District VIII—Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Lawrence Harville
Vice President
lawharv@yahoo.com
932 Calloway St., Hurst TX 76053
Tel.: (817) 781-9615;
www.amadistrict-viii.org
District VIII, from one end to the other, is 1,463 miles. I’m trying to get around as much as possible and I hope to visit your field soon.
Now get out and fly.
Must see events (details on the District VIII website www.ama-dist-8.org):
- March 17-18: Weatherford TX; Weatherford Aero Modeling Society’s Annual Swap Meet and Auction
- March 18: Austin TX; Austin Radio Control Association’s Second Annual Jet Lag Event
- March 24-25: Crowley LA; Rice Area Modelers Society’s Cajun Heli Fest
- March 24-26: Port Allen LA; Baton Rouge RC Club’s Red Stick Classic
- March 24-26: Southmayd TX; Texoma RC Modelers Club’s 15th Annual Lone Star Nats (Combat)
- March 25: Houston TX; Johnson Space Center RC Club’s Iron Mike Swap Meet; Gilruth Center, Clear Lake
Last month, I introduced Amanda Coke as our new District VIII RC Sanctioned Event Coordinator. Of all of the positions in District VIII, she has taken on arguably the most demanding. She has been trained by the best—longtime AMA volunteer, Doug Powell.
Amanda is the current club president of the Pampa Radio Operated Plane Society in Pampa, Texas. She is a very active modeler, flying 3-D, fun-flys, and RC Aerobatics with her husband, Jason.
Her early training and inspiration were at the hands of her dad, Rodney Darling. I know you will be as impressed with her as Doug and I have been.
The following report on the Space City Warbird Fly-In in Katy, Texas, comes from Associate Vice President (AVP) Benny Behrens.
The fly-in was well organized and ran efficiently. Club leaders and event volunteers demonstrated a high level of enthusiasm and excitement, which was contagious among the pilots and spectators. More than 40 pilots and one special guest, AMA District X Vice President Lawrence Tougas, were in attendance.
The future of AMA: John Williford, former club president and instructor for the Rowlett RC Club in Texas, is giving buddy-box instruction to 11-year-old Ava Montgomery.
The Benham RC Airplane Club in Texas held the Battle Over Brenham RC Combat event November 19-20, 2016. Matthew McGee served as contest director (CD) and put on a great event.
Throughout two days of intense Combat, these pilots never seemed to wear out. Put this event on your list for next year.
The AVP of the month is Douglas Staines.
The only Canadian AVP in District VIII, Doug started flying as a teenager with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and later served in the Canadian Armed Forces. After moving to Texas in 1991, he became a member of the Temple Aero Modelers Club.
Doug flies Control Line, gliders, and RC. He is a past club president and current safety officer in addition to serving as a CD and an AMA Leader Member. Doug has been an AVP for three years. You can see him at events across the district. Be sure to tell him hello.
Associate Vice Presidents: Benny Behrens, Pearland TX; (832) 499-2043; cbbehrens@comcast.net; Bill Holland, Prague OK; (405) 626-1386; billtholland@gmail.com; Johnny Hunt, Godley TX; (817) 809-8124; huntsranch@aol.com; Woody Lake, Forth Worth TX; (817) 675-7613; at6pilot@att.net; Jim D. Marshal, Alton TX; (956) 984-9474; jmarshal52@aol.com; Stew Moore, Jefferson TX; (903) 665-7501; mooremas1@netscape.com; Brian Regan, Albuquerque NM; (505) 508-6693; brain23@centurylink.net; Randy Ritch, Magnolia TX; (281) 701-3121; randyrich.dist8@yahoo.com Olen Rutherford, Dardenelle AR; (479) 229-0403; email: olenrutherford@yahoo.com; Doug Staines, Belton TX; (254) 780-3512; dstaines@vvm.com; Gary Strickland, Hooks TX; (903) 278-5703; gaystric@gmail.com; Cliff Town, Dumas TX; (806) 935-3063; town_cliff@hotmail.com; Ed Valls, Seguin TX; (830) 303-9921; edwarda10pilot@aol.com; Jerry Walters, Maurice LA; (337) 298-7755; jerome1w@bellsouth.net. AVP-Safety: Tony Breyen; Wichita Falls TX; (940) 733-2803; awb1056@sbcglobal.net. RC Sanctioned Event Coordinator: Amanda Coke, Dalhart TX; (806) 282-4227; amanda_coke@yahoo.com. CL/FF Sanctioned Event Coordinator: Contact AMA Headquarters at cpeirce@modelaircraft.org.
