District IV—Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia
Jay Marsh
Vice President
jaymarsh@ama-d4.org
3227 Pine Needles Rd., High Point NC 27265
Tel.: (336) 687-0973; www.amadistrict-iv.org
www.facebook.com/amadistrictIV
A reminder: It’s time to apply for AMA Scholarships, Take off And Grow grants, and Flying Site Assistance grants. Applications are now being accepted and will be awarded in 2017. Apply today if you qualify for any of these grants by going to the AMA website at www.modelaircraft.org.
We have another new club in the district and it quickly became involved. Here is a report about the club and its latest event from Douglas LeRoy, the club’s president.
In late summer of 2015, two local RC model enthusiasts, Doug LeRoy and Jason Guetgemann, met to discuss the idea of forming a chartered park-flyer RC club in Holly Springs, North Carolina. There was a need among the local modelers who shared a common concern that the RC hobby was under attack and not being viewed in a positive way in the public eye. Almost weekly, there was yet another report of people flying a model aircraft where they shouldn’t be. Many municipalities were writing restrictive rules regarding where model aircraft could and could not be flown. Something had to be done.
The envisioned concept was simple: organize a club, charter it with AMA, and leverage the resources of a community-based organization to promote safe model aviation activities to the community. Like-minded modelers would join the ranks and provide a unified voice to the community regarding the many positive attributes of this wonderful hobby. In October 2015, the Holly Springs Skyhawks Radio Control Group was born.
The next challenge was to figure out a way to build advocacy within the town’s leadership. The Skyhawks participated in a local community festival by renting booth space where the members were able to network with town leaders while promulgating the positive message of the club and educating the general public regarding the virtues of the RC hobby.
Within a few months of the festival, the Holly Springs Parks and Recreation Department approached the club to inquire if the Skyhawks would be interested in becoming a recognized club in town. The Skyhawks club was incorporated as a nonprofit organization and signed an agreement with the Town of Holly Springs.
The club participates in park festivals throughout the year. The town established and maintains a designated area at the Sugg Farm Park Complex as an official town area for model aviation activities. The Skyhawks established field rules and oversees modeling activities in the park by educating and setting the example for the community. We are a 100% electric park flyer club with a lot of room and a great field and club membership has steadily grown.
We are active in the community, and most recently we participated in the HollyFest 2016 celebration. More than 12,000 people attended this outdoor event and the Skyhawks club was a main attraction. Visitors experienced firsthand the world of RC flight through the AMA Mobile RC Experience Simulator trailer and the Skyhawks members wowed the crowd with flying demonstrations throughout the day.
We talked, answered questions, and offered raffle tickets to the public. We gave away many ready-to-fly airplanes and multirotors contributed by local hobby shops and distributors. Many came back the next weekend and have since joined the club.
Organize, engage, and get involved. It’s been a winning combination for this growing group of RC enthusiasts. If you are in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, area, the Skyhawks members invite you to fly with us! Visit www.hssrcg.org for more information.
Go fly and have fun safely.
Associate Vice Presidents: Delaware: John Kirchstein, (302)731-2831; john@kirchstein.net; Mark Weiss, (302)547-4917; markw@ama-d4.org; North Carolina: Rick Cawley, (919) 630-1649; racbgc@embarqmail.com; Mark Smith, (704) 798-2776; mark@ama-d4.org; David Trogdon, (910)654-1220; frogman28472@embarqmail.com; Maryland: Richard “Rick” Moreland, (301) 261-7366; rmoreland1@verizon.net; Virginia: Nic Burhans, (540) 219-9646; nic@ama-d4.org; Randy Elliott, (540) 239-0645; Randy.Elliott@nordsonxaloy.com; Rusty Kennedy, (757) 812-2812; rusty@ama-d4.org; Terry Terrenoire, (412)760-4593; terry@ama-d4.org; FF AVP: Bob Sowder, (540) 525-7086; bsowder@rbnet.com. CL AVP and FF/CL Contest Coordinator: John Tate, 10 Hanbury Ave., Portsmouth VA 23702; (757) 399-5376; jate22@cox.net. RC Contest Coordinator: Andy Kane, 305 Natick Ct., Silver Spring MD 20905; (301) 785-3022; andykane01@gmail.com. Webmaster: Jack Upchurch, webmaster@ama-d4.org. Government Relations Coordinator: Ray Stinchcomb, (443) 618-8998; govrelations@ama-d4.org.
