y column in the February 2009
MA was a recap of AMA activities
that took place in 2008. Much of
what we did last year was an effort to work
toward accomplishing the goals and objectives
that we’ve begun to define as part of our longrange
strategic plan.
The response I received from that column
was far greater than any other in the past year.
The overwhelming majority of comments
were extremely positive, which I think is a
good indicator that many of you feel that we
are moving AMA in a positive direction.
During 2009, we will add a number of new
goals to the list while continuing to build on
the work that we started in 2008.
In the past I’ve written about the value of
good communication between an association
and its members being the key to success for
any membership organization such as AMA.
Improving that level of communication is one
of the areas on which we will be focusing in
the coming year.
As a first step in achieving that goal, those
of you who are club contacts found a CD
included with your club charter materials that
you received from AMA. The CD, titled 2009
Information for Chartered Clubs, contains a
wealth of information about various programs
and support that we provide to all of our
members.
Included is information about all of our
benefit programs including Take off And
Grow (TAG), the Charles H. Grant
Scholarship program, the AMA Flying Site
Development and Improvement Grant, our
Club Disaster Assistance Program, as well as
the AMA Club Recognition and Rewards
Program. Also included is information
concerning our various insurance programs
President’s Perspective
AMA President Dave Mathewson
M
and suggestions for creating public-relations
efforts that will benefit your club.
All of the information on this CD is
intended to help our members and make them
aware of all that we offer as benefits of
membership in AMA.
Another area on which we will be focusing
this year is the AMA Web site and our online
presence. In today’s “Internet society,” it has
become obvious that a first-class Web
presence has become a necessity to support
our current membership as well as attract new
people to both model aviation and the AMA.
To support our current membership, we
will be developing new Web features that in
the past could only be accomplished through
the tedious process of using paper forms and
the US Postal Service. Things such as
renewing a club charter online, applying for an
AMA sanction online, and giving club officers
the ability to update their club rosters and
other information with AMA online are in our
future.
However, as we move in a direction that
technology takes us, we realize that we still
have members who either do not have Internet
capability or who prefer to continue to do
things as they have in the past. Being able to
continue to do that won’t change.
Many today use the Internet as a research
tool, and a large percentage of those who are
interested in learning more about model
aviation or the AMA will look first to the
Internet to begin their research.
As with most other associations, AMA’s
Web site has become the front door to our
organization for many. That front door needs
to be visually attractive and easy to enter.
Once inside, a visitor needs to easily and
quickly find his or her way around.
Additionally, the content the site contains
needs to be perceived as valuable and of
enough interest to make that visitor want to
return often.
As we move through 2009, look for
changes and improvements to our Web site
that will move us in this direction.
While we’re on the topic of AMA’s online
presence and benefits of membership, have you
had a chance to visit our online e-zine: Model
Aviation’s Sport Aviator at www.masport
aviator.com?
Sport Aviator is primarily designed for the
new modeler but contains information that
even many longtime modelers find useful. The
primary focus of the site is entry-level
modeling and it contains a number of kit
reviews, radio reviews, and how-to articles
appropriate for someone just getting involved
in aeromodeling. Other areas of the site include
articles on flight training and how to do some
basic maneuvers.
In Sport Aviator Editor Frank Granelli’s
words:
“Sport Aviator presents a mix of basic and
mid-level technical information, piloting howtos,
aircraft reviews, and some event coverage,
just to let newer pilots know how varied and
deep model aviation truly is. The aircraft
reviewed and technical information presented
is about an even mix between glow power and
electric propulsion.
“The aircraft range from RTF basic trainers
to aircraft suitable for second, or at most, third
aircraft. Helicopters reviewed have been from
the beginner level, twin-rotor versions to the
next step up: small, single-blade, electricpowered
basic machines. The piloting
information varies from how to land to
performing advanced maneuvers.”
Sport Aviator has already helped a
tremendous number of new modelers become
successful. Mentioning Sport Aviator to your
friends new to modeling may help them as
well. MA
See you next time …
AMA’s Web site has become the front door to
our organization for many.
April 2009 5
Dave Mathewson
AMA president
[email protected]
Mission Statement
The Academy of Model Aeronautics is a world-class association of modelers organized for the purpose of
promotion, development, education, advancement, and safeguarding of modeling activities.
The Academy provides leadership, organization, competition, communication, protection, representation,
recognition, education and scientific/technical development to modelers.
04sig1.QXD 2/24/09 11:07 AM Page 5
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/04
Page Numbers: 5