District I
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
In 2021, the associate vice presidents (AVPs) and I were asked to attend several club Zoom meetings each month to discuss and answer questions about the status of FAA regulations and their impact on clubs. Early on, we decided to keep a record of the evolving, most frequently asked questions (FAQs) that resulted from these meetings.
In the fall of 2021, we also decided that we could respond to more clubs by hosting one Zoom meeting a month, open to any of the district clubs’ officers. By the time you read this column, we should be hosting a March meeting. Following is a brief summary of the first Zoom meeting we hosted on January 20, 2022, for those who didn’t attend or have access to the online report.
The Zoom meeting was scheduled for Thursday from 7:30 p.m. until 9. Club invitations requested an RSVP and we received 16, which we thought was good for the first meeting with only a week’s notice. Agenda topics to kick off the first meeting covered a broad area outlined in 12 FAQs that were included in the invitations. The club officers were told that the focus of discussions could be on any of the FAQs or their own questions.
Seconds after we opened the meeting, attendance counts exceeded our expectations, with 47 officers joining. Later on, we found that a computer reboot caused others trying to join to be stuck in a virtual waiting room. Steps were taken to prevent this from happening again.
Overall, we considered the meeting successful, as some of the many clubs and officers reported in their email comments to us. Shortly before the meeting, we received the new 2021 AMA Annual Report and Government Affairs Report, from which we highlighted important content on AMA membership status, regulatory wins, Safety Risk Management club flying site altitude increases, and advocacy and outreach efforts. We then focused on some of the FAQs and questions from attendees. Items discussed included altitude limit determination and enforcement in controlled/uncontrolled airspace, FAA’s remote operator test and registration as a club responsibility, FRIA site applications and Remote ID module status, a UASidekick app demonstration, and more.
As promised during the meetings, a report of everything discussed, including the FAQs covered and the responses to attendee questions, as well as any of the AMA documents presented, is available to all clubs and members to view at www.amadistrict-i.org/zoom.
Thanks to all who attended the Zoom meetings and to AVP Daren Hudson for cohosting. Please let us know what topics in any area of aeromodeling you would like covered before future end-of-the-month meetings.
“I think that it’s a great idea to get club officers involved with happenings in the AMA and other things that affect our clubs and flying so that when questions arise we can get the story straight to our fellow members instead of rumors told at the fields.”
Northeast R/C Model Club, Salisbury Massachusetts, Cappy Polito
“This was a fruitful meeting, looking forward to the next one!”
Quinnipiac Model Flying Club Rick Bedell
“I think the Zoom meeting is a great idea as a means of communicating with district club members. You’ve hit the nail on the head with this forum!”
Granite State Quiet Flyers
Art Rockwell
“Thanks for hosting tonight’s meeting. Very informative. I look forward to participating in future meetings.”
CTR. MA. R/C Modelers
Tom Siwek
“Great format, looking forward to attending again in the future.”
R.I. Aeromodelers
Joe Pangborn
“I attended the zoom meeting and thought it was great. It had a rough start (zoom waiting room) but in the end provided some good information that I can take back to the club. I plan on attending future meeting.”
Mid Coast Radio Control Club, Union, Maine, Greg Morse
Andy Argenio
Vice President
brandshobby@gmail.com
3 Sheila Ln., Smithfield, RI 02917
(401) 231-6901
www.amadistrict-i.org
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Steve Brehm, Jamestown RI; (401) 423-1085; stbrehm@yahoo.com
Andrew Figlar, Shelton CT; (203) 513-8546; safiglar32@gmail.com
James Gilliatti, Concord MA; (978) 369-9796; jegilliatti@cs.com
Steve Goler, Salem MA; (617) 373-0884; nipmuck2@comcast.net
Daren Hudson, Greenland NH; (603) 674-5809; uth7@comcast.net
Ray LaBonte, Standish ME; (207) 892-7994; rplabonte@aol.com
Tom Lavoie, N. Smithfield RI; (401) 824-6134; d2tw4all@yahoo.com
Joan Liska, Middletown CT; (860) 347-0257; jlliska9000@sbcglobal.net
Mark Montella, Falmouth, MA; (508) 457-4984; montellamj@comcast.net
Thomas J. Puma Jr., North Clarendon VT; (802) 558-4439; usakingcat1@aol.com
Tom Rocheleau, Wethersfield CT; (860) 280-1701; trocheleau@cox.net
Tom Siwek, Shrewsbury MA; (617) 893-5249; trsiwek@gmail.com
William Unghire, Newington CT; (860) 978-5353; n1cnv@icloud.com
Ted Wojcik, Fremont NH; (603) 479-3799; tedwojcik@comcast.net
TECHNOLOGY AND SAFETY OFFICER
John Yassemedis, 5 Quarry Rd., Nashua NH 03062; (603) 321-8442; jyassemedis@comcast.net
EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR
David Surwell, 24 Norwich Rd., Nashua NH 03062; (603) 888-2020; davidsurwell@comcast.net
