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DOES YOUR club participate in any youth
modeling activities? This is a great way to
return something to your community while
getting a great deal of personal satisfaction.
Associate Vice President (AVP), Ray
Juschkus sent the following about his visit
with the Meroke RC Club to the Cradle of
Aviation Museum on Long Island, New York.
“On Sunday, March 9, 2003, I attended an
event that was held by the Meroke RC Club at
the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Long
Island. The Merokes had a great idea to hold a
paper airplane contest for kids at the museum.
“It was planned for the entire weekend and
according to the president and vice president,
John DeSena and Gene Kolakowski, several
hundred kids attended the event. Boys and
girls alike were instructed in the art of making
paper airplanes and actually flying them in the
atrium of this beautiful museum.
“After constructing the airplanes, the club
marked off a course in which the kids had to
throw the airplanes. If they hit the mark, they
won a free ticket to the museum for another
day.
Meroke member Bob DiBartolomeo teaches
Robby Flahavan.
“The Merokes are a Gold Leader Club. I
was very impressed with the programs they
provide such as teaching at-risk kids the joy of
building and flying Radio Control models.
They feel that the hobby gives children an
alternative to just hanging out and an
alternative to drugs. They should be
commended for that. The Merokes are one of
the premier clubs on Long Island.
“The Cradle of Aviation Museum is home
to many Grumman Aircraft.
“As you walk through the doors of the
Atrium, you look up and see this huge F11F
Tigercat hanging from the ceiling beside a
Fleet Biplane. I had the distinct pleasure of
having a personal tour of the museum by one
of the ushers who happens to be my friend
and flying buddy for the last 25 years, John
Clark.
“The Merokes and the museum made for a
most enjoyable day for me.”
Meroke president Joe DeSena and the
club’s vice president Gene Kolakowski are
pictured above.
Ray Verry acts as public relations liaison for
the Staten Island Radio Control Modelers
(SIRC). Ray wrote about the SIRC’s
scholarship and its presentation.
“For many months now, the Staten Island
Radio Control Modelers, through our
president George Waller, has been involved in
establishing a relationship with a local school
in order to help a struggling future pilot.
“A firm link was put in place with the
College of Aeronautics in Queens, and a
scholarship in the name of the SIRC was
established. The award of the scholarship was
made on February 27, 2003 to Wilbert Ortiz, a
young man who lives to fly, yet is in need of
some financial assistance to further his
studies.
SIRC president George Waller (R) presents
the SIRC scholarship to College of
Aeronautics student Wilbert Ortiz.
“I attended the event with George and I
must tell you the management of the school
could not have been more courteous. Special
mention was afforded to SIRC during the
ceremony in that George would give an award
speech before the assembly and make the
presentation of the award to Wilbert Ortiz.
“George did his usual outstanding job
representing our club. The results of George’s
efforts are proving to be enormous. For
example, the college wants very much to
initiate a competition program both nationally
and internationally. It has asked the SIRC to
take the lead in developing the program for
and with them.
“George has invited the AMA to contact
the school in order to augment the schools’
flight plans via the AMA’s resources and
capabilities. The SIRC, AMA, and Wilbert
Ortiz are all on center stage.”
The College of Aeronautics’ faculty,
scholarship recipients, SIRC president
George Waller, and Ray Verry (front row,
second and third from left).
Finally, this month, Radio Control Club of
Rochester (RCCR) president, Joe Somers
wrote about a youth activity in which his club
was involved.
“On March 8, 2003, members of the
RCCR held a Delta Dart building session for
the students at the Brighton High School
Student Fair. After much discussion and
advice from the more senior and more
experienced members of our club, it was
decided that instead of having each student
just build an AMA Dart, we would supply
some Darts that were prebuilt and test flown
so each student would be sure to get a chance
to fly as well as to build.”
“We had approximately 50 students attend
our three sessions. After a brief tour of the
displays, the students were divided into two
groups. While one group flew the prebuilt
Darts, the other group got experience building
a Dart from the professionals on hand. After
twenty minutes, the groups were switched.
“Some of the models the students built
were finished and were flown. They flew very
well. The students did a great job and they
were a pleasure to work with. After each
session, each student was given a kit to take
home.”
The new modelers are preparing for a mass
launch.
The former AMA District IV Vice President,
Chuck Foreman, used to end almost every one
of his columns with a thought that seems
appropriate here: Go take a kid flying. See
you next time.
District II Report
New Jersey/ New York/
Europe
Dave
Mathewson
Vice President
7271 State Fair Blvd.,
Baldwinsville NY 13027
Tel.: (315) 727-4275
Fax: (315) 635-1039
E-mail: [email protected]
District II Web page: www.amadistrictii.org.
Note: For a listing of all district volunteer workers
please consult the previous issue of Model
Aviation or the above Web address.
aug03.qxd 5.23.03 9:16 am Page 158
Edition: Model Aviation - 2003/08
Page Numbers: 158