EC Minutes 10-24-20
Executive Council Meeting October 24, 202 Muncie, Indiana/teleconference Official Minutes
The meeting began at 9:10 a.m.
1. Opening Business
- In attendance: President Rich Hanson, 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 (virtual); District II Eric Williams, Schenectady NY (virtual); District III Mark Radcliff, St. Marys WV (virtual); District IV Jay Marsh, High Point NC; District V Andy Griffith, Jacksonville FL; District VI, Gary Himes, Kansas City MO; District VII Tim Jesky, Monroe MI; District VIII Lawrence Harville, Hurst TX (virtual); District IX Jim Tiller, Custer SD; District X, Lawrence Tougas, CA (virtual); District XI, Phil Tallman, Medical Lake WA; Greg Principato, NAA.
- Others in attendance: Felix Gora, AMA legal counsel (virtual); Randy Adams, District III AVP (virtual); Karin Cox, Hartsook Fundraising Counsel (virtual); Dave Lindley, NFFS (virtual). Staff in attendance: Tyler Dobbs, Government Affairs director; Vicki Burkdull, AMA Comptroller (virtual); Ilona Maine, Clubs director; Tony Stillman, Technical director; Eric Bachmann, Information Systems manager; Randy Batchelor; IS administrator; Liz Helms, recording secretary (virtual).
- Additions to Final Flight list: Craig Battershell, Missouri
- A moment of silence was observed.
2. Consent Agenda
- a. approval of July 25, 202 minutes*
Voting by acclamation will only address abstentions or objections. If there are no abstentions or objections, voting will be considered approvals. Motions made during Executive Council conference calls or in Basecamp between July and October 202:
- August 18, 202
- Moved by T. Jesky (VII), seconded by M. Radcliff (III), to approve IRCHA’s proposal to put forward a bid to host the 2023 F3C/N World Championships at the International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie IN.
- Motion passed by acclamation.
- Note: This motion was originally tabled at the July 202 EC meeting because of IRCHA’s failure to update and renew its SIG status. It’s reported that this issue is now resolved and IRCHA is in good standing, up-to-date, and in compliance with all AMA SIG program criteria. Based on this assurance, this issue was removed from the table and put forward for a vote of the Executive Council.
- September 3, 202
- Moved by M. Radcliff (III), seconded by J. Marsh (IV), to accept the 2021 IAC outdoor schedule for the following: Nats, World Championships for F3D, F5D, and F3A as presented by the staff (see attached).
- Motion passed by acclamation.
- September 9, 202
- Moved by A. Griffith (V), seconded by M. Radcliff (III), due to the disruptions from COVID-19, AMA will make special accommodations and exemptions for members and clubs, contest directors and event managers who redeemed their earned discount for membership expiring in 202/2021 will automatically receive the same discount in 2021. Under the direction and review of the Executive Director, Leader Club status for current Leader Clubs will be extended into 2021. AMA staff are also empowered to make accommodations and allowances for other COVID-19-related disruptions affecting members or clubs such as assisting clubs in fulfilling grant obligations.
- Motion passed by acclamation.
- Note: Waivers or exemptions will not be provided for new CD/EMs who have not yet fulfilled the experience requirements for receiving a membership discount and/or certification. Exemptions will also not be provided for safety-related requirements such as for LMA or Turbine waiver certification.
3. President’s Report
R. Hanson
Rich has been busy but hasn’t attended many in-person meetings other than a couple at the IAC. He has attended meetings via Zoom meetings and conference calls. Meetings have included ASTM meetings, there is an upcoming ASTM F-38 committee meeting, there was a DAC meeting the previous week, the Marketing Committee, and Publications Committee. He expressed appreciation to the committee chairmen for keeping the work moving forward.
4. Executive Vice President’s Report
R. Cameron
Randy has also attended committee meetings including the Finance Committee, Budget Committee, Publications Committee, Marketing Committee, and with the National Fun Flight Committee via conference calls. He has attended a few local events and went to Rantoul, Illinois, for an indoor FF gathering. He had an informal meeting with the Special Interest Groups (SIGs), and a formal meeting with the SIGs will take place in November. EC members will be invited to participate.
5. Chief Financial Officer’s Report
K. Sessions
Keith noted that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan will basically be forgiven and AMA should complete 202 in a good position. He credited Comptroller Vicki Barkdull for her hard work to secure the loan and the AMA staff for controlling expenses. AMA will apply for any additional stimulus packages if they are to happen. Rich noted that there will likely be no additional stimulus programs offered. The Federal coronavirus aid (CARES Act) also offered small businesses an interest free or low interest Small Business Administration loan, which AMA received.
