District X—Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah
Happy New Year! This month marks the start of my seventh year serving as your District X vice president. My new year’s wish for the AMA and all of you is that 2017 brings us peace, hope, and prosperity. I pledge to do everything I can to make that happen and make your decision to be an AMA member one you are happy that you made.
As I write this, AMA elections have drawn to a close. Former District X Vice President Rich Hanson has been elected AMA’s 26th president. I think it is a good thing for us to have the president hail from District X. The last AMA president to call District X home was Cliff Weirick, who served in 1967 and 1968. That was 50 years ago, so it is high time that District X leads the charge again.
I want to thank all of the people who supported my efforts to run for president. It is impossible for one person to cover the entire country, and to all of the people who campaigned for me, thank you.
AMA Expo West is January 6-8, 2017. We will be holding our combined membership meeting for Districts X and XI on Saturday, January 7, at 1 p.m. in room 100A/B. Plan to attend to hear the latest AMA news. We will be giving away a Futaba 14SG 14-channel 2.4 GHz computer radio to one lucky attendee at our meeting. That’s a $550 radio that you can possibly take home for free just for attending our meeting. Please plan to attend.
Important deadlines are coming up; please be aware of them. Take off And Grow (TAG) proposals are due by February 1, 2017. Your club can be awarded up to $1,000 if your proposal is selected for funding. Flying Site Assistance Grant applications are due by March 1. These grants can fund 10% of your club’s construction or renovation. You can get up to $3,000, but you won’t get a penny if you don’t apply.
Leader Club applications, and AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame nominations need to be turned in by March 31. We have many great clubs in the district that would qualify for Leader Club status if they applied, so don’t be left out. District X has many notable members who warrant inclusion in the hall of fame, so nominate someone today.
The AMA Scholarship program is currently accepting applications and the deadline to apply is April 30. This is a great way for a college-bound member to acquire some money to help pay for his or her education.
All of these programs are a benefit that you enjoy as an AMA member. If you have any questions about them, please look them up on our website (www.modelaircraft.org) or drop me a line. I want to help you take advantage of these great opportunities.
Some of our clubs, particularly the ones in warmer locations, choose to celebrate National Model Aviation Day later in the year. The Arizona Model Pilots Society (AMPS) is one such club.
AMPS held its National Model Aviation Day and open house celebration on November 12. Using a Veterans Day theme, Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from a nearby high school opened the day with a presentation of the colors. AMPS sponsors the Junior ROTC model airplane club, so its members are no strangers to the flying field.
Unlike August 13, 2016, this year’s National Model Aviation Day date when the Phoenix temperature topped out at 108°, participants enjoyed temperatures in the 70s. A nice crowd from the local area had a chance to learn about model aviation and see some impressive model flying. In addition to fixed-wing aircraft, they were able to see helicopter flights and some racing drone sorties. More than 25 guests took advantage of the RC trainer flights and got some firsthand experience flying an RC model under the watchful eyes of club instructors.
Registration and raffle proceeds resulted in a $400 contribution to the Disabled American Veterans in association with other participating AMA club contributions.
My thanks to Jim Mohan for his contribution to this month’s column. Until next month, I wish you all happy landings.
Associate Vice Presidents: Tim Attaway, Chula Vista CA; (619) 427-6392; trattaway@cox.net; Forrest Barton, Woodland CA; (530) 383-9019; cbarton328@aol.com; Richard Bonnardel, Kailua HI; (808) 261-7046; rebbfb@hawaii.rr.com; Kurtis Chandler, Phoenix AZ; (602) 647-8342; azpm@cox.net; Alan Friedman, Eloy AZ; (520) 876-0232; pooralan@aol.com. Dan Johnson, St. George UT; (435) 619-3112; dkjohnson@gmail.com; Kevin Houser, Oro Valley AZ; (520) 490-7657; khouser@rocketfarmers.com; Tim Johnson, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA; (562) 965-4288; timothy@johnson.us.com; Mike Lee, Redlands CA; (909) 792-8424; mlee8249@msn.com; Scott Malta, Merced CA; (209) 723-4202; scottmalta@comcast.net; Jim Mohan, Phoenix AZ; (623) 434-1351; jmohan351@cox.net; Todd Sheridan, Pleasant Grove UT; (801) 358-8345; sheridan.todd@gmail.com; Greg Stone, Laguna Niguel, CA; (949) 413-0920; gstone4@cox.net; Gil Terzo, Las Vegas NV; (702) 523-9897; gterzo@aol.com. Peter Vogel, Santa Clara CA; (408) 569-7067; vogel.peter@gmail.com; Roger Willis, Murrieta CA; (951) 249-9688; willisasoc@aol.com. Contest Coordinators: Tim Attaway, Chula Vista CA; (619) 427-6392; trattaway@cox.net; Forrest Barton, Woodland CA; (530) 383-9019; cbarton328@aol.com; Kurtis Chandler (Arizona and Utah), Peoria AZ; (602) 647-3842; azpm@cox.net; Christopher Sullivan, Waipahu HI; (808) 953-8863; rccombat808@yahoo.com.
