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Thread: Rod Hightower and EAA

  1. #1

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    Rod Hightower and EAA

    Back in January of 2011 when Rod Hightower began his grass roots pilot tour, it all made sense. The purpose of the tour was to introduce himself to the membership, learn more about the inner workings of the organization and offer insights and other findings in his Tower Frequency column. Since then a pattern has emerged, and his commentaries are more about Rod Hightower then EAA or general aviation.

    In his April 2012 Commentary about membership services for instance, Rod stands prominent over membership manager Vicky Norton. Why? And why is Hightower pictured sitting in a B17, covering almost a quarter of page 1 of the May issue commentary, when it is about unsafe hand-propping of an airplane? Then there is the June issue commentary, and it is all about Rod’s family, particularly his son’s soloing at age 16. I must admit that it is nice to know a little about his family, but his story was centered on it, not the experience of a first solo. And did you notice who stands out in the trio pictured in J. Mac Mcclellan’s column this month? Always bigger than life and usually on the left side is Rod, even though the column is about Bob Vuksanovic. Ok, so I’m being too critical, Rod is a big guy and would naturally stand out in any photograph. Obviously the problem is in the photography.

    Rod owns a Stearman and a T-6? That seems to be the case according to Jeff Skiles June 2012 column. He also flies it in the dark without lighting on the instrument panel. As leader of a safety conscious organization such as the EAA, is this setting the right example? Is it wise? While practicing flying seat of the pants may be good practice if done with a safety pilot on board that is using flight instruments, it should not be condoned or considered safe.

    With due respect to Rod who is I am sure is doing his very best for EAA, I am perhaps being too sensitive. I never had any issues with either Paul or Tom Poberezny, and perhaps I am acting like an old man that's resistant to change.

    Bernie

  2. #2
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    Bernie, your insights and observations are revealing and could be a sign of something far more deeply disturbing. I have just one criticsm--don't be so apologetic even though some of it is dripping with sarcasm.

    By way of comparative relevancy, I was a senior exec for a major television network for 10 years. My title and job description made me the highest profile and most visible person in the organization to the overall film and television industry. A few years into the job, I got a new CEO/President who did not come from the industry which made her virtually unknown to it. Long story short, the new CEO embarked on a well thought out treacherous strategy to greatly increase her profile by systematically reducing mine . Without getting into all the psychological factors that gave way to these events, I eventually left and within 4 years of her start date she was fired by the parent company.
    Last edited by Floatsflyer; 06-12-2012 at 10:34 AM.

  3. #3

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    I will show my age by offering a more positive perspective.

    When Tom Poberezny took over from his father Paul, the exact same thing happened and the exact same complaints appeared. It all turned out OK.

    In order to be in charge, folks have to know who you are and why they should trust you. I see Mr Hightower in that phase now just like Tom P did that a number of years ago.

    Patience grasshopper.

    Wes
    N78PS

  4. #4

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    I don't believe Tom ever hired a full-time person to manage his self-image - see - http://www.eaa.org/careers/comm_specialist.asp

    This job posting created much recent discussion at our Chapter meeting of a "this is a disturbing" nature. Another thing we talked about is how many good staff members have quit EAA recently. Anybody with business experience will know this is a huge red flag.

  5. #5
    steveinindy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by WLIU View Post
    I will show my age by offering a more positive perspective.

    When Tom Poberezny took over from his father Paul, the exact same thing happened and the exact same complaints appeared. It all turned out OK.

    In order to be in charge, folks have to know who you are and why they should trust you. I see Mr Hightower in that phase now just like Tom P did that a number of years ago.

    Patience grasshopper.

    Wes
    N78PS
    Thank you for pointing that out. I was thinking exactly that but wasn't sure since I was literally a kid just hanging around the local chapter when that happened. The same doom and gloom was put out about how he was going to destroy the EAA, etc, etc. Even as a eight or nine year old, I remember thinking people were overreacting.
    Last edited by steveinindy; 06-12-2012 at 12:14 PM.
    Unfortunately in science what you believe is irrelevant.

    "I'm an old-fashioned Southern Gentleman. Which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-***** when I want to be."- Robert A. Heinlein.



  6. #6

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    I don't recall a lot of gloom and doom predictions, or complaints. But we didn't have the internet then either.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by WLIU View Post
    It all turned out OK.
    I don't think you have 100% concurrence with that opinion......
    If he had spent half the time on growing the chapters and the interest in experimental aviation that was spent on "airventure" then things may have turned out OK.
    Without Van and a couple other visionaries it may have almost died out altogether.
    The museum is nice too.
    Last edited by flyingriki; 06-12-2012 at 04:00 PM.

  8. #8
    steveinindy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by flyingriki View Post
    I don't think you have 100% concurrence with that opinion......
    When is there ever 100% consensus on anything?
    Unfortunately in science what you believe is irrelevant.

    "I'm an old-fashioned Southern Gentleman. Which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-***** when I want to be."- Robert A. Heinlein.



  9. #9
    steveinindy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by martymayes View Post
    I don't recall a lot of gloom and doom predictions, or complaints. But we didn't have the internet then either.
    Suffice to say around the local chapter there was enough of a concern about his ability to lead that a discussion of it was the first time I ever heard of cyanide capsules. Someone made a crack about "OK, so if it's that bad of a thing, when are you going to start passing out the cyanide capsules and whose dog are we going to test them on?". I remember it distinctly because I didn't get the reference at the time and had to ask my grandfather to explain it to me.
    Unfortunately in science what you believe is irrelevant.

    "I'm an old-fashioned Southern Gentleman. Which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-***** when I want to be."- Robert A. Heinlein.



  10. #10
    Jeff Point's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by flyingriki View Post
    I don't think you have 100% concurrence with that opinion......
    +1. You said it before I could.
    Jeff Point
    RV-6 and RLU-1 built & flying
    Tech Counselor, Flight Advisor & President, EAA Chapter 18
    Milwaukee, WI
    "It All Started Here!"

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