SW IMAC NEWS

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ANNOUNCEMENTS SW IMAC

As most of you are aware we had IMAC elections a short while ago and Ken Gregory stepped down after 5 years as regional director. He did an outstanding job and now he is taking a break. He nominated me, Tim Attaway, to become the new regional director and I agreed to the nomination and lucky for me I was elected. I was elected mainly because I was the only nominee. I do have experience with IMAC having served as Associate director for Southern California for 5 years and competing since 1999 in many contests in the region over the last 10 years. I have come to know and become friends with a very large number of pilots over the years and count that as a blessing. I am excited about exploring some new things to enhance our contest experience.

Enough on that because what I would like this post to do is stimulate interest in the region and I would like to do that by sharing some new elements that are in store for us in 2009.

1. A Level 1 and Level 2 Judging seminar will be provided for IMAC at the AMA convention in Ontario CA. in January. These two sessions will hopefully be one and a half hours each and will include a qualification/certification test. The test will be 25 true false, multiple choice questions related to judging criteria at the basic level. This will be great for those pilots that have been in Basic this last year or have been practicing the basic sequence and want to know how to get better scores and eventually begin to build a judging skill set that will lead to more advanced judging seminars. Ideally the level 1 seminar will be on Saturday morning and the level 2 seminar will be on Sunday morning, we will announce as soon as we can the time and place. I am contemplating using some of the SW budget to provide incentives for attending the seminars. Reduced ticket price or maybe a partial refund for those that pre register. This will be a pilot program and as such will be an integral part of a larger national judging certification program that I will be promoting in 2009. I hope that if you are going to be at the AMA convention you will plan to come to either seminar. Of course, if you are already a seasoned judge and have been successfully judging Sportsman or above you may just want to sit in and enjoy the program and or critique the instructors.
2. As part of this certification program that is in development there will be an on line component that will provide instruction and testing so that you will be able to build your skill set in judging and hopefully it will help your flight scores while you are in your own home. This may take quite a while to get going but it is in the works.
3. Senior division will be started much like what is going on with the North West IMAC region
4. Hopefully we will get two new venues in the Region this year and when you look at the calendar of IMAC contests that have a link on www.mini-iac.com website you will see that we are trying to group contests in a way that allows each part of the region to have close proximity to at least 4 contests without having to drive long distances. Some overlap will occur and some will want to go to many contests and others just a few. The economy will shape some of what happens I am sure about that. At least gas and hotels should be more amenable to us than in the recent past.
5. The SW will also begin to assess the judges we have now in the region and group them in terms of level 1...judge basic. level 2 ....judge sportsman, level 3....judge intermediate, level 4....judge advanced, level 5....judge unlimited, level 6....Invitational, level 7 TOC,TAS,CC head judge. We will be forming a committee of at least 3 up to 6 to determine where we are in this judging certification and will be providing this to Contest Directors for their use in judging matrixes.

I invite questions and comments,
Tim

[DESERTRIDER49]

Take a gold star out of petty cash, Tim. This is a huge task with lofty goals you are outlining. I flew my first contest early this year and started a thread asking if there was going to be a judging seminar to which there was no reply. I hope your efforts are met with great enthusiasm by everyone in our district that intends to compete next year. I for one, will be there.

[bodywerks]

I most definitely need judging school! 2009 will only be my second year in IMAC and I have already been forced to move up to advanced, but have never been to a judging school or sceminar. I have read all the AMA rule books and some of the publications at www.mini-iac.com but I think my flying, as well as my judging, would benefit from these classes.
I plan to be at the AMA convention all weekend but I may be working a booth, so these classes may need to be held early for me, or I will try to get away from the booth for a bit.
It's good to have you as regional director, Tim. You are very passionate about this sport - and knowledgeable!

[sweetpea]

Where are the Regionals going to be at this year as well?

[see_e_oh]

I'm in Tim! Judging seminar would be great. Flew 2 basic contests this year - Camarillo and Miramar, and scribed a bunch just to get a feel for it. Can't wait for the 2009 season to start.

I'd be glad to volunteer if you need some help.

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Sweetpea, 3 possibilities: Superstition, Cactus, or Bennett

[sweetpea]

All good choices!


Wish I was still in the Region.

[bodywerks]

Anywhere but Bennet, and preferably after the TAS instead of before.

[lazyboyflyer]

Sign me up Tim, When I'm in the chair, I want to be a fair and knowledgeable Judge. Like Nick, I have read all the info I can find, but never attended a Judges seminar.

[lazyboyflyer]

I think the SW Regional should take place later in the year, like early November.

[Dan B]

Congratulations Tim, we couldn't ask for a better more knowledgeable representative for the SW Region. We really look forward to seeing your plans become reality.

Dan & Todd Bridges

[pbrantuas]

Congratulations Tim.
Let me know if I can help in any way.

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Late October early November time frame for the SW regional and I have been told that Arizona would be good in that time.....correct me if I am wrong?
Tim

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Thanks for all the encouraging remarks and yes I will be needing a lot of committment from a few people and overall committment from the general SW pilot pool. Namely, getting to the AMA convention to be involved with the 2 seminars and then also planning your year around the schedule so as to get in the minimum 4 contests leading up to the Regional late in the 2009 year. All the sequences for 2009 should be up soon including the Unlimited. We, the ISC, just voted on the top 3 and sent them to the BOD of IMAC. I expect them to make a choice in the next couple of days.

Please plan to attend the Superstition Mountain contest, I predict it will be as good or better than last year and the club really does a good job.
The San Diego IMAC contest that follows it a month later will be at my home club and normally will be a smaller event designed to bring new fledglings into the flock from San Diego. Gas is gonna be cheaper and the hotels should be very reasonable with the down economy so sign up!
Tim

[sweetpea]

You know if I was still in Vegas I'd help you with whatever I could. Maybe I'll make a contest out that way in the next year or so.....