Official voting ballots for the IAC Board of Director election have been mailed to all current members and must be received by IAC headquarters no later than July 26, 2005 to be counted.
Vicki Cruse is running as the Presidential candidate and Allyson Parker-Lauck for Vice President. Ten candidates are running for 3 open director positions (Southeast Region, Southwest Region, and Mid-America Region): Tom Adams of Nashville, TN; Sigrid Baumann of Rye, NH; Marilyn Dash of San Mateo, CA; Greg Dungan of Great Mills, MD; Tom Hanks of Chapel Hill, NC; Rob Holland of Nashua, NH; David Martin of Graford, TX; Tom Myers of Palo Alto, CA; Doug Sowder of Spokane, WA; and, Jim Taylor of Webster, MN.
CANDIDATE PROFILES
Vicki Cruse of Santa Ana, CA Presidential Candidate
First of all, I would like to thank you for your vote and support for my tenure as Director for the past three years and ask for your vote again this election. For those who do not know me, I have been a pilot since 1993 and began flying aerobatics in 1997. I have won several titles including Sportsman National Champion and Intermediate Champion of the Championships of the Americas, and am privileged to serve on the US Unlimited Team. I attend seven to ten contests each year and volunteer in the IAC Pavilion at AirVenture, giving me the unique opportunity to maintain contact with fellow IAC members, not only in the area I serve, but also across the US. I am also the editor of the Technical Advisor column in Sport Aerobatics. I have a strong commitment to aviation, shown not only by my focus on competition aerobatics, but through speaking engagements and magazine articles aimed at introducing people to the sport.
Last year, I was asked to run for President by Gerry Molidor and other Board members. It was not something I ever imagined doing when I became an IAC member in 1994 during my first visit to Oshkosh. Having several months to think about it, I have decided to accept the challenge. Aerobatics has brought many things to my life including improvement and confidence in my flying skills and friendships that will last a lifetime. Now it is my turn to give back.
I have served as the Northwest Region Director for the past three years and have maintained relationships with members through an open communication channel with the Chapter Presidents and by attending the two regional contests held here each year. As President, I would like to see more communication between the Regional Directors and members within their regions. Too often members complain about Board actions but don’t know what outlet they had for voicing an opinion.
IAC IS its members, the majority of whom are not active in competition. What is it about the IAC that draws people in, what keeps them and why do they leave? This information is key to the continuing health of IAC. We are a member-supported organization that needs to better understand the needs and wants of its members or the organization will not be able to grow. We’ve undergone some severe budget cuts in the past few years and the decisions of the Board have not been easy and will continue to be difficult. The IAC is a business and must be run like one.
The current Board of Directors is a fine group of people who are able to work together to get things done, something lacking in years past. I would like to take the IAC forward to be a premier organization for all those interested in aerobatics, from the weekend flyer to the Unlimited pilot. There is a place for every level of aerobatic pilot in the IAC and I would appreciate your vote of confidence to allow me to contribute to the organization by giving back.
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Allyson Parker-Lauck of Fairfield,CA Vice-Presidential Candidate
I joined the IAC at age 18 when I first became interested in aerobatics. Since then, I have been involved in the IAC as an enthusiastic volunteer, as a pilot, and as an officer of the organization:
- 1993: Gulf Coast Regional Contest Director - 1996: U.S. Nationals Contest Director - 1997 – 2001: IAC Secretary - 1998: U.S. Nationals Assistant Contest Director - 1999 – 2000: U.S. Nationals Volunteer Coordinator - 2001: U.S. Nationals Contest Director - 2003 – Present: IAC Vice President - 2004 – 2005: U.S. Unlimited Aerobatic Team Pilot
I have been involved in the IAC all of my adult life, and have seen our club go through many ups and downs.
The last few years have been most difficult, as we’ve seen our Membership decline. But thanks to the excellent leadership of Gerry Molidor and the IAC Board, we have seen Membership begin an upward turn.
Our club faces many challenges ahead: rising fuel prices, noise issues, and loss of aerobatic boxes, to name a few. IAC must develop programs to help make aerobatics more accessible to more people, and become “THE” premier organization to take on legislative and regulatory issues that affect our sport. We’re on the right track, but there’s still a great deal of work to be done. It is my plan to work closely with our new President and take these issues head on. The future of aerobatics depends on it.
