District XI—Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Chuck Bower
Vice President
cbower@whidbey.com
6075 S. Coles Rd., Langley WA 98260
Tel.: (360) 632-9211; www.amadistrict-xi.org
The 2017 North West Model Hobby Expo was well attended. Featured this year were AMA President Rich Hanson, Executive Director Dave Mathewson, and AMA Director of Development Mandee Mikulski.
We held a District XI membership meeting with 55 in attendance. The door prize, a Spektrum DX8 transmitter, was won by Tom Berry. As usual, the Expo, ably hosted by the contest director, Ron Swift, and his chief of staff, Sandy Duvall, featured a huge swap meet, several vendors, two car-racing venues, battle bot combat, indoor flying, a static display, a boat pond, and new this year, quadcopter FPV flying on a well-lit course.
The static display featured 20 beautiful models ranging in size from a 1/4-scale P-47 to a featherweight ornithopter. Also on display were several airplanes, boats, cars, and a Maker R2-D2.
Tom Berry had the lucky ticket and won the Spektrum DX8 at the District XI membership meeting.
At the membership meeting, I was pleased to introduce the newly elected AMA president, Rich Hanson. With
less than a month in office, I felt we were fortunate that Rich was able to fit the North West Model Expo into his busy schedule.
Along with Rich, Mandee Mikulski came back for the third year to renew AMA memberships, sell AMA products, and discuss the AMA Foundation among all the other questions she answered about the AMA.
AMA Executive Director Dave Mathewson was also present. The executive director is in charge of the 60 employees at AMA Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana. If it concerns AMA, Dave knows about it. Dave’s monthly column is roughly a dozen pages before this page. Check it out!
“Doc” John Smith talks with Dave Mathewson.
“Doc” John Smith came from Anchorage, Alaska, to attend the North West Model Expo. He had the opportunity to talk with Dave about his many years of modeling. Doc is a member of the Alaska Radio Control Society, the largest and oldest RC club in Alaska.
Nick Stratis, with his Boeing 314, received the award for Best Aircraft.
Dave Mathewson enjoys the craftsmanship of Nick’s Boeing 314 and his extensive documentation of the project.
With two new associate vice presidents (AVP) in the district, Jay Schoening from Lynden, Washington, and Mike Ingram from Wenatchee, Washington, it’s time to release Mike Mosbrooker from his AVP duties.
For his many services to District XI, Mike will receive the prestigious Wooden Propeller Award for Service to District XI. Mike, we appreciate your contributions.
With a new AMA president comes the chance for the Executive Council members to volunteer to sit on or chair committees. It’s a very exciting time to work with Rich and the other district vice presidents and staff members to keep us on task. Education and safety rank high on my list of committees on which to serve. There are several more on the list to join.
Most of us still have some time to do those annual checks on our models that have sat all winter waiting for spring! Cycle the batteries and check the fuel lines and control linkages. Is there any hangar rash?
Hope to see you at the field soon!
