The other day I picked up my calendar.. looked at the schedule.. tapped it a few times, and I wasn't seeing things. The South East season starts in just a couple days.

This after what seems like about a 45 minute off season.

I swear it was just yesterday that we were all at Jacksonville for the Regional championships, and for some, it seems just a few hours ago that you were at the Tangerine IMAC Contest...

But it is true, the 2011 season is here and its time to get out there and compete.

I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to thank our 2009-2010 Regional Director, Mark McClellan for his fantastic service to IMAC and the South East Region.

I hope to live up to the example that Mark has set for me, and I am in the market for a large fry pot!

While I have only officially been the Regional director for a few days, from the day that I realized that I was the director for the South east...the push for 2011 began.

For me, the focus has been and will continue to be education. IMAC rules can be challenging and complex, but for all of us, it is important to do our best to understand these rules and apply them correctly whether we are flying or judging.

To that end, thanks to a great group of volunteers, the Southeast region already has two judging schools on the calendar and we are working hard to get two more on the calendar.

I have just returned from the National Judging school in Ft. Worth, TX and I can tell you that the future looks bright, not only for the Southeast Region, but IMAC as a whole.

The Southeast region had no less than seven attendees at the school. This bodes well for the dedication and drive of our Southeast membership. But also of no less importance were the attendees from all over the Country. With the goal of standardization, things look great for the competitor who competes in the Southeast and then travels to any other region, or even the Nats, knowing that you will be judged by the same criteria where ever you may fly.

“With that being said,” I'm excited for the season ahead and the challenges it may present for all of us. I thrive on the competition, but love the friendship and fellowship that every contest brings.

So, as I sit writing this, knowing that the season begins in mere hours, I thank you, the Southeast membership for putting your faith in me as the Regional Director. I do not take this responsibility lightly and hope to serve you well...But I also challenge the members to step up and support our organization. Think about what You can do to make IMAC better as we move forward. Maybe writing sequences is your call, maybe being a contest director, maybe as a member of the IMAC rules committee.. IMAC is your organization and I challenge you to be an integral part of its growth and advancement.

See you at a contest soon!

Curtis Cozier

Southeast Regional Director