GREEN SHOOTS ARE
SPROUTING
By Dan Bott, Foundation Board Chairman | Daniel_BottSr@ml.com
2021 is starting to look better from an activity standpoint, and green shoots are sprouting everywhere for model aviation events that are showing up on the calendar. In August, we will celebrate the ninth annual National Model Aviation Day. This year it will take place on August 14, 2021.
Please join AMA and the AMA Foundation in celebrating the hobby on this special day. Clubs can register and purchase the special event T-shirts at www.modelaviationday.com. The AMA Foundation is the official charity for National Model Aviation Day. Support the Foundation through your club’s event.
Another special event that started in 2018 and has gained recognition as a true fun-fly gathering is on again for 2021. You will want to save the date. The AMA Foundation invites you to the AMA National Fun Fly, set for July 30 through August 1. Enjoy a weekend of fun, fellowship, and flight at the AMA International Aeromodeling Center (IAC) in Muncie, Indiana.
A special note for our foundation donors: The AMA Foundation will host a Donor Appreciation Luncheon during the National Fun Fly to recognize and celebrate philanthropy and your generosity.
Last year at this time, we were preparing to launch our newest major donor campaign to build the Foundation Endowment. We call it Where Will You Land?, a naming rights campaign that offers an opportunity for you to put your name on a flying site, building, or another high-recognition asset of your choosing at the AMA IAC in Muncie.
Unfortunately, the lockdown and cancellation of many events at the IAC changed a lot of our plans. The 2021 green shoots have again put this plan back on track to officially kick the program into play.
I’ll share a brief recap of the program. In addition to having your name on the location of your choice, each landing spot that is purchased will be shared on the AMA Foundation website and our robust social media. Gifts of $10,000 or more will also qualify the donor to be included in a special donor edition of Model Aviation magazine in 2021.
As an example of how this will look, instead of referring to an event occurring at Flying Site 3, it will be “Your Name” flying site, and the list goes on. Watch one of the AMA Foundation’s latest videos introducing the naming rights campaign at https://youtu.be/XaXXvpvPDzw.
To provide more details and an explanation of the naming rights program, we are launching a direct mail campaign to approximately 18,000 past donors, hobby industry companies/advertisers, and large corporate sponsors. This campaign will provide an opportunity for passionate individuals, hobby companies, and corporate donors to select an attractive array of naming opportunities to memorialize their passion for the hobby and/or corporate donors to expand their brand.
Where Will You Land? will put your name at prime locations at the AMA IAC. Please be on the lookout for our letter to you about this special and personal program.
Dan Bott is an AMA Life Member and an AMA Foundation Heritage Society Donor Member. Professionally, Dan is a four-decades-long financial advisor who can be reached at Daniel_BottSr@ml.com.
