There a situation we're trying to resolve, and a very tight
timeframe. Here's the scoop:
The USA F1D Junior team has won the top two individual places and the
team championship for the last three F1D WC's, and it looked like
they were on track to do it again this year. But unfortunately, due
to various reasons, they've lost three of the five team selection
participants, leaving only two kids on the team.
The two remaining team members happen to be *very* talented, and
stand a great chance of placing 1st and 2nd again. However, as good
as they are, it will be nearly impossible to win the team
championship with only two members.
The Junior team manager has located an emergency replacement –
another talented Science Olympiad flier - and is working with him to
get some F1D models ready. This Junior would only have to produce
mediocre times to greatly improve the Junior team's chances. It
would also be a great opportunity to bring another new participant
into our discipline.
There are apparently no provisions in the team selection program that
the Indoor FF community has put together for dealing with running out
of team selection participants, but our rules and regulations
indicate that it is the Team Selection Committee's responsibility to
resolve it.
The AMA has already budgeted funds for a third Junior, so there is no
issue regarding finances. With the Indoor FF community's and the
AMA's expressed support for kids in our hobby, it would be a crime to
leave a Junior F1D team spot unfilled when there is a flier available.
The problem seems to be that our leaders at the AMA headquarters are
reluctant to set a precedent for adding a Junior team member at this
late a date. However, this is not in conflict with any FAI
requirement – some other countries don't even have team selection
programs. It is also not in conflict with any existing US rules and
regulations. Worst case, we can limit future ramifications by adding
language that states this option is only available when we lose team
members that participated in the team selection program.
I say, "…seems to be…" because while the AMA leaders were initially
guardedly receptive to the idea and said that they would look into
it, there has been very little communication since. They haven't
given an outright "no", nor have they asked for more information or
dialogue. We are running out of time.
This is where you come in. You mission, if you choose to accept it,
is to write an email to Greg Hahn, Dave Mathewson, and your district
VP expressing your support for seating the third Junior. Please
phrase your message nicely. Below is a sample letter, along with the
related email addresses.
*************
Dear Mr. Mathewson, Mr. Holland, Mr. Hahn, and Mr. [District VP],
I believe it would be in the best interest of our Juniors, Indoor FF,
the AMA, and the USA to field a full USA Junior F1D team for the 2008
F1D World Championships.
Please choose to seat Curtis Wernette as an emergency replacement on
the USA Junior F1D team.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your AMA number]
*************
From
http://www.modelaircraft.org/membership/organization/ec/contact.aspx:
Dave Mathewson dmathewson_at_mindspring.com dmathewson at mindspring.com
Greg Hahn gregh_at_modelaircraft.org gregh at
modelaircraft.org
Doug Holland AMA Executive Vice President
cdh323_at_aol.com cdh323 at aol.com
Andy Argenio AMA Vice President
District I Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, Vermont
imaasanction_at_aol.com imaasanction at aol.com
Gary Fitch AMA Vice President
District II New Jersey, New York
gmfitch_at_hotmail.com gmfitch at hotmail.com
Bob Brown AMA Vice President
District III Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
amadiii_at_atlanticbb.net amadiii at atlanticbb.net
Bliss Teague AMA Vice President
District IV Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina,
Virginia
bat2_at_embarqmail.com bat2 at embarqmail.com
Tony Stillman AMA Vice President
District V Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South
Carolina, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands
tony_at_amadistrict-v.org tony at amadistrict-v.org
Charlie Bauer AMA Vice President
District VI Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri
bauerc_at_iit.edu bauerc at iit.edu
Bill Oberdieck AMA Vice President
District VII Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
sgaeroinc_at_comcast.net sgaeroinc at comcast.net
Jim Rice AMA Vice President
District VIII Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
District8VP_at_satx.rr.com District8VP at satx.rr.com
Mark Smith AMA Vice President
District IX Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota,
Wyoming
marktsmith_at_everestkc.net marktsmith at everestkc.net
Richard Hanson AMA Vice President
District X Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
richh_at_ama10.org richh at ama10.org
Bruce Nelson AMA Vice President
District XI Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
nelsondxi_at_hotmail.com nelsondxi at hotmail.com
Received on Tue Jul 08 2008 - 08:25:33 CEST