TRANSITION, NOT
GOODBYE
By Dan Bott, AMA Foundation Board Chairman | Daniel_BottSr@ml.com
This will likely be my last column as the AMA Foundation chairman. I will be transitioning my foundation board chairmanship position to a successor at the end of July 2021. I am using this last opportunity to share some personal thoughts.
I will remain on the board to provide continued support for some key initiatives that the AMA Foundation has recently launched and complete some internal policies and procedures that are under development for smooth operation of the foundation for years to come. The decision to transition the chairman position to a successor is my own, and I am confident that my successor will be someone who is totally dedicated to the mission.
On a personal note, I am about to embark upon another phase of my life. I have enjoyed more than four decades as a professional financial advisor and I plan to continue in that role for an undetermined period of time. My life passions have always taken me down creative paths and model aviation is one such path.
Writing has been a passion of mine since my teens. I have written more than 400 national automotive magazine articles and authored two hardback business textbooks. I also produced a TV series of business shows; however, I have yet to complete one goal on my bucket list, and that is to complete two fiction novels that I started 20 years ago. To do so, I need to free up some mental space and time.
I am starting on that journey with a three-month RV tour with roughly half of that time on my own, seeking peace and solitude to let my creative juices flow. During that journey, I will land at three model aviation events to meet with friends and enjoy the hobby. I am titling this journey “A Novel Trip” and have secured a URL, www.anoveltrip.com, to track the trek.
The journey begins with Jets Over Kentucky, and then next to the AMA National Fun Fly, set for July 30-August 1, to enjoy a weekend of fun, fellowship, and flight at the AMA International Aeromodeling Center.
On a special note, we are calling all of our Friends of the Foundation donors to join us when the AMA Foundation hosts a Donor Appreciation Luncheon during the National Fun Fly to recognize and celebrate its donors.
My final pitch is to highlight a big call to our naming rights program called Where Will You Land? Please consider 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 platforms. Gifts of $10,000 or more will also qualify the donor to be included in a special donor section of Model Aviation magazine.
An example of how this will look is 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 our latest videos introducing the naming rights campaign at www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaXXvpVPDzw.
Dan Bott is an AMA Life Member (L22) 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.
