District II
New Jersey, New York, Europe
Eric Williams
Vice President
rcpilot@nycap.rr.com
4242 Amanda Ln., Schenectady NY 12303
(518) 356-2057
www.amadistrict-ii.org
www.facebook.com/DistrictIIAMA
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Dennis Andreas, Freenport NY; (516) 902-8207; dennis66536@gmail.com
Eaton Bryce, Brooklyn NY; (917) 749-3125; subundergroundny@gmail.com
Sal Calvagna, Holbrook NY; (631) 737-6372; rcgiants@optonline.net
Frank Costello, Somerset NJ; teams3fpv@gmail.com
Chuck Davis, Sayville NY; (631) 589-7690; cjdavis60@verizon.net
Ed DeRossi, Johnstown NY; (518) 322-5172; ederossi@nycap.rr.com
Gary Fitch, Delevan NY; gmfitch@hotmail.com
Gene Gavin, Staten Island NY; (718) 967-0598; Gavin1957@aol.com
Frank Graneli, Rockaway NJ; (973) 625-4995; graneliif@aol.com
Bill Hauth, Hamburg NY; (716) 649-8582; toolmkr2000@msn.com
Tony Jensen, Binghamton NY; (607) 644-6873; tjravenpilot@gmail.com
Ron McGrath, North Chili, NY; ronmcgrath@rochester.rr.com
Anthony Rossi, Somerset NJ; (917) 320-2665; p510851@gmail.com
Leonard Max Smart, Morrisonville NY; (518) 572-6727; hotrodsbymax@charter.net
Alexander Szemere, Kendall Park NJ; (732) 821-5641; drszemere@aol.com
Michael Wong, Mahwah NJ; kingmeuw@verizon.net
Herb Ziegler, Baldwinsville NY; (315) 857-6266; herbz1957@yahoo.com
RC EVENT SANCTION COORDINATORS
Tony and Trish Jensen, 23 Clarendon Dr., Binghamton, NY 13901; (607) 644-6873; tjravenpilot@gmail.com
CL/FF EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR
AMA Headquarters, Competitions Department; (800) 435-9262, Ext. 252; pierce@modelaircraft.org
As you probably saw in Rusty Kennedy’s column, 10 years ago, District II Safety Coordinator and Associate Vice President (AVP) Al Kanser made it a point to encourage the accessibility of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at AMA club flying sites and events. These devices are used to help restart the human heart during a cardiac arrest. AEDs are the now familiar fixtures that can be found hanging on the walls of airports, public buildings, and other locations where people congregate. Modern AEDs are designed to allow anyone to operate them following simple audio instructions provided by the AED itself.
So passionate about how AEDs could save lives, Al carried his own personally acquired
AED to events that he traveled to. He encouraged me to have AMA embrace the idea of AMA clubs purchasing their own AEDs. Upon Al’s instance, the AMA Executive Council approved my motion 10 years ago to include AEDs in the Flying Site Improvement Program Grant. The very first AMA club to acquire an AED through the program was the Syracuse Aero Radio Thunderbirds (STARS).
Al’s involvement went well beyond AEDs. He was integral to working with the Red Cross in the AMA safety booth at AMA Expo East events. Fast-forward to today and the legacy of Al’s contributions to members helping members is immortalized in the newly named Al Kanser AMA AED Save a Life Program, a program specifically dedicated to the acquisition of AEDs. I am exceptionally proud of Al’s contributions to our hobby and our members and, in particular, his dedication to everyone’s health and safety. Thanks to Al, our flying sites can be safer places for all of us.
It is with great pleasure that I announce District II’s newest AVP, Eaton Bryce. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Eaton for the past decade. Although he is very involved in the RC helicopter community, he builds everything from small, fixed-wing models to larger RC airplanes. Like most of us, Eaton was attracted to the hobby in his youth.
Today, Eaton is a New York City resident and a member of the Seaview Rotary Wings club. If you have a question about helicopters or anything else related to the hobby, please drop Eaton a line at subundergroundny@gmail.com.
Remember, it’s not about what you fly, it’s about the friends you make.
Al Kanser enjoying a flying event.
Al and a Red Cross volunteer at the AMA Expo East safety booth.