I have enjoyed serving the Membership of the IAC, and I will appreciate your vote so that I can serve again for another term.
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Tom Adams of Nashville, TN Candidate for Director
Once again I am running for re-election to the Board of Directors. For those of you who are not familiar with me I would like to give you some background on my experience in the IAC and my thoughts on what I should do as a Director.
I have been a member of the IAC since 1970. I started flying competition at that time with the first Fond du Lac. During the 32 years that has elapsed I have been constantly active and flown an average of 6 contests each year. Some years I only flew four contests, where others I flew eight or nine. I started actively judging in the mid-seventies and have tried to judge at each contest I have flown in. I have served one term on the Board in the early eighties and two more from 1997 to 2002.
I am on the board now, serving the last of a two-year term. I have a good working knowledge of the Board, the Club, its by-laws and how to get things accomplished.
In order for a Director to be effective he/she must be in touch with the members. That is only done by being at the club’s events. By going to 6 to 8 contests a year I get the input required. Also, I have had no problem with staying in touch with the members by phone while at home. It has been fortunate that when members call with a request from their chapter on an item of concern, I have been able to get it on the upcoming agenda for Board discussion. It is my feelings that as a director I must do all I can to achieve the changes the members want to see. A director cannot be effective if all he/she does is attend the board meetings. A director must be active in all aspects of the club’s events.
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Sigrid Baumann of Rye, NH Candidate for Director
- IAC/EAA Member since 1990 - Member IAC Chapter 35 - Past Chapter VP 97 - Past Achievement Awards Chairperson, Chapter 35 - US Aerobatic Foundation Board of Directors starting 1997 - Fundraising Chairperson - Treasurer 2002/2003 - Private Pilot Cert., IFR rated - Flying Intermediate Category - Own and fly an EXTRA 200
I am interested in running for a post on the IAC Board of Directors in order to help serve the membership to make the whole organization a stronger and member-friendly organization and help grow the numbers.
We need a stronger bond with the present membership of IAC and member recruitment to attract new members to the organization. Support is needed from the Chapter Presidents to convey message to Chapter Club members.
I have and am supporting the New England Free Skies Association, which deals with the “noise” issue in the Northeast. This issue has started to become a nationwide problem, and all of us have to band together to fight for our rights to fly and prevent the people who want general aviation to practically disappear from succeeding. In particular they want to stop all aerobatic activities.
We need to try to make the public more aware of our sport to capture the people's interest and in time accept aerobatics as a bona fide sport. Especially important is to try to attract the young people to aviation and get them involved.
In the summer months I live on the seacoast of New England and am involved in the Young Eagles program.
The winter will find me in the Southeast region, on the east coast of Florida, where I am involved in flying cadets from the Lantana Civil Air Patrol.
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Marilyn Dash of San Mateo, CA Candidate for Director
Marilyn Dash is a Director for a San Francisco-based Management Consultant and is running for the IAC Board this year. She believes the organization can benefit from her fresh perspective and new ideas. As a champion of the new pilot and grass roots movement, Marilyn believes she has the energy, tenacity, and interest to reach out to all IAC club members and help grow and strengthen our organization. Her vision includes an IAC that supports all of its members from the world-class competitor – to the grass roots sport aerobatic pilot who enjoys flying aerobatics for the shear pleasure of it.
Marilyn has been an active aerobatic pilot and competitor for nearly four years. Receiving a majority of her aerobatic training from Ken Erickson at the Sean Tucker's School of Aerobatic Flight on the West Coast.
She has flown with some of IAC's top competition instructors including Bob Blackwood, Richard Rihn, and Sunrise Aviation's Jon Nash. Marilyn flies a Pitts Special that she affectionately calls Ruby.
An extremely active IAC member, she is in her third year as Director of IAC Chapter 38, the Northern California Aerobatic Club. She has helped coordinate the chapter's Annual Aerobatic Safety Seminar and yearly Judges’ School. As Chapter 38's Newsletter Gossip Columnist and author of many other articles Marilyn has become the club's "unofficial Social Chairperson." Marilyn is definitely plugged into the grapevine with her finger squarely on the pulse of our very vocal community. Marilyn knows what it takes to organize and run contests. She has twice been a Volunteer Coordinator of the Paso Robles and Delano contests. Marilyn has also just finished her paperwork to become a Regional IAC Judge.
