judge at a world contest who was a former MultiGP employee. The National Association of Rocketry (NAR) is seeking approval to hold the world rocketry contest in Texas in 2022.
Motion VI: Moved by Tim Jesky (District VII), seconded by Jay Marsh (District IV), to approve bid submittal for the space modeling rocketry (FAI S) world championship with the National Association of Rocketry in 2022 in Texas.
Motion passed. 12 yes, 1 abstain (NAA).
Lunch
Executive Session
ED Evaluation Committee
Andy Argenio (District I) and Randy Cameron (EVP) briefly discussed the ED evaluation process to include a self evaluation by the ED and an anonymous evaluation by each Executive Council member via an online survey.
9. New Business
Approve 2020 Nats schedule: There was discussion about the presented schedule and a proposed 2020 AMA Fun-Fly July 24-26, held at the IAC and coinciding with the AMA Membership meeting and AMA Executive Council meeting. No funding was requested. Possible sites (at the IAC) were discussed for the fly-in during the Nats. There was concern that the suggested date was during the Oshkosh AirVenture. Indoor dates for the Nats will be May 27-31, 2020, in Eager/Springerville AZ.
Motion VII: Moved by Mark Radcliff (District III), and seconded by Lawrence Tougas (District X), to accept the AMA Nats schedule as presented and the proposed plan to host an AMA National Fun-Fly at the International Aeromodeling Center on July 24-26, 2020.
Motion passed unanimously.
Email opt-out for critical issues (Jay Marsh, District VII)
A number of people did not receive the critical government relations call-to-action email that was sent. Apparently these members had chosen to opt out of email notifications. Example, if one opted out of government-issues emails, the same member would not receive any TFRs. Jay suggested that AMA make it a prerequisite to membership that there would be some emails that a member could NOT opt out of. According to Felix Gora, AMA’s website’s opt-out language allows AMA to send information to all current members. Mark Radcliff (District III) suggested having an easier way opt in and/or out of email notifications. Apparently there were issues for roughly 50,000 members when AMA converted to new system. Chad noted that some email services automatically block what they consider spam. There was a discussion about who should send emails. Jay Marsh (District IV) stated that AMA needs notify email service providers when we send “transactional” or “relational” emails and have no opt-out allowance. AMA needs to ensure that the email service provider receives the correct list and periodically send a policy update of current conditions concerning critical notifications.
EC 2020 Schedule: It has been budgeted in 2020 for 2.5 face-to-face meetings. Rich suggested a virtual meeting in January, and face-to-face for the other three meetings. Suggested dates are:
- January 25, 2020 (virtual)
- April 25, 2020
- Membership meeting (July 25 in Muncie IN)
- July 26, 2020 (Sunday)
- October 24, 2020
Motion VIII: Moved by Randy Cameron (EVP), seconded by Gary Himes (District VI), to accept the Executive Council 2020 schedule with a membership meeting as follows:
- January 25, 2020 (virtual)
- April 25, 2020
- Membership meeting (Saturday, July 25 in Muncie IN)
- July 26, 2020 (Sunday)
- October 24, 2020
Motion passed unanimously.
11. Awards: The Carl and Beth Goldberg Awards
Two people were nominated for the prestigious award and the names were sent to the sitting EC members for a vote. James Corey (District V) and Ed Pollack (District III) were nominated. The rules allow five Goldberg awards per year, but only one person per district. Both men will receive the award.
Other awards approved by consensus include:
- Gil Terzo, District X, Distinguished Service Award
- Danny Sander, District VIII, Distinguished Service Award
- Darrin Hudson, District I, Distinguished Service Award
Chad shared with the council that AMA is recognizing Jay Gerber for his contributions to the organization. Jay will be on-site next week and be awarded a plaque for his active filming of model aviation and AMA.
There was some discussion concerning national events as compared with district events, and what help such events could receive from AMA staff and funding. Lawrence Tougas (District X) suggested that we consider using AMA to communicate the information. Rich suggested hosting or partially funding regional events so districts could team up and produce an event. Gary Fitch (District II representative) recounted the longtime District II event and mentioned the average number of attendees. Andy Argenio (District I) recalled similar events. Keith Sessions (CFO) suggested a single name for said events that could be held in various areas of the country. It was suggested that the idea gets turned over to the AMA Marketing Committee to see what it could come up with. Rich noted that there are a number of events already planned for 2020, but still wants AMA staff to explore the proposal and see what it could come up with.
12. Motion to adjourn
Release Date
Wed, 12/18/2019 - 09:04