Recent developments in the South West Region are very important for all to be aware of so that proper planning and involvement throughout the year.

Not in order of importance here is what I think the membership might be interested in knowing:

1. Bernie Boland has been the ARD for Arizona for the past year and has done a good job promoting contests in Arizona and mentoring a number of young pilots in the South West. He has made a move to fly more Scale contests this year and has asked to be relieved of his ARD job so that he can concentrate on them as well as his family vacation time. Therefore, I am pleased to announce that Rusty Fried has consented to be the Assistant Regional Director for Arizona for 2010 and beyond and we are very thankful that he will be the coordinator of activities for IMAC in Arizona.
   
2. We have a new venue that will give the Arizona pilots another chance in the neighborhood with a contest in Florence AZ and see the contact and sign up information on the web site for early November.
   
3. Fresno Radio Control Modelers has expressed an interest in getting into the schedule which would give the CA contingent another one to choose from this year and in the future.
   
4. Miramar RC Flyers just lost their February contest to a big rain storm coming through San Diego, however they have also confirmed that they would reschedule for November 20 and 21, 2010.
   
5. TIMPA has volunteered to replace the Tucson Shootout contest with another quality choice for IMAC SW pilots. Rusty and Randy Wegner and their team will be developing some great benefits for all to enjoy if it fits into your schedule. This club has proven it deserves your consideration for inclusion into your schedule, check it out.
   
6. Camarillo and Prado Clubs have also indicated a desire to add to the schedule and more information may be forthcoming in the near future.
   
7. A Regional Final Contest, per se, has no particular advantage in terms of points and that means that whatever contest is scheduled last in the year will hopefully be the contest wherein the trophies for the year are handed out. Most other regions hold off and mail their trophies to the winners after the contest and we may want to do that, but that has not been decided.
   
8. Remember, no points are earned unless you are a member of IMAC……20 dollars. There is no retroactively asking for those points once the contest is concluded, but you can sign up for IMAC at a contest and have them count. 5 top contests points decide the winners in each class and unless you are going to the Clover Creek and or the NATS this year we are the big game in town this year…….no Tucson Shootout for 2010.
   
9. Steve Nelson has joined the IMAC Sequence Committee along with Mike Stoner and me and we are always looking for more talent to write unknowns. Contact me if you are interested.
   
10. This year concludes a process for Rules Changes in IMAC. We have to pass on our proposals to the AMA for scrutiny and then eventually these proposals for changes to the rules governing a number of aspects of IMAC are going to be before the Scale Aerobatics Contest Board late in the year. These rule changes take place in the Calendar year 2011 and each region has one vote to decide the direction for IMAC. I am on that board and if you have input from now until the end of the year please share with me your ideas and feelings about the issues and the changes that have been proposed.
    
11. The NATS this year takes place in early July…..namely July 4^th you should be on site and then plan for the next 4 days…the 5^th to the 8^th to compete. Announcing too that the NATS committee and Contest Director (Kent Porter) has asked that all regions contribute judges for this event and a 600 dollar stipend maximum is extended to those from all around the United States to come and be a NATS judge. We are looking for judges from the SW with a great amount of experience and expertise to apply. Contact me if you are interested and we can discuss it.

Finally, as Regional Director, I just want to say a BIG… thank you…. to all the ARDS and the rest of the pilots in the South West for showing interest, attending contests in their area and beyond and staying interested in this fine hobby and challenging endeavor…..that of flying with precision, under pressure and achieving excellence whenever possible.

Tim