The Region doesn't exist!

Dear Readers

First, some good news for the “model aviation community”: Your contributions to our magazine, modell flugsport, are breaking all records and exceeding even my wildest expectations. I’m literally inundated with reports on amazing homemade models and original designs, tips for electric propulsion systems, and coverage of competitions and other events. It’s a situation other editorial teams can barely dream of. I can’t offer you huge honoraria—I can only say: Thank you very much! Our Board of Trustees also stands behind this heartfelt thank you—I can assure you of that. It does hurt a little that, due to space constraints, I can’t always publish your reports very quickly or as soon as they’re submitted.

In an earlier issue of this volume, I sparked a huge response—and received a lot of support—with a letter I wrote to a club president. Actually, I would have preferred to encounter some opposition. This time, unfortunately, I must share the unpleasant news that our organization also has regions (= regional associations) that exist, at most, only on paper. Having regional associations just to perhaps organize a regional competition would be like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut! Members of regional executive boards who don’t even know their job descriptions are, in fact, superfluous. Perhaps many people don’t even notice it anymore, but the Italian language has fallen silent in our magazine for some time now. I am absolutely certain that the

presence of the regions in our magazine is a stark reflection of the competence and commitment of the regional governing bodies—whether those in charge like it or not. As long as the regions have member clubs, there is clearly also a duty to provide information. If someone writes that model flying group XY belongs to AeCS and SMV, they are misinformed: The groups or clubs are organized within the regions, and the regions, in turn, are affiliated with AeCS and SMV as collective members. This means that weak regions also weaken our national organizations. Today’s political climate would hardly look favorably upon this.

Sincerely,
Emil Ch. Giezendanner