FAA Meeting (14Oct06)

[blackpowderscout]

Pretty much ended up being a What has Phil Walters done for the FAA/what has the FAA done the past year type thing at first. HOWEVER....some very good points did come out. Some of these are:

1. The money that was in excess from the donations for the lobbyist didn't exist. In other words, it was all used in either paying her salary or reimbursing her expenses. This was all in black and white and I saw it for myself so no conspiracy there...in fact there is still abot $80 mor so left in the account set up for her for next year.

2. WE REALLY NEED TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO REHIRE BONNIE BASHAM!!!!! Her contract has already expired and yet she continues to work in our favor researching topics and talking on our behalf all over the state. We voted to extend her contract through December 31 and we hope to raise the money to rehire her by January 1. You'll definitely hear more about this in the future months.

3. There are some interesting legislative and regulatory proposals on the table for next year...some good, some bad. When I get a little more time I'll go in depth more on some of these. Bonnie brought these up to us and they are definitely worth discussing.

4. Bishop Wright discussed an awesome program for youth hunts in several locations across the state. He gave me a paper on it with the details and I promise to get this info on here asap!!! It is for 12 to 16 year olds who have completed their safety course and there are still openings left in several ares as I understand it. Perhaps Bishop will chime in with more details....

5. I won't go in to detail about the tirade between Phil and I in front of everyone. But just know that I stuck up for everyone here.

6. ELECTION TIME!!!!!!
President: Bob Hoover (uncontested)
Vice President: Bishop Wright (uncontested)
Secretary: OPEN (if you know ANYONE who wants to volunteer)
Treasurer: Karen Beal (uncontested)

This group of leaders should be well suited to lead us into the future as they are members and represent members of clubs from north central Florida all the way to the south.

There will be more to follow regarding more of the info that came out at the meeting...this was by no means all of it.

After the meeting, me, Big Daddy Dave and the Big Gobbler Danny Brantley took a ride around cypress and up Reedy Creek to Dead River. Beautiful as always!!!!! Eagles and other birds of prey as well as large groups of turkey were seemingly everywhere.

The Gobbler wanted fool around and see what my tin can could do but with all the weight in the back from my passenger :roll: as well as extra fuel I just couldn't keep up with his green monster from the porpoising. But once I put her on the dry stuff just up from the water HOLY COW did she go!!! I was easily catching him when I hit CellPhone Point (newly named by me yesterday) and had a somewhat rough reentry into the water losing my Nextel to the depths of Hatchineha. HAMANT MAKES A FINE DECKOVER!!!!!!!Good thing Big Daady doesn't have a heart problem, I might have lost him

Adam

 

[woodswoman]

The Florida Airboat Association Quarterly meeting was poorly attended yesterday. With the issues facing airboating it sent a clear message (in my opinion) that there is a LOT of complacency within the airboating community. I am aware that some had obligations to be elsewhere, that were also important.

I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to the Osceola Airboat Club, for hosting this FAA meeting and showing a lot of good ole Southern hospitality by providing lunch for all in attendance. Thank you Osceola Club!!!

The quarterly meeting went very well, with lots of issues discussed. The majority of folks in attendance conducted themselves in a professional manner. Lots of information was passed out in the form of hard copies to everyone in attendance to take back to their individual club members to view. The summary of accomplishments of the Florida Airboat Association for 2005-2006 was also distributed. It is obvious that the FAA has covered a lot of positive ground in it's representation of the airboating clubs and manufacturers. Ask your delegate for that hard copy titled "State of the FAA" and read for yourself. I have copies if anyone requests I will send.

Our lobbyist spoke on serious issues now on the table. There will be no time or room for anyone to rest or be complacent about airboatings future. The mission continues.....

The outgoing FAA president was presented with a brass gavel in a beautiful cherry wood box, with engraved wording on the box, Florida Airboat Association President 2005-2006. Also, 2005 Airboater of the Year was included under that. The reins have been handed over to the new leadership.

 

[blackpowderscout]

Ask your delegate for that hard copy titled "State of the FAA" and read for yourself. I have copies if anyone requests I will send.

Once I figure out how to scan those papers in everyone will see this information...I never said the FAA didn't do a lot of things last year.....

Adam

 

[SwampMatt]

I am aware that some had obligations to be elsewhere, that were also important. .....

.....Lots of information was passed out in the form of hard copies to everyone in attendance to take back to their individual club members to view.

Woodswoman - I don't think complacency was the reason the FAA meeting's attendance was low. we know you all know about the races. I've not heard the official count, but we were guessing about 2000 faces on top of that dirt road along a canal.

Who can blame them? first races in 3 or 4 years? If this type of event takes hold again it will do HUGE amounts of good stuff for the whole sport of airboating.

Suggestion: On the NEXT event - Let's get the FAA involved - NOT JUST SITTING AT A TABLE IN THE ROW OF BOOTHS - but put the name out there, prepare concise information flyers about the issues and try to come up with some ways to entertain and gather together MORE suppoeters! Possibly some creative use as a fundraiser can be done. A raffle? Selling something tangible? Maybe some sort of involvement at the organizer level.... The FAA has a well set up and well oiled Press contacts & news release machine in place - does it not?


Great Report Adam!!! Thanks.

Woodswoman - That's GREAT news about the "hard copies" of stuff handed out to delegates, and it gives me good hope that things are already looking up. Just the way you've challenged the delegates to do their homework and return with answers if a BIG step in the right direction!!!!

Hi-5's!!!!!

matt.

P.s. What does the Secretary do? Answer the phone? Take the minutes? or is it more of a "secretary of state" sort of use of the word.... What is the job description?

