AMA continues member efforts and programs
View from HQ by Dave Mathewson, AMA Executive Director
The 90th AMA National Aeromodeling Championships (Nats) are history, as is the International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association (IRCHA) Jamboree. Both are held annually here at the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana.
By all accounts, it’s been a good summer and now we look to the fall flying season. Activity is still going strong at the IAC, and most weekends are booked with multiple events through the end of October.
We’re always happy to see members who are here for events visit the AMA Headquarters building and tour the facility. Our doors are open to members who want to say hello. On a tour, members have the opportunity to meet the AMA staff and usually leave with a new appreciation for the work we do on their behalf.
Of course, a visit is never complete without stopping at the National Model Aviation Museum. Recognized as the foremost museum in the world dedicated to model aviation, the National Model Aviation Museum contains more than 10,000 artifacts that depict the history of model aviation since its inception.
Some of our clubs that operate on National Park Service or Bureau of Land Management sites, or even some state- and local-level municipal parks, have encountered problems with the park management not allowing model aviation activities to take place within their facilities. This is especially concerning considering that some of our clubs have operated in these facilities for years.
During the week of August 22, 2016, members of our Government Relations and Flying Site Assistance teams traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with officials from the National Park Service, with the intent of finding a workable resolution to the issue. We will relay the results of that meeting to our members as soon as we can—especially to those members who are affected by it.
AMA encourages all of its chartered clubs to have at least one Leader Member among their ranks.
AMA’s Leader Members play an important role in our organization. As volunteers, Leader Members serve as an important conduit between our members and the AMA leadership. Leader Members also play a significant role in ratifying AMA bylaws changes.
Scott Anderson has been appointed AMA’s Leader Member program coordinator. Scott will soon be reaching out to all of our Leader Members, introducing himself, and getting input about how the program can be enhanced.
AMA encourages all of our chartered clubs to have at least one Leader Member among their ranks. Members interested in taking on this important role should visit the AMA website at www.modelaircraft.org/membership/leadermember.aspx.
On Saturday, August 20, middle and high school students from across the US competed in AMA’s UAS4STEM program’s national competition at the IAC. The student teams competed in various flying challenges for the national title.
The contest is designed to teach STEM skills. The 2016 UAS4STEM Search and Rescue Challenge’s first-place winner is the Quad Squad from Shoreview, Minnesota.
UAS4STEM was designed by the AMA to encourage teamwork, competition, and success through a STEM-based education platform. The UAS4STEM program provides student teams of four to eight people with training, insurance, licensing, and other tools to prepare them to compete in search-and-rescue challenges. The program is managed by AMA’s Education department as part of AMA Flight School.
Each of the teams that participated in the national competition earned a spot by qualifying at one of the many regional competitions held throughout the country. In its first year, UAS4STEM exceeded all expectations and work is already underway to organize the 2017 competition.
By the time this issue of Model Aviation reaches you, members should have received their ballots for this year’s elections. This year we will vote to elect a new AMA president to serve for the next three years. Additionally, elections are taking place for vice presidents in Districts I, V, and IX.
Please take a moment to read the candidates’ statements and to vote for the person of your choice. This is your chance to help guide the direction of AMA. Campaign statements are included with your ballot, can be read in this issue of Model Aviation starting on page 119, and found online at www.modelaircraft.org/aboutama/organization/ec/campaignstatements.aspx.
See you next time …
