2021 AMA ANNUAL
REPORT
By Chad Budreau, AMA Executive Director | chadb@modelaircraft.org
THE CONCEPT OF a centralized body to organize, educate, protect, and promote model aviation was discussed in 1935 inside a hotel lobby during the Nats. Modelers quickly volunteered their time, talents, and treasures to launch the Academy of Model Aeronautics the following year. It was then called the American Academy of Model Aeronautics.
The first issue of Model Aviation was published in June 1936 and distributed to hobbyists. In that premiere issue, AMA included a call to action for member support, volunteers, and officers. Members did not disappoint, rallying together to eventually form our community-based organization. Eighty-six years later, AMA’s mission is still only possible through member support.
Each year, we highlight accomplishments and summarize the health of the organization in our annual report. The 2021 AMA Annual Report was created by staff, reviewed and approved by the Executive Council, and published in late January 2022. Throughout the 2021 AMA Annual Report, we not only showcase AMA’s efforts, but more importantly, celebrate our members’ accomplishments, volunteer efforts, and contributions to growing the hobby.
You can read the 2021 AMA Annual Report on the AMA website under the About AMA section, within the AMA Documents page, at www.modelaircraft.org/documents. Because membership is critical to AMA fulfilling its mission, the report opens with some membership trends. AMA outpaced 2020 membership totals and exceeded 2021 goals by 2.26%.
Vaccine rollouts and a reduction in summer 2021 COVID infections allowed members to hold more events and have increased participation. Not only did the Nats attendance exceed pre-pandemic levels, 311 people became contest directors, 39 new event managers were credentialed, and hundreds of new records and certificates were established in 2021 by our members. The report includes other initiatives, including new benefits, education efforts, and advocacy work. We broke down our advocacy efforts into monthly segments, many of which included active collaboration with our members and club leaders.
Although COVID-19 negatively impacted some sources of revenue and inflation increased expenses, AMA ended another year financially in the black. I must brag about the AMA staff for helping to keep costs down, whether it’s shopping for the best price on toner or renegotiating our contracts with vendors. We also exceeded forecasts for membership dues and found new non-dues sources of revenue.
You might see some familiar faces in the report. Read about 8-year-old Henry Kruse’s efforts to break a national Free Flight record, and Matt Keennon’s work in designing the Mars helicopter. In the report, join us in thanking all of our AMA Foundation donors, including Heritage Society Donors Mike Barbee, Roger Wildman, and Paul Moorman, for making contributions and improvements to the AMA in 2021. Our members were also invaluable in helping to inspire and educate members through social media campaigns at events such as UAS4STEM, and at AMA’s youth camps.
I encourage you to download a copy to learn more about your organization. We’re looking forward to another great and active year, thanks to the support of our members!
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