The scope and magnitude of running an organization such as the IAC is no small task. From picking and supporting an international team to recruiting and keeping the interests of the new competitor is the challenge. Marilyn understands this challenge and is ready and willing to step up and commit her energy and personal experience to making all of us more successful as IAC club members and competition pilots
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Gregory Dungan of Great Mills, MD Candidate for Director
I am running for a position on the IAC Board of Directors and would very much like to have your vote. To help you determine if I deserve that vote, let me tell you about my background and why I think I should be elected to the Board.
My interest in aerobatics sparked as a small boy growing up in the sixties and seventies watching the likes of Harold Krier, Duane Cole, Art Scholl, Leo Loudenslager and countless other aerobatic pilots at countless airshows. Those guys were my heroes as a kid and I knew that someday I wanted to become a pilot and learn to fly an airplane like that. Well, I doubt anyone who has seen me compete would ever accuse me of possessing the talents of any of my boyhood heroes but this sport has given a lot to me and I want to give something back.
Growing up in a single parent household provided few opportunities for learning to fly, so while in high school, I quit a better paying part-time job to take a job pumping gas at my hometown airport so I could earn my Private certificate in my junior year. After taking my first aerobatic lesson later that same year in a Great Lakes, and despite experiencing the breakfast I’d hastily eaten an hour earlier, I was hooked. Nothing I’d previously experienced came close to that feeling of being pressed hard into the seat during a loop or looking “up” to see the world below as my instructor showed me how to fly upside down. However, I continued my training, receiving an Instrument Rating in my senior year, and later during and after college obtained my Commercial, Multi-Engine, and Flight Instructor Airplane and Instrument certificates.
Although a member of IAC for more the better part of two decades, my civil service career for the U.S. Navy at Patuxent River took up most of my spare time, until promotions and a change in career paths allowed me more time to pursue my aerobatic dreams. I joined IAC Chapter 58 in Maytown, PA and in 1997, purchased my Pitts. Finally, my dream of being a true aerobatic pilot was becoming a reality and I attended several contests up and down the east coast. I also attended a Judges School in 1997, and my experience there convinced me I might like to become a certified IAC Judge. After gaining a few years of competition and judging experience, I became a National Judge and later a Judges School Instructor. I started getting involved in the leadership of IAC Chapter 58, serving as its Vice President for three years. Additionally, I started participating in judging and volunteering at the U.S. Nationals, serving as the Chief Judge for Intermediate and grading judge for all remaining categories for the last two years. In 2002, I was asked by the IAC President to assume the Chair of the IAC Judges School and Judge Certification program, a leadership position for which I felt I could make a positive influence by drawing on my experience as a professional instructor for the Navy. I’ve worked very hard to improve the quality of an already high quality program and hope to continue that trend. Which brings me to my next point.
Why should you vote for Greg Dungan as an IAC Director? The simple answer to this question is you will find no person more dedicated to the IAC, its goals, and its ideals. As a long time member of IAC, I have always endeavored to apply my knowledge, experience, and attention to detail acquired in professional life to my beloved sport. I will work FOR YOU, the Members of IAC and represent your wishes as the Board deliberates any particular issue on the table. To do that, here is a list of goals based on my own convictions as well as those of many Members who I’ve conversed with:
I have a goal of increasing IAC Membership, not just to recruit and cultivate a larger number of competitors and judges but also to ensure more passive IAC Members, who make up over 80% of the total membership, will remain members and never doubt that IAC adds value to their personal enjoyment of aerobatics and flying as a whole.
I have a goal to reverse the trend of disappearing waivered airspace for practice boxes. One of the ways to do this is to improve the image of aerobatic enthusiasts with the non-flying public in particular such that they perceive us as just like them; as environmentally friendly, fun loving people who want to be good neighbors while at the same time enjoying the freedoms of three dimensional flight.
