District VII—Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Tim Jesky
Vice President
timjesky@charter.net
2886 E. Country Ln., Monroe MI 48162
Tel: (734) 384-6085;
www.amadistrict-vii.org
Beyond all regulatory
issues that we face today, I see none larger than keeping our flying sites and finding new ones. Plenty has been mentioned in this column and in other pages of Model Aviation about ways to retain your field or locate another.
Much of my focus has revolved around us becoming more visible in our communities and promoting the benefits of our hobby as a value to its residents. After a visit to a club fun-fly earlier in the spring, I learned about another approach that worked really well for this group.
Just a little bit of background for you—the club’s flying site is located in a public park and the city is generous with time and resources in helping maintain it. In talking with the club president about that great relationship, he mentioned that he serves on the parks commission. Wow! Talk about a marriage made in heaven.
I’m not saying that this may be an answer for everyone, but if you can help stack the deck in your favor and become part of the decision-making process, I say go for it. These positions are almost always appointed and can often be had for the asking.
An added benefit is if there’s a complaint or a problem, you’re the first to hear of it and have a head start to get it resolved.
For clubs that own their property, you’re not immune to this either. Rezoning and neighbor complaints can stick a fork in you in no time flat. I’ve heard too many stories of fields being shut down and the clubs were the last to find out about it. If you’re not able to get on your local zoning board, make it a point to get to know those who sit on it. There are plenty of ways to help ensure your field’s future; these were just a few.
It’s a beautiful day, so I’m heading out to get some flying in. The following text and photos come from Lee Krieger, president of the Milan Flyers in Milan, Michigan, about how his club took advantage of a Take-off And Grow (TAG) grant to boost its membership.
Our club put up a booth at the Milan Summerfest. We used this opportunity to tell the public about our club and the AMA. We also invited people to our open house the following week. Several times we heard that the locals did not know our club existed or where we were located.
The club also had on display the items for the free drawing that would take place at the open house. This helped our group build a list of people who are interested in model aviation by adding their names (with permission) to our email list. This was a great event for our club and we hope to do it again.
We had a wonderful open house. We couldn’t have had better weather. Airplanes flew all day. Twenty free foam gliders were designed and cut out by a Foam Casualty CNC machine and handed out to the kids so they had something to throw around. It was a hit!
We had a trailer set up with a flight simulator, which was used throughout the day. The club’s Apprentice trainer, purchased using the TAG grant, gave our guests using the simulator a taste of the hobby and why we do what we do.
The event was a great success enjoyed by both the members and our guests. Several members have requested that we do this again next year and it is already on our schedule. Our club thanks the AMA for all of its wonderful support.
Take a kid flying! ✈️
Associate Vice Presidents:
Bruce Baier, Oshkosh WI; (920) 233-1127; buzsrr@gmail.com; Lee Frederickson, Ada MI; L1520@comcast.net; David George, Riverview MI; (734) 284-9017; indiancity5129@yahoo.com; Randall Gibson, Lansing MI; (317) 698-4346; rgibson@mmrcha.org; Bud Gorman, Knife River MN; (218) 834-5797; bgorman@frontiernet.net; Don Held, Elmira MI; (231) 584-2662; edge540m@gmaiI.com; Noel Hunt, Shelby Twp. MI; (586) 677-1540; huntjc@comcast.net; Bob Johnson, Fond du Lac WI; (920) 922-6705; bob54935@yahoo.com; Mark Robotti, Lindstrom MN; (651) 257-6792; mgrobotti@frontier.com; Marc “Doc” Shelstrom, Lancaster WI; (608) 732-4077; sheltm@uwplatt.edu; Kent Woods, Ames IA; (515) 232-8180;
Contest Coordinators:
Wayne Yeager (RC Michigan), (517) 260-0132; yagi1931@comcast.net; Michael J Haller (RC non-Michigan), Fon Du Lac WI, (920) 979-9452; mrhaller2460@att.net;
Frequency Coordinators:
Al Schwartz, Roseville MN; (651) 633-2286; alberts@comcast.net; Pete Waters, Northville MI; (248) 924-0223; petewaters@charter.net
