2015 has been a year of adaptation and progress
From the Copilot’s Seat by Gary Fitch, Executive Vice President
amaevp@gmail.com
2015 has flown by—no pun intended—and it has been an interesting flight. Here are some of this year’s highlights.
Only five years ago we had roughly 142,000 members, but 2015 saw our membership grow to an all-time high of 187,666. Of that, more than 50,000 are youth members. One of our goals is to engage these youth and increase their activity in model aviation. With that will come increased retention rates as they become adults.
Membership dues increased for 2016. It has been 13 years since our last increase, and we need to support all that we do on behalf of our members, which we can’t do with a 2003 dues structure. We provided our members the means to lock in the current 2015 dues pricing for up to two years by renewing by September 14, 2015, which was well received.
Our new AMA Foundation board is complete and its first meeting was held in February. The board members include Dr. Laird Jackson, chairman; Ron Hitchcock, vice chair; Dr. John Langford, treasurer; Dan Bott; and AMA President Bob Brown. These energetic, high-powered people will direct the foundation for the purpose of generating revenue in support of AMA’s education, preservation, program funding, and development programs, which will help guarantee AMA’s future.
AMA is a founding partner in the Know Before You Fly program, along with AUVSI, and the FAA. Today, many of our major distributors and manufacturers have become supporting partners of it, and now provide educational information with the drone-related products they sell. AUVSI stands firmly with AMA in our fight against onerous governmental regulation.
AMA has partnered with major retailers concerning their selling of drones. With each qualifying multirotor sold, the retailers provide their customer with information on Know Before You Fly and a paid one-year AMA membership. If the customer is already an AMA member, then one year is added to his or her membership.
The FAA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) came out in February. For the most part, AMA supports it. The FAA acknowledged Public Law 95-112, Section 336, which protects members of a community-based organization (such as AMA) when they fly by its safety rules. We have seen a tremendous increase in potentially burdensome regulation by states, counties, and even local governments sponsored by people who aren’t even aware of the FAA’s rules in its NPRM. This has created a lot of work for some of our district vice presidents, associate vice presidents, and even clubs in their respective districts.
We have developed closer relationships with several of the larger hobby distributors, working collaboratively in our efforts to increase AMA’s membership, support our government efforts, and provide marketing opportunities for their products. Each is a supporting partner in the Know Before You Fly education program.
AMA changed the membership year for new members from calendar year to year-to-date.
The Executive Council began the process of developing a five-year strategic long-range plan for our organization. This process looks at the opportunities, our strengths, our weaknesses, and threats to our organization. The goal is to develop a directional road map of where and how we will go forward, grow, and protect our organization and our right to fly.
AMA continues to strengthen and develop our relationship with the EAA. Its leadership joined us during Joe Nall Week to see the best in model aviation. The EAA also provided us with five premier locations to have displays during AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The change in AMA’s membership year will allow both AMA and EAA to offer cross memberships to their members, supporting both organizations. The EAA is also a much-appreciated partner with AMA concerning our governmental issues.
While reading the October issue of Model Aviation, it was interesting to note the number of members who contributed to AMA in July. We had 439 members who contributed $10 or more in support of our programs and education, and 188 members contributed to the National Model Aviation Museum.
There were 21 donations in the memory of a loved one or the purchase of a brick. I continue to be impressed by the generosity of our members in the support of our programs, and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to AMA this year. If it is within your ability, and you wish to help our organization, consider AMA in your annual giving program or in your estate planning.
During this season of giving, I would like to thank all of AMA’s staff members for their efforts in supporting and carrying out our mission. Most of our employees work many extra hours and they are the unsung heroes of our organization.
I also want to say how much I appreciate working with AMA’s Executive Council. Our district vice presidents have the best interest of the AMA at heart, and are open to new ideas. Without regard to personal interests, they make courageous decisions that are strategically important to our future.
I want to thank the many members who have come to me to tell me how much they appreciate our efforts to further the cause of model aviation. Your encouragement is the fuel that keeps us going.
Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Diane, who supports my AMA efforts, and has spent many hours and tens of thousands of miles by my side.
Enjoy your holidays and thanks for reading! Please help secure the future of model aviation and take a youngster flying.
