District III
Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
As I mentioned in my previous column, AMA will be launching a new Membership Growth and Retention campaign in 2025. This program is aimed at growing membership from the grassroots level and retaining members who tend to leave after two years.
AMA has developed a value-proposition flyer for you and your clubs to use as handbills at events where you want to inform the public about the value of model aviation as a hobby/sport and STEAM education. Its intent is to inform the public of the existence of AMA by using QR codes for quick access to sign up for AMA membership and to find a local club. Please reach out to your district associate vice presidents, AMA Leader Members, and club officers for more information.
This month, I want to focus on District III clubs that have embraced youth activities as part of their social responsibility. The positive to this is the introduction of model aviation—beyond the box store purchase of an RC product—to teach skillsets useful in a professional career in aviation, aerospace, or the sciences.
The following was submitted by Dan Pantaleo from the Exeter R/C Eagles in Barto, Pennsylvania, which is located southwest of Allentown. This AMA charter club has roughly 35 members. Visit www.exeterrcaagles.org
Exeter R/C Eagles members Tony Rossetti and Dan Pantaleo were invited to bring an interactive workshop to the North Penn High School (NPHS) Student Model Aviation Club
Vincent Tang, Hasan Raiq, Thomas Do, Mickey Stojmirovic, Tony Rossetti (Exeter Eagles), Dan Pantaleo (Exeter Eagles), Carter Laubach, Jack Carragher, Parv Kavedia, Dr. Michael Voicheck (faculty advisor) in the foreground.
in December 2024. Dr. Mike Voicheck, the department chair and teacher for technology, engineering, and computer science education in the North Penn School District, is the faculty advisor and moderator for the club.
The Eagles members brought some of their own RC and Control Line (CL) models, photos, and videos to compare and contrast RC and CL construction, control systems, and the basics of CL Scale and precision flying.
The Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club (GCRCC) started a youth program called the JetStars, named by its members, and they also designed their logo! The group of youth members range in age from 11 to 16. The organizer, GCRCC member Tom Lipinski’s, focus was to get individual youth involved in building and flying model aircraft through mentorship with seasoned members and to foster an esprit de corps with the group as a whole and within the GCRCC membership. The club has partnered with Old School Model Works (OSMW; www.oldschoolmodelworks.com).
JetStar member Kris DiPietro works on his OSMW kit.
Mark Lanterman, from USMW, helps JetStars members (L-R) Landon Piwnicki, Teddy Stricker, and Allen Lipinski take turns competing with a flight simulator.
Randy Adams
Vice President
amadistrictiii@modelaircraft.org
320 Gregorian Dr., Fairfield OH 45014
(513) 484-3318
www.amadistrict-iii.org
www.facebook.com/ama.district.iii
ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENTS
Mike Barber, Delaware, OH; (740) 362-5545; mabarbee@aol.com
Jeff Black, New Oxford PA; (717) 965-5634; jrbblack1964@gmail.com
Dave Chisholm, Valencia PA; (724) 494-2025; dave@cato systems.com
Mark Feist, Cincinnati OH; (513) 662-9512; mfeist329@gmail.com
Tony Husak, Hartsgrove OH; (440) 283-7447; racer749@aol.com
Dan Luchaco, Sayre PA; (607) 481-4541; nafflyer23@gmail.com
Jim Martin, Franklin OH; (937) 260-0143; hooitelovesremy@yahoo.com
Al Myers, Canfield OH; (330) 506-6194; ajm5176@gmail.com
Mark Radcliff, St. Marys WV; (304) 684-2133; maradcliff@hotmail.com
Erik Rudjord, Fogelsville PA; (610) 554-7455; erudjord@ptd.net
John Zoldak, Ravenna OH; (330) 554-9455; jzoldak316@yahoo.com
Lisa Zoldak, Ravenna OH; (330) 348-4543; bigredbice@gmail.com
CL/FF/RC EVENTS SANCTION COORDINATOR
Sheila Nitsch (OH, WV), 5650 Boyd Rd., Grove City OH 43123; (614) 877-3453; nitsch@columbus.rr.com
Rod C. Meier, 938 W Union St. Whitehall, PA 18052; (484) 809-0501; mairrrc@aol.com
AMA Headquarters, (765) 287-1256, ext. 252; competition@modelaircraft.org
WEBMASTER
Lisa Zoldak, Ravenna OH; (330) 348-4543; bigredbice@gmail.com
