Written by JG (12/1980); Transcribed and Reformatted by JS (05/2012); Updated by JS (12/2018)
John Grigg, Lockport, NY, AMA 1103 (CD). I am John Grigg, and I am seeking the VERY IMPORTANT office of the President of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. I seek this office to return the much-needed stability and worldwide acknowledgement and prestige to the Academy which we have enjoyed in years past.
The office of President of AMA involves a tremendous workload and a fantastic amount of responsibility. Choice of this leader should not be considered lightly. The high elective offices of AMA should never be awarded as a way of honoring someone for past accomplishments but should be based on selecting the person on the basis of dedication, results, and ability to serve. His will be the responsibility of serving 74,000 modelers of many different interests in working together toward the goal of making our hobby/sport more enjoyable for all. AMA is a tremendous organization deserving of dynamic leadership. I will provide that leadership. And very importantly, my wife fully backs this candidacy.
My candidacy is based on the support of the following VERY important issues: 1. Recognition and support of all members of the Academy, from the average sport flier to the most avid competition enthusiast. Each level of participation and involvement has its own problems and concerns, each of which must be served within the bylaws and means of the Academy.
2. Youth! They must be served, for they are the future of our Academy. They are the future involved modelers, the future manufactures and designers, the future officers. 3. I support the concept of a full Nationals with even deeper involvement of the Special Interest Groups. Those who would support a separate Nats for certain, or all events, do not consider the added cost burden of such a move. Costs which must be borne by all members, not just the entrants at those diversified events.
4. I fully embrace the concept that the Executive Council establishes the policy of the Academy and the Headquarters staff executes that policy. Differences of opinion are healthy, so long as those differences are freely discussed and debated only between the directly interested parties. Controversy must be abolished in favor of discussion and open debate, void of antagonism. The Headquarters’ function must operate unfettered by bickering and criticism, and our international image as a leader organization within the aeromodeling fraternity must be restored.
5. We must go forward with establishing our own permanent Headquarters facility, with space for each department and capability for growth.
But who am I, seeking your support of my candidacy through your vote? I am 47 years old, have a wonderful, supportive wife, Joan, two daughters both in their twenties, and one beautiful granddaughter. I am manager of the Design, Drafting & Reproduction departments of a major electronics firm. My modeling experience dates back to age 11, and I first joined AMA in 1947. I have flown Free Flight, Control Line stunt and speed, and put together my first single channel radio system in 1953. My modeling efforts during the past decade have centered on pylon racing, although soaring holds my primary competitive interest at this time.
With your support of my candidacy we shall move forward in a progressive, positive growth of our Academy.
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