HELP YOUR FLYING COMMUNITY
Education Through Aviation
By Kyle Jaracz, Education Director | kylej@modelaircraft.org
It’s that time of year when events are in full swing, and if you haven’t taken a moment to thank the club leaders, volunteers, and regular club members who make events happen, consider this your reminder—and, if you find yourself repeatedly thanking the same people, it might be time to step up and offer assistance to present and future fliers.
This is a gentle nudge toward finding a niche to help in your flying community. Whether it is taking out a table at the local fair and leading lessons about paper airplanes, becoming an Introductory Pilot instructor and mentoring fledgling pilots, or mowing the club field, the rewards you will receive go far beyond introducing others to the hobby.
One of the most frequent questions I receive from fellow hobbyists is how to engage youth in the community. The great news is that AMA has resources available that can help. Primarily, you should look for events in your community that already generate interest and you and your club can join in the fun! That means your club might be able to participate in a parade, staff a table, or visit a school.
When you do these things, hand out quick projects or gliders with your contact information, along with an invitation to the next club event. Resources such as our AMA Jr. Camps, Quick Projects, Pre-K lessons, AMA ALPHA and AMA BETA Free Flight models, and even a robust curriculum for those who want to jump in completely are available. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to AMA’s Education department by emailing education@modelaircraft.org.
On the subject of events, make sure they’re something you’d want to attend! This applies to your existing members and prospective new ones alike. Rules changes, procedural votes, and details are best left to club leaders to discuss in a special meeting.
If you’re inviting the whole club to meet, I have a few tips to ensure that the meetings are well attended. Have nametags, snacks, a presentation, show-and-tell, etc. Make sure you have a buddy box and a trainer on hand as well in case anyone brings an interested new pilot or have a set time and location to provide him or her with some instruction.
Always have the next get-together in mind so that you can invite a newcomer to the next best thing that your club puts on and be sure that it’s not six months away. Regular, fun, interactive gatherings are the keys to a vibrant flying club.
I want to hear about your successful events! If you already have a great program that works to bring new pilots into the hobby in your community, please reach out and share your success stories with the AMA Education team. We will then share these ideas with other members to inspire good works for the betterment of the entire aviation community.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Until then, see you at the flying field!
