AMA’S RETAILER INCENTIVE PROGRAM
By Kenny Cassidy, AMA’s Acquisition and Member Benefits Manager | kennetc@modelaircraft.org
THE RETAILER INCENTIVE PROGRAM was created to compensate retailers who refer their customers to join AMA. Created in 1999 by Erin Dobbs, the Retailer Incentive Program was, at that time, called the “Hobby Shop Program.” Erin saw the important role that hobby shops played, because many AMA members were first introduced to the organization through their time spent in hobby shops.
Time marches on, and 24 years later, more than 300 hobby shops are enrolled in the program and more than $50,000 has been paid out to hobby shops across the country. Below is a breakdown of how much a retailer is compensated for the membership type that its referred customer signs up for:
Membership Type
Membership Cost
Commission Paid to Hobby Shop
Adult Membership $85.00 $25.00
Senior $75.00 $25.00
Park Pilot Program $48.00 $10.00
If you are a retailer looking to enroll in the program, visit www.modelaircraft.org, select AMA Expanded Retailer Program from the Programs tab, and complete the enrollment form. In roughly a week, you’ll receive your package of AMA marketing materials that you can display in your store. Along with marketing materials in the package, there is also a letter that has a code that is unique to your store. When your customers join AMA, make sure that they input your unique referral code during enrollment. The use of this code is how we track how many customers you referred to join AMA.
How are retailers compensated? At the end of each quarter, a report in our system indicates who joined using a unique code. The report is submitted to AMA’s Accounting department and checks for the amount that the retailer earned for that quarter are sent.
I have enjoyed managing this program for nearly two years. I see the benefit for each side with this partnership. For AMA, we receive members; being a membership-based organization, that’s what it’s all about. The retailers are connecting their customers with a community full of knowledge and flying sites.
The worst thing that can happen is that a parent gifts a child an aircraft and they crash it on the first flight. The parent and child both have a bad experience and are out of the hobby forever. By connecting the customer with AMA, and hopefully with an AMA club that has an introductory pilot instructor, the child will learn how to fly proficiently. This could spark a lifelong passion in the hobby and a customer for life for the retailer.
My goal is to expand this program into the online retail space. The boom of the internet has made it as easy as a couple of clicks to have a multirotor at your door the next day. Unfortunately, many online retailers don’t give specifics on safe flying or the need to register with the FAA. By forming a relationship with these online retailers, we can get AMA in front of an audience that would benefit from being a member while also educating more pilots on how to fly safely.
Godfrey Extra 300S built by Quique and his father.
In 2021, the museum’s Acquisition Committee voted to try to acquire this
model. Committee Chairman Mark Radcliff reached out to Quique, asking first if the model still existed and, if so, would he be interested in donating it. Quique responded that the model was at his mother’s house, and he would be happy to donate it. There was only one problem—it was in Argentina.
Fortunately, Roberto Calvelo, a friend of Quique’s who lives in Buenos Aires, attended Joe Nall Week in 2022. After a quick discussion with Quique, he agreed to help. Once back in Argentina, Roberto hooked up his trailer and made the nearly 500-mile trip to Quique’s mother’s home.
Roberto shared that the return trip was a bit different: “On my way back at the police check point, the police asked for the airplane’s documentation. I sort of laughed and explained that it was a model airplane and did not have documentation. After arguing for 15 minutes, I told the police that the airplane was a unique piece, and I was transporting it to Buenos Aires with its destination, a museum in the United States. I explained that the owner of the airplane was a very well-known person and Argentina was proud of him. At that moment, the police realized how important the airplane was and what it represented for Argentina and let me go!”
After he was in Buenos Aires, shipping was the next step. Another friend of Quique’s, Sergio Testa, offered to help. Together, Roberto and Sergio built a crate, and then, with fingers crossed, it began its journey to the National Model Aviation Museum. After some unfortunate additional tie-ups that required more paperwork with customs, the model was delivered to the museum in November 2022. After it was unpacked and assembled, it was placed on display in the RC Scale Aerobatics exhibit.
A big thank-you from the museum is extended to Quique, Roberto, and Sergio. To see Quique’s 1994 Freestyle flight, visit https://youtu.be/GlwNzWz5oF4.
At a Glance
Specifications
Aircraft: Bob Godfrey’s Extra 300S modified by Mario and Quique Somenzini in January 1994; its first flight was in April 1994
Engine: 3W 120cc (highly modified by Mario)
Weight: 44 pounds (20 kg)
Propeller: Bolly Wood 31 x 12 at 5,200 rpm
Radio: 72 MHz Futaba 9Z radio with two receivers, analog servos, and NiCd batteries
Additional Reading
Don Lowe, “Flying Low: Circus Circus Tournament of Champions,” RC Modeler, March 1995, Page 10
Eloy Marez, “The 12th International Tournament of Champions,” Model Builder, April 1995, page 36
Bob Noll, “High Roller! 1994 Tournament of Champions,” Flying Models, March 1995
Norm Staub, “The World’s Best Aerobatic Pilots Compete for the Largest Purse,” Model Airplane News, April 1995, page 70
Ron Van Putte, “Tournament of Champions,” Model Aviation, March 1995, page 17