Budget
Budget was distributed to all of the EC. Keith considers that AMA is taking a realistic approach to the 2021 budget. He is expecting a reduced income from membership dues because of the current situation, but also noted that people are coming back to the hobby. He still cautioned that we are taking a conservative outlook.
Keith noted that everything that AMA has done to reduce costs impacts membership services. Much thought and time has gone into balancing these costs. He expects that the pandemic will still impact the coming year. Although they are currently budgeted for, many events/programs can easily be postponed another year.
Rich asked about membership projections for 2021. Chad projects roughly a 4% drop in paid membership revenue. He cited an increase in lower paying membership tiers to include Senior and Affiliate memberships. The revenue drop is also attributed to pending regulations and members who expire in December, but don’t renew until April. Rich is still optimistic that there are untapped non-dues revenue markets. He noted that AMA has recently hired a new membership acquisition person who is coming up to speed and the Marketing Committee is vetting some new programs with great potential. Chad noted that non-dues revenue has taking a hit in 202 including Model Aviation advertising, sanctions, and education classroom kit sales.
Mark Radcliff (III) questioned the “doom and gloom” outlook, and Rich reiterated that it was a conservative projection and noted that the implementation of 349 (proposed testing) and Remote ID will possibly have an impact on membership numbers. Keith wants to make sure that members see the difference between goals and budget. Setting a budget on goals, if you don’t reach them, then the organization is in a precarious situation. Chad added that in speaking with other aeromodeling organizations worldwide that when they instituted testing, that they experienced drops in membership, but the decline was overcome within roughly a year.
Lawrence Tougas (X) thanked Vicki Barkdull and asked about the proposed budget compared with the 2019 and 202 budgets. He noted discrepancies in the forecasted numbers and the actual final figures. Chad and Keith explained the discrepancies noting that the forecast did not correctly reconcile capital spending, underestimated some revenue gains, and did not account for added expense cuts.
Motion to approve the 2021 budget made by Jay Marsh (IV), seconded by Randy Cameron (EVP), to accept the 2021 budget as presented.
Motion passed(12 yes, 1 no (X).
6. Executive Director’s Report
C. Budreau
a. Government
T. Dobbs, Government Affairs director
Biggest issue is Remote ID. The issue was moved from the FAA to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). His team met with a sub-agency of the OMB, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. We are still expecting a December final release date, but that date may be delayed. AMA is also working on a Department of Defense bill to allow UAS usage in the classroom. He doesn’t expect that the bill will pass before the election but is working to get the language included in the final bill.
AMA met with the White House economic Council concerning the Executive Order that would ban federal purchase of UAS with foreign components and use of UAS with foreign components on federally owned land. This will affect member operations on federal lands including clubs on military bases and EPA-owned lands. AMA expressed many member UAS are not a national security risk and should not be negatively impacted by this White House Executive Order.
Tyler discussed Advisory Council 91-57C to be released later this year to recognize community-based organizations (CBOs) and proposed testing. Roughly a dozen organizations/agencies have applied for recognition and expect to be administers of the proposed testing. Proposed testing will be roughly 20 questions and designed so all users will pass.
AMA continues to work with attorneys to secure waivers for members to fly over 400 AGL in Class G. Of the 250 controlled-airspace flying locations, such waivers and exclusions are being put together to request higher altitudes and moving forward. Safety Risk Mitigation panels have been/are taking place to negotiate higher altitudes for a number of clubs. A new memorandum of understanding has been signed between AMA, FAA, and AUVSI, the originators of Know Before You Fly inviting the Consumer Technology Association as a partner.
Mark Radcliff asked about the money allocated for Know Before You Fly. The Appropriations Committee recommended that money be given to the FAA for Know Before You Fly, but the FAA has not invested the monies into program yet.
Rich asked about Letters of Agreement (LOAs) for clubs flying in controlled airspace. AMA is working on tracking them. It is roughly a 90-day process. There are currently roughly 100 clubs that don’t have a signed LOA. Air Traffic Control has been slow to respond in many cases. Rich suggested that, in light of the upcoming event season, AMA reach out to those clubs, event, and contest directors still lacking LOAs to warn them of the possible lead time. Tyler will work with staff to draft such a message.
Rich thanked Tyler and his team for their work.
Chad shared membership numbers entering into the fourth quarter. We experienced over a 4% growth since January 202 in paying members. AMA is also seeing a slight increase in early renewals. Several districts have shared that they are also seeing an increase in membership. While AMA will miss some member and non-member revenue projections in certain categories due to COVID-19, Chad expects AMA will still end the year in the black.
