View from HQ
Joyce Hager Executive Director
We are a service organization. Our mission is to help—not hinder.
As I write this, I was preparing for the February Executive Council (EC) meeting. The outcome of the elections has provided continuity in the management of the Academy's affairs.
The elected officials and staff members at AMA Headquarters put much time and effort into preparing for an EC meeting. Every committee charged with studying particular issues is staffed with an AMA employee to assist and provide background information.
One issue we discussed was committees and committee members. A review will take place to ensure that the mission of each committee is the same and that members of the committees are productive and are functioning as a team.
A list of AMA's committees and their mission statements will be posted on our Web site when I can get the changes completed. Should you have any suggestions for committees, please feel free to direct them to me, and I will see that they are distributed.
Telephones:
Don't we all hate the telephones from time to time? Employees at AMA are no different. There are times—especially when a deadline is involved—when it seems that all you do is answer the telephone.
Organizations and businesses did studies to find out how to handle increases in telephone calls without adding personnel, and they came up with the automated answering service. Several years ago we instituted an automated telephone system to accommodate the increasing number of calls.
No, it isn't always viewed as the "warm, friendly" way to answer the calls, but sometimes it is the most efficient way. I know from personal experience that it can be frustrating when you're trying to reach an operator or a live voice, and all you keep getting are automated choices.
To avoid frustration when calling AMA Headquarters, I want to give you some steps to take to ensure that your call is returned with the right department. If you are not sure, leave it with the operator. She will know how to direct your call.
- Speak slowly and clearly.
- Leave your name, AMA number, and telephone number including area code.
- Leave a brief message.
I have received messages where an individual has spoken so fast that I listen, and I listen again, and I still can't make out the information, so I am unable to return the call. What does that do? It makes the member unhappy, and he or she thinks we are ignoring the call.
We are a service organization. Our mission is to help—not hinder. If you have left a voice message and don't receive a response within a reasonable amount of time, please call back. If you get the automated service and it is during normal business hours, dial 0 for the operator and you will speak with a person.
Office Hours:
During the past year, following the opening of the new administration building, we have had a number of members who want to tour the new facility. This is not a problem. I have employees who enjoy giving our members tours.
However, please keep in mind that this is an office building, and the hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The National Model Aviation Museum is open the same hours and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum is also open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays in the summer.
If you are part of a group visiting for the weekend and this is the only opportunity you have to view the new facility, I will be glad to open the building and give you a tour. I do ask that you plan ahead. Please E-mail me or give me a call so that arrangements can be made.
Voting:
I want to thank everyone who responded to my column that addressed voting for elected officials. All responses were very good, and they ranged from "don't do anything" to suggesting that we consider an electronic voting system.
The Executive Council has appointed a committee to look at the election process, and I will be forwarding your responses to that committee for review. It is nice to see the number of members who do read what I write. Thank you!
E-mail has become a new way of life. It allows immediate communication between our members and staff. I encourage all members with an E-mail address to make sure we have it. AMA plans to begin using direct communication with all our members or a select group through broadcast E-mail.
We do not plan to send "just another spam piece," but occasionally we do have pressing issues that arise and need immediate action or response. I want to make sure we have current E-mail addresses. If you have a change in your E-mail address, please feel free to contact me directly, and I will see that it gets changed in our database.
If you haven't noticed, AMA has a new Web site. If you have had a chance to visit it, let me know what you think.
We are in the process of developing Phase II of this project. Let me know what you would like to see. Expanding the Web store is part of Phase II, as is finding easier ways to locate clubs and flying sites.
AMA Convention:
Again this year the AMA Convention was held in Pasadena, California, January 18-20. It was a good show and attendance was up roughly 20% from last year.
If you were there as an attendee, let me know what you thought. If you have any suggestions, we need to hear them so that planning for the 2006 AMA Convention can begin.
Enough for this month. Go fly, and enjoy your hobby/sport!
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager Executive Director jhager@modelaircraft.org
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
