District II
New Jersey, New York, Europe
Situated at the foot of the Adirondack Mountains in Fort Edward, New York, the North Country Flying Tigers has earned the reputation of being a highly involved AMA District II club. The club’s involvement in both aeromodeling and its community is a template that all clubs should follow.
This year, the Flying Tigers held its 14th Annual Fun Fly. As in past years, the club has chosen to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that is dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of children who are battling critical illnesses. Make-A-Wish began in 1981 after 7-year-old Christopher Greicius received his wish of becoming a police officer while battling terminal leukemia.
I first visited the Flying Tigers when I became an AMA associate vice president many years ago. To watch the club’s growth and continued activities provides great inspiration that, in this day of alternate hobbies and pastimes, it can be done. Much of the Flying Tiger’s success can be attributed to Bob Lippman. Bob is a busy, prominent area attorney, yet he finds time to lead the club through its activities. Bob was instrumental in working with District II to defeat proposed local model aircraft legislation.
The Flying Tigers at a public event.
The Flying Tigers Fall Float Fly.
The Flying Tigers participate in numerous club and public functions. In addition to the Make-A-Wish event, the club hosts float-flys, indoor flying, and participates in the local EAA Young Eagles Day at the Glenns Falls Airport. The club also has significant participation on Facebook and social media. This kind of outreach helps not only with the club’s public image, but it also helps build club membership!
Along with a grass and a geotextile runway, the Flying Tigers flying site includes a dedicated pit area, a covered spectator shelter, a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, handicap access, a porta-toilet, safety fences, setup tables, startup stands, a windsock, and workbenches. The club also owns a steel storage container adorned with the club’s namesake, a P-40 Warhawk of the China/Burma Flying Tigers.
For a club that is not in a major metropolis, the Flying Tigers is attracting a great local audience and a solid base of club membership! Consider what your club can do to increase its public footprint and add to its membership.
You can learn more about Make-A-Wish at www.wish.org.
Honoring the flag and the national anthem.
Remember, it’s not about what you fly, it’s about the friends you make.
Eric Williams
Vice President
rcpilot@nycap.rr.com
4242 Amanda Ln., Schenectady NY 12303
(518) 356-2057
www.amadistrict-ii.org
www.facebook.com/DistrictIIAMA
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Dennis Andreas, Freeport NY; (516) 902-8207; dennis66536@gmail.com
Sal Calvagna, Holbrook NY; (631) 737-6372; rcgiants@optonline.net
Frank Costello, Somerset NJ; teams3fpv@gmail.com
Chuck Davis, Sayville NY; (631) 589-7690; cjdavis60@verizon.net
Ed DeRossi, Johnstown NY; (518) 322-5172; ederossi@nycap.rr.com
Gary Fitch, Delevan NY; gmfit ch@hotmail.com
Gene Gavin, Staten Island NY; (718) 967-0598; Gavin1957@aol.com
Frank Granelli, Rockaway NJ; (973) 625-4995; granellif@aol.com
Bill Hauth, Hamburg NY; (716) 649-8582; toolmkr2000@msn.com
Tony Jensen, Binghamton NY; (607) 644-6873; tjravenpilot@gmail.com
Ron McGrath, North Chili, NY; ronmcgrath@rochester.rr.com
Anthony Rossi, Somerset NJ; (917) 320-2665; p510851@gmail.com
Leonard Max Smart, Morrisonville NY; (518) 572-6727; hotrodsbymax@charter.net
Alexander Szemere, Kendall Park NJ; (732) 821-5641; drszemere@aol.com
Michael Wong, Mahwah NJ; kingmeww@verizon.net
Herb Ziegler, Baldwinsville NY; (315) 857-6266; herbz1957@yahoo.com
RC EVENT SANCTION COORDINATORS
Tony and Trish Jensen, 23 Clarendon Dr., Binghamton, NY 13901; (607) 644-6873; tjravenpilot@gmail.com
CL/FF EVENT SANCTION COORDINATOR
AMA Headquarters, Competitions Department; (800) 435-9262, Ext. 252; cpierce@modelaircraft.org
