District IV
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland,
North Carolina, Virginia
Jay Marsh
Vice President
amadistrictiv@modelaircraft.org
3227 Pine Needles Rd.,
High Point NC 27265
(336) 687-0973
www.amadistrict-iv.org
www.facebook.com/amadistrictiv
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Nic Burhans, VA; (540) 219-9646; nic@ama-d4.org
Bob Burnett, Washington, D.C. SFRA; (703) 742-9682; bobl@ama-d4.org
Rick Cawley, NC; (919) 630-1649; rcabgc2@yahoo.com
Jack Hamilton, NC; (828) 206-5281; scorpionjacks@hotmail.com
Rusty Kennedy, VA; (757) 812-2812; rustyk716@gmail.com
Richard “Rick” Moreland, MD; (301) 261-7366; rmoreland1@verizon.net
Mark Smith, NC; (704) 798-2776; marksmithsmitty@yahoo.com
Terry Terrenoire, VA; (412)760-4593; terry@ama-d4.org
Mark Weiss, DE; (302)547-4917; ama82824@yahoo.com
EVENT SANCTION COORDINATORS
CLAVP: Jack Rosemere, 609 William St., Cambridge MD 21613; (410) 330-4663; jrosemere@verizon.net
FF AVP: Bob Sowder, 84 Misty Hills Ln., Troutville VA 24175; (540) 525-7086; bsowder@brnet.com
RC: John Bergsmith, 1438 Piney Church Rd., Concord NC 28025; (704) 699-6977; RCcoordinator@ama-d4.org
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AVP
Ray Stinchcomb, (443) 618-8998; govrelations@ama-d4.org
WEBMASTER
Jack Upchurch, webmaster@ama-d4.org
SOCIAL MEDIA ADMINISTRATOR
Douglas LeRoy, social@ama-d4.org
2023! Where did the year go? It was a great flying season. AMA advocated to protect our privilege to fly and provided new and improved member services and programs all year long. Following are a few accomplishments from 2023. AMA is at work for you.
AMA was appointed by the FAA as the first community-based organization and is a valued partner with the FAA, advocating and writing regulations for Congress for the 2024 FAA Reauthorization bill to be more favorable to our sport. FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs) are being approved with fewer than 10% denials having to be reprocessed until approval is granted. AMA also added a FRIA filter and flag to the club search on the website.
AMA celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Nats with a 12% increase in participation. It also created the Large Model Helicopter Program. Improvements were made to the International Aeromodeling Center. The organization introduced model aviation to more than 100,000 people with the simulation trailer and distributed 2,500 Know Before You Fly student drone kits. AMA partnered with Civil Air Patrol and provided 2,000 airplanes while working with 33,000 youth. AMA also launched the digital online club charter renewal.
The AMA Foundation now offers a 3D virtual tour of the Walk of Fame with a digital brick lookup. It received grants and donations of more than $750,000 and doubled the number of Torchbearers who give monthly. The AMA Foundation dramatically increased bequeaths and increased the individual Disaster Relief Grants to $1,000. It has awarded a total of $1.35 million in scholarships.
Associate Vice President Rick Cawley reported on the 20th Annual Tad Dietrich Memorial Fly-In, presented by the Tarheel R/C Flyers to honor Tad Dietrich and all members who have passed. The club is a well-established RC club with many years of history located near Elm City, North Carolina. The event is held in September.
The weather was perfect in every way with the wind less than 10 mph and temperatures in the upper 70s. It was a good group of friends, flying all sorts of aircraft large and small, enjoying each other’s company and having a great time.
Lunch was the famous chicken dinner that is always one of the highlights, cooked on an open grill and seasoned to perfection by President Mark Farmer and his fellow members. The raffle was held early in the afternoon, with the main prize being a Tiger 30cc aircraft. The lucky winner was Mike Fox, who will get hours of enjoyment from this prize.
This club always has great attendance at its fly-ins because of good fellowship, a good flying site, and gourmet food. The Tarheel RC Flyers website is https://tarheelrcflyers.weebly.com.
Go fly and have fun safely.
