When Egos Go Awry.. Costa Mesa *almost* Lost A Field

[madmax]

Hi Crew,

I'm going to step a bit out of color and tell you a story about what happens when city and local governments are called to intervene in R/C club politics.

My local electric flying field is The Costa Mesa / Harbor Soaring Society which is located in Fairview Park in Costa Mesa, California. This site has been around forever, and many generations of youth and adults have enjoyed modeling at this location for many years. As many of you may be aware, I am a Costa Mesa resident, and a large number of FlyingGiants members in Orange County frequent this flying site.

Without getting into too much detail or dropping names directly, a potentially unfortunate situation that began back in early December almost killed the CMHSS entirely. Just a little background, there is a minor rivalry at this field regarding the new electric planes, and the glider crew. Much like issues that occasionally arise with the scale/sport flyers & the 3D guys at fields across the globe. Luckily through club meetings, rules, open discussions, and mutual respect, these situations have a tendency in most cases to work themselves out, and a base level of solidarity as modelers is realized.

Not the case this time around. Local flyers at the CMHSS were recently caused a lot of grief when one individual decided to take his list of grievances directly to the Costa Mesa City Counsel and hammered on them relentlessly about personally perceived and fabricated safety issues at this site. This individual is not a member of the AMA and sees its founding principals and foundation as an organization of modeler’s, simply stated, ridiculous and inane. This person also finds insult in the fact that the FAA would dare interfere with ground activities of modelers by setting a 400’ altitude limit (there is a lot of full scale activity at HSS due to the proximity of John Wayne Airport). Agree with it or not, this person, a fellow modeler with practically non-existent support, fully knowing that he could jeopardize and shut down the flying site for ALL modelers, and understanding that flying sites are a rare commodity in Southern California, decided to take his beef and ego to the city instead of dealing directly with the club.

Last night this all came to a head, and a very large number of supporters of HSS, and modelers in the area attended The Costa Mesa City Counsel Meeting. This was one of the first issues to come up, and naturally, The Counsel, not knowing anything about model airplanes, was forced to re-visit city ordinances regarding flying model airplanes at this site. The AMA was requested assistance with this issue, and coming to our rescue were two very well respected AMA representatives from The Southwest who did a great job explaining our safety record, insurance, and other issues to The Counsel. Other local flyers came up to show their support as well. On the other side of the fence was one sole individual, with one age old ego and notorious agenda, who listened to The Counsel recommend shutting down the field, and then tried to pour salt in the wound and create the lamest form of drama I think I have ever seen by showing them a burnt up lipo battery to prove his point (we fly over a preserve, look what they are going to do – burn down your preserve).

Anyways, to make a long story shorter, I am proud to report he got nowhere with his rant, and the local city government hearing process worked in this case. Although he absolutely wasted 1 ½ hours of about 100 people’s time causing other important city issues to get shelved. As a modeler, I was pissed. As a tax paying resident of Costa Mesa, I was furious.

So thinking about this more, there is some great irony to be found in this story. One individual's despise of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, is what brought this issue to The City Counsel in the first place. The AMA, and the hard work of their field representatives is what saved our field, and protected modeling at this location. No doubt about it - they went beyond the call of duty to protect us. $50 a year is becoming cheaper and cheaper in my book. I received a call today by an anonymous source close to the AMA that this was the first time in 50 years of modeling that they had ever seen a modeler go after a club in this fashion. From my perspective, this was simply astonishing.

One of the speakers had an excellent quote from Dave Brown that was made by one of the numerous speakers last night – “Do not take your private battles to local government”. Sadly, I witnessed this occur first hand, and never thought I would see something like this occur.

Moral of the story? Got a beef with a group of modelers who enjoy one of the many different flying styles, and areas of the hobby? Talk as adults, leave your ego and pride at the door, and understand that we are a brotherhood of modelers regardless of what we’re into. Understanding this is our only saving grace.

These are my personal opinions. I would like to personally thank the AMA for their participation in this very important meeting, and The Costa Mesa City Counsel who now understands that one yapping poodle at your feet is not representative of the greater majority, and for understanding all the good that this hobby of ours provides our local community.

Thank you for reading my rant. I’ll try this again in another year or so, or hopefully never again. This one really pissed me off.

Want to see the city counsel meeting video? It's an interesting watch. http://costamesa.granicus.com/MediaP...=4&clip_id=510

It will let you fast forward to 48:45 where the issue begins. Your's truly can be found at 1 : 11 : 45.

Best -- Maxon Duncan, proud card carrying member of The Academy of Model Aeronautics.

[kevgofly]

Max,
Glad this worked out for you guys. Truly a sad state of affairs and these type individuals appear to be more and more common these days.

Kev

[adrian]

my true feeling for this dude!!


I actually wanted to write a long comment but after several delete's, I just want to say that these people make me sic!! - amazing!!!!

[Fudman]

some people just need something to do i guess...... why not wast other peoples time in the process??


buy that guy a foamy, keep your enemy's close and show them you care....they will hate it

[bodywerks]

Fudman, if I hate you will you buy me a foamy? I'll take one of the new FG foamies from Insane...thanks!

[Fudman]

sorry, I don't consider you my enemy...+ I'm broke

[JimC-MD]

Hi Max,

Thanks for putting up the information. I am sorry your club had to go through something like this, but I am also glad it worked out. The unfortunate reality is that this has caused the club to use some of the "good will bank account" with the local government. If another issue were to pop up in the future, it could be more of a challenge.

