Event volunteers
View from HQ by Dave Mathewson, AMA Executive Director
It won’t be long before the 2018 National Aeromodeling Championships (Nats) will begin at the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana. As much as it is a competition, it’s also a time when old acquaintances are renewed, and new friendships begin. At the Nats, you’ll find competitors who have participated for decades alongside many who will be here for their first time. It’s an experience that many will tell you is an important part of their summer.
The Nats are conducted over a five-week period divided by modeling discipline. Depending on the number of entries in an event, some events last for a few days and others for a week. There is some form of aeromodeling taking place nearly every day throughout that five-week period.
The organization of the Nats and the running of the competitions is a bit unique. Although AMA and the Nats Management Committee manage the logistics, registration, site preparation, coordination, etc., it’s typically the relevant AMA Special Interest Group (SIG) that runs the actual competition. Both are integral in running a successful Nats.
Most of the SIGs rely heavily on volunteer support to help fulfill their responsibilities in running their portion of the Nats. In fact, just like the competitors, you’ll find countless volunteers who make the annual pilgrimage to Muncie just to volunteer. Without these volunteers, the Nats wouldn’t be nearly as successful as it is.
In addition to the Outdoor Nats events held in Muncie, there is also an indoor competition for Free Flight models. Details for that competition are still being finalized, but you can visit the AMA website for the most current information about the event.
In many cases, the only thing these contest directors, volunteers, and clubs get in return is your thanks and appreciation. At the end of an event, before you leave the site, stop by and say thank you.
For many, the Nats is as much a fun event as a competition. Although it’s certainly a national competition, it’s also a place where modelers help each other, and camaraderie is the order of the day. It’s not unusual to see competitors help each other by critiquing each other’s flights, or by lending a part or two to a competitor in need.
I encourage everyone to visit the IAC during the Nats and watch some of the world-class competitions. A calendar can be found on the AMA website that will tell you when individual events are taking place. If you can’t make it to the site, you can subscribe to NatsNews, an electronic newsletter published daily during the Nats. To subscribe, visit the AMA website.
Give some thought to participating in a future Nats. If you’re new to competition, I guarantee you that someone will be there to help you out and it really is a lot of fun.
While on-site, make it a point to visit the AMA’s National Model Aviation Museum. The museum is the largest of its kind in the world. You’ll also want to take a moment and stop in at the AMA administration building. We’d be happy to show you around and introduce you to the AMA staff members who work so hard to make sure your model aviation experience is as good as it can be.
As we enter the outdoor flying season, many of us will attend one or more of the nearly 2,400 events AMA sanctions each year. Although many of the events are competition oriented, there are just as many organized fun-flys, fly-ins, or casual get-togethers. The common denominator in each of these events is that someone has stepped up to volunteer his or her time to be the contest director for the event.
The contest director is usually supported by many other volunteers who give freely of their time to make sure the event that you’re attending is a good one and that you have an enjoyable experience. Many of these events take place at a club field where the members have generously agreed to give up a weekend of flying so the event can take place.
In many cases, the only thing these contest directors, volunteers, and clubs get in return is your thanks and appreciation. At the end of an event, before you leave the site, stop by and say thank you. It’s the least we can do for those who have given so much of their time so that we can have a weekend of fun.
I’ll end my column this month with a thank-you. Thank you to you, all of our members, who support the AMA. The executive council and staff work hard every day to ensure that we do our best to support the membership. These are challenging times for model aviation, but I commit to you that we will continue to be diligent in our efforts.
See you next time …