I have a goal of decreasing the difficulty of getting into the sport of aerobatics by working to improve the ability of individuals and FBOs to obtain affordable insurance to operate and rent aerobatic aircraft.
I have a goal to improve the lines of communication between IAC HQ, the Chapters, and individual IAC Members. A Director who doesn’t routinely communicate with his or her constituents cannot effectively represent them on important decisions facing the organization.
I have a goal of improving the flagship publication of our sport in the world, Sport Aerobatics Magazine; to help it return to the most informative, most entertaining, and technically relevant publication regarding aerobatic aircraft and aerobatic pilots.
Finally, I feel I am prepared to serve you, the IAC Membership because through my work as the Judge Education and Certification Chair, I have made it a point to become intimately familiar with the intricate details of the Club’s organizational structure, including the IAC’s Articles of Incorporation, the By-Laws, IAC Official Contest Rules, and the IAC Policy and Procedures Manual. I have also developed and maintained good working relationships with IAC Headquarters staff and the IAC Board of Directors.
I thank you for your consideration for IAC Director.
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Tom Hanks of Chapel Hill, NC Candidate for Director
I have been an IAC member for fourteen years and an IAC national judge for eleven of those years. During this time I have been President of our North Carolina IAC Chapter 19 for seven years and a five-time contest director. As most in our organization I have filled other positions such as treasurer, newsletter editor, volunteer coordinator, and tech inspector. Perhaps my proudest accomplishment is having been selected to hold the prestigious post of boundary judge. I currently am also a judges school instructor.
I have competed in 40 contests, all five-competition categories and currently fly an S1T in the Advanced category. I support these indiscretions through my vocation as a mechanical engineer.
My thoughts on the course of the IAC are these. There is nothing broken and we are not in need of a grand vision. I believe that regional competitions are the backbone of the organization and that the National leadership should insure the health of these. The greatest service we offer is education and the provision for learning in the safest environment we can reasonably create.
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Rob Holland of Nashua, NH Candidate for Director
Rob Holland has been flying since the age of 18 and has accumulated greater than 6,500 hours in over 136 types of aircraft. He graduated Daniel Webster College in 1997 with a B.S. in Aviation Management and a B.S. in Aviation Flight Operations.
Rob is ATP rated with a CFI and CFII and also holds a glider rating. He has flight instructed, towed banners, ferried aircraft throughout the country, flown cooperate in a Pilatus PC-12, flown for the commuters in a Jetstream 31, and is an Airshow Pilot.
Rob currently owns and operates Aerial Advantage Aviation in Nashua, NH where he specializes in Emergency Upset Recognition
and Recovery, Aerobatic, Spin, and Tailwheel instruction with over 4500 hours of tailwheel time and over 2800 hours teaching aerobatics to students of all skill levels. Rob was also a member if the 2004 United States Advanced Aerobatic Team where he was the Highest scoring American at the AWAC.
Rob will be a very valuable asset to the IAC Board of Directors because of his aviation background, experience and love and commitment to the sport of aerobatics. Rob has already demonstrated his ability to bring in many new members to the IAC through his enthusiasm and through his aerobatic flight school. Rob is a forward thinker and will be working for and representing you, the IAC members, to bring member growth and financial fitness to the organization.
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David Martin of Graford, TX Candidate for Director
I became interested in aerobatics after attending the 1968 National Championships in Fort Worth, TX at the age of 9. My first aerobatics were in my Grandfather’s Fleet Biplane. When I was 16, I started learning aerobatics in my family’s 150 Aerobat. Duane Cole introduced me to competition aerobatics in a Decathlon when I was 18.
My first contest was in 1980; I flew intermediate in a Pitts S-2A. In 1992, I began competing seriously in my homebuilt Laser 200. I switched to an Extra 300S in 1994 and made the US Aerobatic Team in 1997. I have been on 5 teams and currently fly a CAP 232.
Although deeply involved in unlimited competition, I have not lost interest in grass roots aerobatics. I still enjoy basic aerobatics in my Bucker Jungmeister and am currently rebuilding a clipped wing cub. I am interested in the history of aviation and specifically the history of Aerobatics. During my life I have been influenced by knowing some of the great aerobatic pilots including Duane Cole, Charlie Hillard and Leo Loudenslager.
