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The Prez Sez
Hi Folks!
As I write this
missive, we are getting ready for the Father's Day Fun Fly, coming up on
the 17th of June. I hope that everyone has read up on the events to be
in the contest; roops, poker hand, slow/fast, and taxi. Aircraft size,
special rules and entry fees are posted at Bollin Field. Please note
that there are different entry fees if you belong to Mesquite Modelers
or not.
We are also
discussing an upcoming foamie fun fly, and are thinking it will be in
the November time frame. Please come to the club meetings where this
and other items will be openly discussed, and your input will be sought.
Our feature
article this month comes from the AMA Insider, our organizational
newsletter, and deals with selecting the right Safety Coordinator:
Finding the Right Safety Coordinator
by Amy Wilson, AMA Special Services
Now that AMA Chartered clubs are
required to have a Safety Coordinator, AMA has created this document to
assist clubs in finding the best person for the job. We already have a
document of suggested Safety Coordinator duties; however, to offer
additional assistance to clubs, we have come up with some suggested
skills we believe will be beneficial for the Safety Coordinator to
possess.
The Safety Coordinator should be a person who will mentor, serve as
a role model and educator and a promoter of safety awareness. He should
also have the ability to assist in the development of club activities
from a safety aspect and provide support in running such activities. It
is important to remember that the Safety Coordinator is not the “Club
Field Police,” rather the person who displays a positive attitude and
willingness to teach others in regards to safety at the club field.
Role Model
An important attribute for a role
model to have is leadership skills. A Safety Coordinator should be
someone who is very knowledgeable about our hobby, maintains high
standards, and displays a positive attitude when dealing with safety
issues.
If you lead, they will follow. This statement pretty well sums up
how the Safety Coordinator can affect the club. A good leader, with a
positive attitude who knows the ins and outs of the club rules and
by-laws, will assist in club members gaining trust and respect for the
Safety Coordinator. In turn, club members will have an encouraging
resource to turn to with any safety issues that may arise.
Educator
Education, education, education! We can’t say this enough. Many
accidents and injuries could be avoided if only pilots were more
educated on the aspects of safety. Start by looking at a person’s
interpersonal and communication skills. A Safety Coordinator who can
work well and communicate effectively with the club board and members
will be more effective in teaching safety than a person not as efficient
in this area.
Safety
Coordinators should work with the club to develop an ongoing educational
plan for the club members. Offering quarterly safety meetings, special
safety classes for newcomers, and any additional preventative measures
the club finds necessary, would be an important step in creating an
effective educational program. The Safety Coordinator would play a
leading role in the development and implementation of all safety
education programs and having skills to educate would be a benefit to
the club.
Promoter
Promotion of safety within the club is a must and the club will
want to look for a good promoter. An ideal candidate for the Safety
Coordinator might be a salesman or marketing major. Salesmen promote the
product they are selling, and if they have been in the profession for
some time, you would assume he/she has ability in this area. A marketing
professional would have a knack for promotion, as this profession would
require such skills. This is not to say that someone without a
background in sales or promotion couldn’t effectively be a good Safety
Coordinator. However, we believe someone with this type of background
would be a bonus to the coordinator position.
Effective safety promotion will encourage members to become more
aware of their surroundings at the club field.
Final Thoughts
When choosing a Safety Coordinator, the club should find a person
who will appreciate the importance of creating an atmosphere of safety.
Yes, the Safety Coordinator should be responsible for promoting safety
first and foremost; however, this person should not be considered the
“Club Field Police” and appropriate avenues should be established by the
club to handle any safety matters that may surface (i.e. proper steps
for the Safety Coordinator to take could be established in the club
bylaws).
Good judgment and communication skills are important for your
Safety Coordinator to have. The Safety Coordinator will not make the
final decision on safety concerns as normally these issues would be
voted on and decided by the club board. However, the coordinator should
be able to use good judgment, make decisions based on facts, and relay
any concerns or observations through the proper channels so the club may
make an informative decision and take any needed preventative action.
A Safety Coordinator who has the skills mentioned in this document
and does diligent follow-up on safety issues will increase safety
throughout the club all the while strengthening our hobby!
As always, we should remember, above and beyond, Safety Comes
First!
Until next
month, make the June meeting and participate in the Fun Fly!
Bill.
Club Meeting
The next meeting of the MMRCC is
scheduled for June 1, 2006 at 7:00 P.M. The meeting will be held at the
Northrop Grumman facility. Personnel are required to sign-in and sign
out for security purposes.
See you at the meeting……………….Will |
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