 

[blackpowderscout]

P.s. What does the Secretary do? Answer the phone? Take the minutes? or is it more of a "secretary of state" sort of use of the word.... What is the job description?

It is the normal secretary duties of a club i.e. record the minutes of meetings, and all the intricate paperwork that goes along with making clubs run. Bob Polumbo stepped down but has agreed to fill in until someone replaces him. It's a thankless job but from what I can see he did a fine job of it and hopefully whoever replaces him will carry on the same way.

You wanna volunteer??

Adam

 

[blackpowderscout]

Possibly some creative use as a fundraiser can be done. A raffle? Selling something tangible? Maybe some sort of involvement at the organizer level.... The FAA has a well set up and well oiled Press contacts & news release machine in place - does it not?

There was discussion of just this thing and the executive committee is going to take the ball and run with it for the future. A fundraiser is definitely needed because even though many donations come in, they are earmarked for the lobbyist and can't be used by the FAA to handle it's neccessary expenses. So while there may in the future be enough money to rehire Bonnie, it isn't far fetched to say that the FAA's general funds will be near dry. We can't let that happen.

Adam

 

[SwampMatt]

Maybe. I gotta sit down and seriously consider my level of organizational skills. Don't stop looking for someone on that - I've got a strong feeling that my skills are far from up to snuff.

I'm a pretty disorganized person when it comes to PAPERS. My toolboxes look pretty good. Socket sets all in a row. Chisels all in the same drawer.

This is a different kind of organized.... and probably requires some quick thinking on the feet - making notes on the fly.

I think this year I'm gonna go to some meetings and watch. Let me work on the skills, and do some watch-n-learn. If it's open next year. I may step in there.

Thanks for clarifying what it is.

matt.

 

[K-mac]

nothing but organized airboaters working togather will keep this traditional
passtime leagle. There are more old retired yankees than you can believe
that have nothing better to do than sit around and think of things to
gripe about ( and airboaters are high on the list !) This is not to say
that all seniors, or all yankees are out to ruin your life, but theres a lot
of them that would like nothing better than to make this state nothing but
a warm sunny newjersey, or massytwoshits and don't forget, for them
time and money is not a problem.

 

[SwampMatt]

K-mac - LOL :lol: you and I have the same way of pronouncing the name of the state which contains Boston. 'cept I say it with "massive" as the first word. ( I got a poor home-made joke that goes with it about how it got it's name..... some other time)

:::chuckle::: You are the first person I've ever heard that says it even close to the way I do.

And you are right. Not all, but some want to invade and take over just as a young nation once moved in and pushed the indians aside - Sometimes by force, and sometimes by pulling a smoke & mirror con game.

What Airboaters will be left with is "Reservations" - Oh wait - we already have that.... and the environmentalists are trying to take THAT away!!!!

:roll:

matt.

 

[K-mac]

Yeah the thought of taking my grandkids to some museom just to
see an airboat scares the crap outa me, but it's darn near that way
now with buggies around here. Kinda like tellin the kids storys
about gillnettin mullett.

 

[rick]

Thanks Adam.

I'd be glad to scan those papers into pdf's if needed, just let me know.

Rick

 

[Daddy Dave]

FYI.....

In addition to the action items already mentioned, there were other significant steps taken by FAA.

First and Foremost: There was a unanimous vote to establish the "Ralph Hedgecoth Memorial Meritorious Airboat Service Award" as the premier award of FAA in recognition of personal service to airboaters. Ralph recently passed away after a prolonged illness. Ralph was a founder of CCAA and a founder of FAA and he attended every FAA meeting that I know of in spite of having a progressive and dibilitating fatal illness. He made no excuses as to why he could not attend or participate in efforts to serve and protect the airboating community.

FAA underwent an independent outside audit and there was no issue of financial conflict or question in the past five years.

All FAA donations for professional education / legislative assistance were voted to be kept separate and apart from FAA general operating funds. There will be no mixing of those donations. FAA general operating funds are normally expired each year. 2006 is no exception. Several new action items were proposed, but necessary funding is not currently available.

Danny Brantley made the first personal donation of $100.00 in recognition of the outstanding personal efforts of Ralph Hedgecoth to the FAA legislative fund. Several others followed suit. This is in recognition of Ralph's last wishes.

There will be a Ralph Hedgecoth Memorial Ride to recognize the efforts and sacrifices for all airboaters of Ralph Hedgecoth in the coming months.

All future meetings of FAA will include a current list of membership / and membership expiration dates.

Capt. Phil Walters, outgoing President of FAA, was recognized for his personal dedication to FAA and for his personal sacrifices involved with the VOLUNTEER job of President.

 

[Olf Art]

Although I'm no longer an active FAA member, I was honored to be asked to attend yesterday's meeting as a 'temporary delegate' representing the Citrus County (CCAA) club, which I belong to, in place of brother Ralph Hedgecoth, their FAA delegate. A new delegate will be chosen at the first oportunity.

It was very nice to see Adam (blackpowderscout) again, and SAO was very well represented at the meeting. Bob Hoover (Swampjet) will be a fine president, and for anyone who doesn't know the new vice-president, Bishop is an active, involved, energetic man who has an extensive background in defending both airboater and sportsman issues in our State.

With the re-hiring of Bonnie and the election of Capt. Bob and Bishop to steer our ship, I have high confidence in facing the next legislative session.

olf

 

[basketcase0302]

BPS,

Thanks for being there for us all :thumbup:

Big Daddy and Olf, Thank you for your reports too. Sounds like the FAA has an outstanding bunch of folks to get er done :wav:

Basketcase