My past accomplishments include 1999 IAC Unlimited Champion, 2001 US National Champion, and winner of the Charlie Hillard Trophy, Harold Krier Cup, Bob Schnuerle Cup, and the Mike Murphy Trophy. I have also won a gold medal and three bronze medals at World Championships. I have been in the top 10 aerobatic pilots in the world since 2000.
I have been a member of IAC since 1981 and have been on the IAC Board of Directors for the last two years. I look forward to working for you as a member of the IAC Board of Directors.
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Dr. Thomas Myers of Palo Alto, CA Candidate for Director
IAC Experience:
- Member and active competitor since 1990 - National Judge since 1991 - IAC Board Director (1995-2003) - Current Chairman of the IAC Contest Software Committee and managing the databases for the Regional, Collegiate, and National season-long scoring series - Chapter contest and practice box waiver holder since 1992 - Paso Robles CA regional contest co-conspirator since 1992 - Sport Aerobatics contributor since 1993 - Chapter 38 Director Emeritus, President (1993-1996) - Chapter 38 Newsletter Editor (1992-1993) - Chapter 38 Director (1996-2003)
Goals: - Represent the membership of IAC - Contribute to and share our collective knowledge - Emphasize, recognize, and reward piloting skill and sound judgment - Help assure that hard-learned lessons of the past are never unavailable, lost, or forgotten - Provide technological and scientific expertise - Help assure that the Board always sees the view from the cockpit, and from the chapter trenches
Profession: - I am a Biomedical Engineer. - I design surgical lasers.
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Douglas Sowder of Spokane, WA Candidate for Director
I learned to fly in 1967 in Spokane, WA, still my home, and am a private pilot with single, multi, and instrument ratings. In 1993, I won my first contest, flying Basic in a Pitts S-1, and since that time I’ve flown in about 45 contests, including several U.S. Nationals and the 2004 AWAC. I currently fly Advanced in a Pitts S-2B, which I rebuilt from a wreck, and am (slowly) building a Pitts S-1-11. I am a National Judge. While I am competition-oriented, I believe that IAC can have a strong appeal to those who fly just for fun, especially in the areas of safety and technical information. We must help interested pilots to find aerobatic training and suitable aircraft, and encourage their participation in IAC and in contests and other events. We have a great sport; I’d like to share it!
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Jim Taylor of Webster, MN Candidate for Director
- Member since 1975. - Founding member of Minnesota IAC Chapter 78, Minnesota Cloud Dancers. - First Chapter Treasurer and Contest Director for first three chapter contests. - Chapter President and Contest Director 1992 to 1999. - Contest Director Fond du Lac 1985. Safety Director Fond du Lac 1980 – 1984, 1986-1999. - Chairman, Aerobatic Rally Committee. - Director: since 2001 - Received Frank Price Award in 1999. - Chairman Sun ‘n Fun - IAC Sun ‘n Fun Aerobatic Center Chairman. - Aircraft Parking Chairman AirVenture 2001-2004. - IAC Representative Minnesota Aviation Advisors Council. - IAC Representative at Minnesota Sport Aviation Conference & EXPO
I believe that the IAC needs to emphasize new programs to gain a larger membership base.
The Collegiate program is a good place for young students to gain knowledge and expertise in aerobatic competition. The real, long term, benefit is that they will go on to become leaders in their community and promote aerobatics.
The recreational aerobatic “rally” program has much potential. That is a good place for educators and leaders to contribute to IAC and the general flying population. Our hard-core competitors need to maintain their focus to be successful. IAC needs to use their expertise and experience to develop and promote programs that will emphasize aerobatic education and recreation. Once pilots realize the benefits, and find out that they do not need to be super pilots to participate, the competitive natured ones will find that it is an easier jump to competition.
IAC needs educators and business people to work at the chapter level as well as the national level to promote and develop programs that will benefit and educate pilots to the joys and value of aerobatic flying. We need to strengthen our ties with EAA, and provide a helping hand to those that want to become better pilots and participate in advanced maneuvers and aerobatics. IAC is the only organization that can do it. They have the experience and expertise and the tie to EAA. If not for the EAA we wouldn’t be flying little airplanes at all, worldwide.
