Time to Vote

TIME TO VOTE.... for your NSRCA Executive Officers

As of October 15, we have at least one candidate running for the executive positions of President, Treasurer and Secretary. Unfortunately, no one I talked to so far accepted being nominated for the position of Vice President, nor has anyone seriously volunteered to do so. This is why there are no bios in this month’s edition of the KFactor for the Vice President position. Amazingly, after talking to folks that have previously served as Vice President, this position requires the least amount of persistent work compared to any of the executive board positions or even District VP positions! If anyone is interested in having a strong input into NSRCA issues, please consider submitting your name to Sal Piu, or Justin Wells, with a bio, for the Vice President position. December 2020 will be election time for NSRCA executive officers. ~Sal Piu, Executive Committee Nominating Chair

Charlie Barrera Position of President

Hello members of the NSRCA. I am running for the position of President of the NSRCA. I’ve been an NSRCA member since 1998, and am an active member of District 6. I’ve served as your Secretary from 2014-2018, and as your Vice President from 2019-2020. I was appointed President this past July, 2020, after the serving President resigned. I am currently serving in that position. I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure. As Secretary, I was instrumental in keeping our membership informed about the happenings of the Board of Directors by publishing BoD Meeting Minutes every month after a BoD meeting. I was also responsible for membership, both new and renewal. As Vice President, I chaired the Bylaws Committee. This committee revised our bylaws and membership voting approved the revision. I also served on the Sequence Development Committee. This committee created the sequences that you are currently flying. I am very active in pattern, participating regularly in local contests, and have attended the NATS every year since 1999. As interim President, I represented the NSRCA at the recent USA Team Trials/ D4 Championship held in Muncie, IN. My goals for the NSRCA include expanding our ranks through innovative programs designed to generate interest in pattern flying. I hope to do this with the “Grow Pattern” proposal that is being suggested to our members, and future pattern flyers and members. I hope to make it easy for someone that is interested in precision aerobatics, but reluctant to start because of the expense and commitment that might be perceived. I feel that the easier it is to start, the more participation we will get at our local pattern contests.

I’ve been in modeling since the early 60’s, when I was in grade school. My dad built and flew control line models and taught me to build and fly models. It has been my passion for over 50 years. I began flying radio control in 1966, my senior year in High School. I started with a Vari-comp rubber band escapement, single channel, push button radio. For those of you that might not be familiar with this system, it consisted of a transmitter with one push button. When you pushed this button, the escapement in the airplane would turn, causing the elevator to deflect UP, then DOWN, then rudder RIGHT, then rudder LEFT. It was a matter of timing, then holding the button until the desired flight attitude was achieved. Needless to say, the airplane had to be very stable and forgiving. I briefly flew pattern in the mid 70’s, before turn-around pattern started as we know it today. I wasn’t very successful. I didn’t have the time or the resources, for I was busy raising a family and flying for the US Air Force.

I again began flying pattern in 1998, after encouragement from members in my local club, the Tri-County Barnstormers, New Waverly, TX. These members were Ollie Sonnier, Don Ramsey, and Luis Rodriguez. With the exception of Ollie Sonnier, who passed away in 2005, Don, Luis, and I continue to fly pattern and are very active in pattern.

My first “true” pattern airplane was a Mike Harrison design Odyssey. I have several 2-meter airplanes, which include a Mystic, Acuity, and the Zonda, which is my primary competition airplane. I recently completed build of a ‘60’s vintage Dirty Birdy. I built this model “scratch”, obtaining a short kit from a kit cutter, and completing it after several weeks of work. It was a fun build and reminded me of the attention to detail that is necessary when building models. I currently fly electric in all of my models. I participate at all our local/regional pattern contests and have moved up to Masters Pattern this past pattern season. I have attended and competed at the NATS since 1999. I was the Judging Coordinator for the 2011 World Championships in Muncie, IN. I have judged finals at all the NATS, and was Site Director at the 2019 NATS.

My educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University,

and a Master of Science degree in Counseling and Guidance from Troy State University.

My professional background includes 8 years as a pilot in the USAF, 36 years flying for a major airline, retiring in 2013. I have flown all over the world, and ended my career flying the Boeing 767-400.

I am soliciting your vote for President of the NSRCA. Having served on the Board of Directors for the past 6 years, I have the experience to continue to make our organization the best it can be. I feel that we must continue to promote our sport, and to go forward with our Special Interest Group.

Heedo Yun Position of Secretary

Hi, my name is Heedo Yun. I volunteer to serve as the Secretary in the next 2 years. I’ve been serving as the Secretary since June, 2020, therefore I am familiar with its role and responsibilities. I am applying for this position because I love this hobby and also enjoy serving for NSRCA and its members. To give a brief background of myself, I am a retired engineer residing in Houston, Texas, enjoy flying the Advanced Class pattern at the Fort Bend RC Club in Rosenberg, Texas, and also fly giant aerobatic airplanes during the off-pattern season.

John Decker Position of Treasurer

I am submitting my candidacy for the NSRCA Treasurer. As the current treasurer I am familiar with our expenditures and obligations and as a member of the Executive Team of the Board of Directors I have been active in gently guiding policies that ensure the longevity and relevancy of the NSRCA.

As for my modeling career I started with rubber band free flight at the age of 8 and progressed to control line and model rockets. Never had much success but sure learned the art of repair. I started flying RC in 1972 at the age of 12 with a Mattel Single Channel and my 1/2A Mini Mambo. I had over 1,000 flights on that plane and genuinely loved flying it every day. I progressed to three channels then four channel and flew well into my high school years. I flew off and on through college and for some years after. In the middle 90’s I meet a gentleman at a local flying field in Jackson, Mississippi that was so smooth it was mesmerizing and flying a 40% Ultimate Biplane with a lot of wow factor slow rolling the length of the field. I asked how he became so good and he attributed his talents to flying Pattern for many years. He took up Pattern again when I became interested and coached me and we traveled the D3 circuit together back in the late 90’s. Life got in the way and I didn’t fly again for 17 years. Got bit by the bug and started flying Pattern again a few years ago after moving to D6. Went to my first NATS in Muncie three years ago and came a close second in Intermediate behind a 13-yearold teenager. Humbling but I sure enjoyed the adventure. Now flying Advanced and Covid19 has really screwed up this year but hopeful for the future. I really enjoy trying to fly with discipline.

My past work experience includes a number of executive leadership positions including President of Worldwide Sorbent Products, Chief Operating Officer of Complete Environmental Products, Controller for FRC Corporation, Environmental Packaging Technologies, and Clean Coast Technologies. Most recently I have been the Chief Financial Officer of Neighbors Health System and Moody Neurorehabilitation Institute.

I received my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accountancy) from Auburn University and my Master of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Thank you for your consideration and I appreciate your vote.