I have been involved with this hobby since 1985. I started out flying with a small group of guys in a rural (used to be ) area of Norther Virginia. We had nice fields, a great time and no politics. It was sweet. I later managed a hobby shop and got to see the inner workings of more clubs and joined a few. I have always been a pilot and a hobbyist and not a politician. The times I have gotten burned out on the hobby have always been due to politics and have had to remove myself from some clubs. I am in this hobby to have fun and get better as well as help other people learn to enjoy it as much as I do. I have a hard time spending the time and energy on high school tantrums.

The local club here had a huge rift develop years ago and the matter ended up before the local board. ( the main field was located on park property. It was not a great location but still....) The board had to mediate the dispute. It resulted in a split in the club and the majority of those most directly involved are not in the hobby any more. The more damaging impact was not as readily apparent. This Brouhaha gave the board a bellyache for anything RC plane related. Any attempt of a new group to try to get some coordination for a future site was met with rolled eyes and groans. It is a real shame.

We should always keep it mature and in house to the best of out abilities. You are fortunate that there was not a split with "group A" vs. "group B" type of dynamic. I fear the outcome would have been less agreeable.

Let's all try to leave the nasty politics for DC. This is a hobby and there is room for everyone. Talk to each other and work it out.

As a closing note I offer my definition of politics. It comes from two words. "Poli" is the Greek word for "many" and "tics" are blood sucking parasites.

[JustPlaneCrazy]

Glad you dodged this bullet Max.

We lost our field this year because of 1 councilman and 1 neighbor who refused rational thinking and wanted nothing else but to see the field closed, they got there wish.

[Judge]

This type of situation is sadly not unique. Another long time glider club located at El Dorado park in Long Beach is in a similar situation. As times have changed, so has the mix of the club. The club now has many electric only pilots and they are flexing their muscles. This has the glider guys on edge. They see the electric guys as wanting to stop glider flying.

The key here is for all sides to try to work together to make things work out for the largest number of people possible. Having said that, we all need to understand that flying models is a privilege and NOT a right. We exist at the mercy and good will of those that own the land we fly on and the neighbors who surround us. It is best to remember that we attract more bees with honey than well, you know what.

As far as the Costa Mesa situation goes, we are not 100% out of the woods either. Tuesday night was what is called a first reading. In a few weeks there will be the final reading/vote. Until then the person who is the sole source of trouble here will likely still try to cause problems. He is persistent to say the least.

The club leadership tried to work with him, but to no avail. Here is the email he sent one of them on Wednesday morning after the club fellow tried to extend the olive branch after the meeting during a short conversation:

"After much thought about our brief conversation last night I must
cheerfully decline any further communications with you and your cronies.
I have my limits in associating with public liars and AMA shills. I would
wish you all the best but then I would be lying."

Nice huh??

Now onto reality. For all of you who fly at the field, and especially the electric pilot, it will be vital that you pay strict attention to all the safety and procedural rules. This guy will be gunning for you armed with his digital camera and huge chip on his shoulder. The site is not ideal and teeters on the edge of being marginal for this mixed use and proximity to the public. Frankly, the margin of error here is zero. So be on your toes to be sure.

This issue has been brewing for over a year and only recently came to a head. The club leadership has expended 100's of hours of effort under threats of legal action from the disgruntled pilot in order to bring this to fruition. Beyond that, the AMA and Costa Mesa staff people have also been caused a serious work load due to this person's efforts. But in the end, things are looking up.

Now is it perfect? Not really. The glider guys will have to live with a very restrictive altitude limit of 400 feet. This will seriously impact their ability to use the field. The electric guys have a 10 pound limit for their planes, which eliminates many of the planes they are flying now. And everyone has to live with flying under the microscope of the City who will be monitoring the situation very closely. One screw up and I think it will be history for this site.

As far as AMA involvement, it is one of the things we do. Rich Hanson, the AMA District X Vice President flew over from Phoenix to attend the meeting and to lend his support. We have several similar situations brewing in the District right now and I am sure that Rich will be on the road along with Wes DeCou who is the AMA staff person for flying site assistance in the western US (he is also in Phoenix). SO as much as it looks like the AMA is only about insurance and the "crappy" magazine, it really is so much more, but it is not always evident to many people.

Rich will be at the Ontario show next weekend. AMA District X will have its own booth separate from the big AMA national area in the center of the show. Stop by and say hi to Rich and meet the local reps (called Associate Ice Presidents - AVPs).

This one was a win (so far), but other battles are out there and we here in SOCAL are especially under the gun as we vie for the space we need to enjoy our hobby. It is up to us to make sure that we act responsibly and not give anyone any reason to give us the boot.

Bill Malvey
AMA Leader Member 4172
AMA District X Associate Vice President (SOCAL)

[Reza]

Max,

I watched the whole thing. Absolutely unbelievable! I agree it is not unique but I will definitely remember that face if he wanted to join our club.

[heydick]

Reza,
He can't join any sanctioned club because he refuses to join the AMA. In fact, he dosen't even fly at the club he is trying to shut down, because to use the tow winch he must join the club, and to join the club he must be a member of the AMA. Screwy aint it?

[Tailchaser]

What a shame, I watched the whole video, and to think one person could have this much influence on the board was amazing to me,
If it hadn't been for all those people who took the time to speak up, even a few fans on the board, they may well have lost a field because of this one idiot.
Seems if he hates everyone so much, LEAVE, go bother someone else!

I wish all involved in trying to squash this issue good luck, and I'm glad we don't have a Mayor in our city without a spine.

I loved how most of the general public who spoke said how they loved just watching the planes fly around,.............don't we all.

Chuck