District II—New Jersey, New York, Europe
Eric Williams
Vice President
rcpilot@nycap.rr.com
4242 Amanda Ln., Schenectady NY 12303
Tel.: (518) 356-2057
www.amadistrict-ii.org
www.facebook.com/DistrictIIAMA
Numerous District II clubs have programs that serve veterans. One such club is The Metropolitan Sport Squadron, an indoor RC flying club that utilizes the Teaneck Armory in New Jersey. Tom Schiavone, club president, sent photos and information about his club’s efforts.
Once a year, for the last six years or so, one of the club’s events has come to be called the Vets’ Party. The local VA hospital transports 10 to 15 disabled veterans from World War II and Vietnam to the Armory, and club members put on a show-and-tell of various models, followed by several flying demonstrations.
Of course, they get the veterans on a buddy box for a few minutes. The club has the event catered and they serve a lunch of sandwiches, salads, drinks, and dessert. Tom says the club feels it’s a small way of saying thank you to our veterans. This year’s event was held Wednesday, May 20. It looks as though everyone enjoyed the gathering!
Among District II’s oldest clubs is the Seaway Valley Modelaires, near the Canadian border in Malone, New York. The club is fortunate that Alcoa has provided a magnificent flying field for area modelers for the past 45 years. It is located near the world’s oldest continually operating aluminum facility. The club hosts two or three events each year, with participants traveling from lower New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Vermont, and Canada.
On June 8, 2015, the Modelaires held another successful fun-fly event. Fliers from Massena, Malone, Plattsburgh, Ogdensburg, and Tupper Lake, New York, as well as our Canadian neighbors from Cornwall and Ottawa, Ontario, attended. Unfortunately that will be some of the last flying at the Modelaires Alcoa site. The field will close at the end of 2015. Alcoa is preparing for remediation of the nearby Grasse River and needs the club’s flying site for those efforts.
The Modeleraires might have been grounded had it not been for the club’s excellent reputation and positive community relations. As club member Harry Cummings put it, “The nice part is when we get spectators. We welcome visitors.”
Dale Beaulieu, club president, reiterated the club’s community outreach in the local newspaper. “We teach all ages. We encourage young people to get involved.”
The club’s community outreach paid off. After reaching out to the community, and a positive article in the local newspaper, the Seaway Valley Modelaires now have a new flying site 8 miles from its old location. As a footnote to the Modelaires community-oriented involvement, instead of keeping recent fly-in proceeds for the new field, the club donated event funds to help an individual with an ongoing medical situation. That’s a win-win!
Remember, it’s not about what we fly, it’s about the people and the friends we make.
