Outdoor flying season
View from HQ by Dave Mathewson, AMA Executive Director
The outdoor flying season is finally here in most parts of the country. For some of us, this spring was pretty damp and wet. AMA traditionally sanctions between 2,400 and 2,500 events per year in every modeling discipline. I always like to encourage our members to attend a sanctioned event or two during the flying season. Many are fun-fly-type events and some are competition oriented.
Sanctioned events provide an opportunity for members to visit other club fields and maybe make a new friend or two. Model aviation is much more than flying model airplanes. The camaraderie and social aspect that goes with meeting others in the modeling community is priceless. Many of us have lifelong friends whom we met through model aviation. So, give it a try. I think you’ll be glad you did.
The AMA Foundation will host several events this season. National Model Aviation Day will be held on August 12, 2017. Sponsored by the AMA foundation, this event was created to encourage clubs to celebrate the hobby and share it with the public.
AMA chartered clubs are asked to hold a fundraising event to provide assistance to a worthy cause. This year, clubs have been asked to support the AMA Foundation. The foundation is devoted to inspiring the young and young-at-heart to pursue a hobby that will inspire creativity and advanced learning through hands-on applications. The purpose of the AMA Foundation is to raise funds and make grants to AMA to support its charitable and educational programs and services.
I hope all of our chartered clubs will consider participating in this worthy cause. To learn more, visit http://nationalmodelaviationday.org.
Another AMA Foundation event that I’m excited about is the AMA Foundation for the Future Jet Rally that will be held in Ottumwa, Iowa, in conjunction with the annual Fly Iowa event, hosted by the city of Ottumwa.
The event will take place at the Ottumwa Regional Airport on a 100 x 3,500-foot runway that will be closed to full-scale aircraft for the weekend. More information is available at amablog.modelaircraft.org/amafoundation/2017/02/16/jet-rally.
On October 7, 2017, the AMA Foundation with again partner with Wounded Warrior Project to host veterans and their families at the International Aeromodeling Center for Warrior Day. More details will soon be available on the AMA website. To learn about last year’s event, visit www.modelaviation.com/ama-warrior-day-2016.
In 2017, the AMA’s Charles Hampson Grant scholarship program reached a milestone. Since its inception, it has provided more than $1,000,000 in scholarships to deserving young AMA members. In choosing recipients for scholarships, several important factors are taken into consideration.
The most desirable applicant is one who is academically superior and is also a participant in many aspects of school, aeromodeling, and his or her community.
Additional support for the program comes from the Toledo Weak Signals’ club award given each year to the top three scholarship award recipients. Additionally, the Cliff and Nancy Telford Scholarship, supported by the National Miniature Pylon Racing Association, an AMA Special Interest Group, is awarded annually to the individual with the best competitive record, based on participation in activities within the AMA and FAI classifications.
AMA is extremely proud of all of our young scholarship winners. Members can learn more and apply for a scholarship by visiting our website.
AMA Air has been recognized as the first-place winner in the monthly newsletter or communication category of the Association Trends 2016 All Media Contest. The winners were announced on February 23, during the 2017 Salute to Association Excellence awards banquet. A list of the categories and those receiving honors can be viewed at: associationtrends.com/news/trends/headlines/winners-trends-all-media-contest-gold-silver-and-bronze.
AMA Air premiered in October 2015 and has gained in popularity. The video webcast highlights the most recent news, features, and events, while showcasing AMA members and clubs. AMA Air started as a monthly news show, but has recently transitioned into a bimonthly production in response to viewer and member feedback. Sign up to receive email notifications announcing the release of new episodes at air.modelaircraft.org/subscribe.
Congratulations to AMA’s Media and Publications department on its great work producing AMA Air.
This month, many of our members will be at AMA’s International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana, to participate in many of the scheduled events, including the AMA National Aeromodeling Championships.
If you visit, we would be happy to give you a tour of our facility and introduce you to many members of our staff who work so hard on your behalf. The administration building is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you have time, stop in and say hello.
See you next time …
