District II

District II—New Jersey, New York, Europe

Eric Williams
Vice President

rcpilot@nycap.rr.com
4242 Amanda Ln., Schenectady NY 12303
Tel.: (518) 356-2057

www.amadistrict-II.org
www.facebook.com/DistrictIIAMA

Many clubs go beyond flying activities and work to give back and be known in the community. Among these clubs is the North Country Flying Tigers Model Airplane Club in Fort Edward, New York. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting the Tigers, and can say that their involvement and activities are exemplary.

Although it’s important that clubs have a community activity, the Tigers take every opportunity to participate and volunteer for many local events. This involvement has helped to build the club, increase member participation, and enhance the club’s community reputation.

Among the Tigers’ activities are cleaning a local roadway, working with the high school science club, demonstrating indoor flying at community events, and of course hosting various fly-ins at the club field. At the heart of the Tigers’ involvement is a spirit of unity. Spouses and family members participate at the club’s annual fly-in. Such support of family members validates the rewards of our hobby.

Not every club has the structure or membership to engage in large-scale community activities. The key is to start small and choose something that’s doable. AMA has numerous examples and is more than happy to help. If your club would like to increase its activities or pursue community involvement, please drop me a line.

Flying Tigers members doing road cleanup — Brian Douglas (L) doing road cleanup with Flying Tigers members.

Tigers members with students and model aircraft — Tigers members with the Argyle Central School Science Club.

Four Tigers members holding model aircraft — (L-R) Tigers president, Bob Lippman, with Eric Williams, Steve Wattenburg, and Jon Tessier at a Tigers’ flying demonstration.

Blue storage container painted with a Flying Tigers design — The Tigers’ storage container is painted to honor the club's namesake, the Flying Tigers of World War II.

On Sunday, April 30, 2017, the Bethpage Flyers Association held its annual float-fly at Lake Ronkonkoma in Suffolk County, New York. Lake Ronkonkoma is Long Island’s largest freshwater lake. The name Ronkonkoma comes from an Algonquian expression meaning “boundary fishing lake.”

The Bethpage event was well attended with all sorts of glow and electric aircraft present. Give float-flying a try. It adds a whole new dimension to model aviation.

Model aircraft displayed at a float-fly — Some of the aircraft at the Bethpage Flyers Association’s float-fly event.

Three men at the lakeside float-fly — Alex Davis (L) flies his float plane as Rob Caprio and Tom Hunt observe.

An ICON model aircraft landing on the water — An ICON settles in at the float-fly.

Remember, it’s not about what you fly, it’s about the people and the friends you make.

Associate Vice Presidents: Dennis Andreas, Freeport NY; (516) 379-0135; danandreasdhqhsd@juno.com; Fred Backhaus, Medford NY; (631) 289-6964; motoderf@optonline.net; Reid Condon, Greenville NY; (518) 966-8329; raircforce@live.com; Frank Costello, Somerset NJ; teams3fpv@gmail.com; Chuck Davis, Sayville NY; (631) 589-7690; arcdavis@verizon.com; Gene Gavin, Staten Island NY; (718) 967-0598; Gavin1957@aol.com; Jon Gerber, Staten Island NY; (718) 984-5013; txman846@aol.com; Frank Granelli, Rockaway NJ; (973) 625-4995; granellif@aol.com; Bill Hauth, Hamburg NY; (716) 649-8582; toolmkr2000@msn.com; Thomas Murray, Basking Ridge NJ; (908) 766-5656; Anthony Rossi, Somerset NJ; (917) 320-2665; p510851@gmail.com; Joe Sarbello, Woolwich Township NJ; (856) 491-8481; donnajoe244@msn.com; Leonard Max Smart, Morrisonville NY; (518) 563-6878; hotrodsbymax@charter.net; Alexander Szemere, Kendall Park NJ; (732) 821-5641; drszemere@aol.com; Michael Wong, Mahwah NJ; kingmeow@verizon.net; Herb Ziegler, Baldwinsville NY; (315) 857-6266; herbz1957@yahoo.com. CL/FF Event Sanction Coordinator/AVP: Ed Barry, Hillsborough NJ; (908) 359-0288; ekbarry@comcast.net. Safety Coordinator/RC Event Sanction Coordinator/AVP: Al Kanser, New Lisbon NY; (607) 293-7974; akanser@hughes.net. Webmaster: Chuck Levine, webmaster@amadistrictii.org.