I Build AMA Month has proven popular. He shared the new AMA Plans website and thanked Greg Prater, Randy Batchelor, and Eric Bachmann for their work in getting the new site up and running.
Chad noted a few projects including Club of the Month designed to grow and support clubs. Other projects included advancing the National Model Aviation Museum, better accountability to the EC, better communication about Government Affairs initiatives include Podcasts and video, getting models into the hands of kids, and noted the positive impact of Kyle Jaracz’ education programs shared nationwide in the media. We’re looking at doing roundtable discussions to share positive projects and endeavors. Chad discussed the RC Saylors partnership formed since the last EC meeting. He noted that the addition of Kenny Cassidy to the staff to increase membership. Ama is also breathing energy into the Intro Pilot program to aid clubs in membership growth.
Jim Tiller (IX) noted the success of Kyle Jaracz’s endeavors in the affiliate market.
Chad noted the website www.modelaircraft.org/ibuildama. It includes a Podcast with space shuttle commander Hoot Gibson. Several EC members shared their positive responses to the website and these endeavors.
Rich stated that at a recent DAC meeting people wanted to know how to promote a safety culture. Using influencers to promote safety is of great priority. He noted that AMA is doing so much to do this and will share suggestions in Basecamp.
b. Silently-related items
c. Museum SLRP
Chad shared the National Model Aviation Museum’s Strategic Long-Range Plan (SLRP) funded by donors and the Ball Foundation. Some of the responses to surveys (nearly 4,500) validated the importance and support of the museum and need for a vision. Members suggested the museum needs to be better utilized for education. The entire SLRP was presented to the EC.
Youth engagement was a big issue as was an expansion plan. Staffing is sorely needed. The SLRP discusses a virtual experience and forming partnerships. The SLRP is visionary and defines goals. The EC gave verbal support for the plan and strongly suggested expanding the education component of the museum.
Mark Radcliff (III) asked about replacing the former museum director Michael Smith. Chad added this position was included in the recently approved budget and this recommended in the SLRP.
MOTION IV:Moved by Phil Tallman (XI), and seconded by Jim Tiller (IX), to adopt the National Model Aviation Museum’s 202 Strategic Long-Range Plan as presented by staff.
MOTION V: Moved by Lawrence Tougas (X) and seconded by Eric Williams (II), to table the previous motion until the January 2021 EC meeting.
Motion passed. 11 yes, 1 no (EVP), 1 absent
Rich asked that the EC members review the SLRP and be prepared to vote on it at the January meeting.
d. Approval of 2021/2022 Indoor Nats
M. Radcliff (III)
NFFS Indoor Nats is to be held at the Ultimate Soccer Arena in Pontiac MI July 20-23, 2021, and the 2022 Indoor Nats at the Round Valley Dome in Eager Arizona (date TBD).
MOTION VI: Moved by Eric Williams (II), seconded by Randy Cameron (EVP), to accept the NFFS dates for the 2021 Nats to be held at the Indoor Soccer Arena, Pontiac MI, July 20-23, 2021.
Motion passed unanimously.
e. New dates for LSF
M. Radcliff (III)
New dates for the 2021 League of Silent Flight Nats will be moved to August 21-29, 2021 at the IAC.
MOTION VII:Moved by Mark Radcliff (III), seconded by Eric Williams (II) that the dates previously approved for the Nats Soaring event (July 25-August 1, 202) be moved to August 21-29, 2021.
Motion approved unanimously.
f. Approval of National Fun Fly
R. Cameron (EVP)
Dates are now scheduled for July 30-August 1, 2021, in conjunction with the annual AMA Membership meeting.
MOTION VIII: Moved by Gary Himes (VI) and seconded by Tim Jesky (VII) to host the AMA National Membership Meeting on Saturday, July 31, 2021, at the IAC in Muncie, Indiana.
Motion passed unanimously.
g. Dates for 2021 EC meetings
Rich Hanson
Budgeted for two virtual meetings.
January 16, 2021 (virtual)
April 24, 2021 (Muncie IN.
July 31, National Membership Meeting (Muncie IN.
August 1, 2021 (Sunday) (Muncie IN)
October 30, 2021 (Muncie IN)
Motion passed by acclamation.
11. Awards
From Tim Jesky: District Service Awards.
Motion passed by acclamation.
12. Adjournment
*Requires EC Vote
Release Date
Tue, 11/10/202 - 16:22