184 MODEL AVIATION
Writing a column is never easy. It’s a
task made even more difficult when you
are as new to the association as I am.
It has been five days since I stepped
into my new role as the Academy’s
executive director. I have a lot to learn
about the organization and how it runs,
about the people at our Headquarters
office and the work they do, and about the
members who make up this exciting and
dynamic association called the Academy
of Model Aeronautics.
By almost any measure, this is an
impressive organization. Whether you
want to talk about our history, the size of
our membership, our accomplishments,
the modern facilities, or the staff of
dedicated individuals serving AMA
members, this organization measures up
and can stand proudly on its
accomplishments.
Stepping into a strong and healthy
organization such as AMA is a luxury that
not many executive directors enjoy.
Clearly, I am a lucky man in that regard.
Thanks to Joyce Hager and her
management team, a dedicated staff, and
involved Executive Council leadership, I
am looking forward to exciting
opportunities and challenges.
One of those opportunities is the
chance to work with some of the finest
people in the world of model aeronautics.
These are passionate people involved in
something more than just a hobby. They
are builders and fliers, volunteers,
competitors and fun fliers, young and not
so young.
I know something about their passion
for this activity, for I was infected with the
same disease at a young age. My earliest
memories are of my father, a career Air
Force pilot, sitting with me on the bed and
building a model of the Boeing B-52. I
also remember the scale P-51 CL model he
built in his bedroom, placing it high above
my clumsy reach. Occasionally I would
be granted the special privilege of
“flying” it around the living room under
dad’s watchful eye.
We spent wonderful hours together as
he told me the stories of his youthful
model building and shared with me the
secrets of CL flying. Those are treasured
memories that make this new job feel
like a homecoming.
Yes, I am the new guy, but being new to
the association doesn’t mean that I am
inexperienced. With 27 years of
association management under my belt, I
bring a wealth of experience that I intend
to apply to the problems facing AMA.
As healthy an organization as we are,
there are still many challenges that lay
ahead.
My focus will be in two primary areas
that come naturally to me because of my
previous work experience. The first area
is membership services. Simply put, this
is why we exist: to serve the members.
Without members, there would be no
organization.
Providing services to you that are
appropriate, timely, and add to your
enjoyment of building and flying is an
important task that we all share. Whether
you are a CL, RC, or FF enthusiast, it’s
important to keep you up to date on the
latest developments in model aviation, and
that is what we will do.
Providing you with top-quality
Don Koranda Executive Director
View from HQ
service and searching for new benefits and
services to make your flying more
enjoyable will always be high on my
priority list.
My second focus will be on
membership growth. The old adage that
there is strength in numbers is true. I have
seen that power demonstrated repeatedly
during my association career.
Our link to clubs, special interest
groups, and individual members is a
source of unity and strength that we must
nurture and enhance. I am a firm believer
in growth as a means to improve our sport
and activity for all members. More
members mean a stronger organization that
is better able to promote and protect the
activity we all enjoy.
Whether it’s preserving our flying sites,
addressing technical issues with
government agencies, or helping you get
the most out of your flying experience,
your membership in the association makes
it happen and gives us the clout to work
for you.
That is my background, and my
promise to you is to work hard for our
sport, to make sure we provide superior
products and services, and to make sure
we use the resources you provide us
carefully and efficiently.
As I mentioned, writing a column is never
easy, but I hope I have given you a sense
of my background, what my focus will be,
and why I think AMA is a great
organization with even greater potential to
serve the needs of its members.
I know my dad is happy to see his son
back in modeling and sharing his passion with
165,000 other avid modelers. So am I. MA
By almost any measure,
this is an impressive
organization.
Happy flying,
Don Koranda
Executive Director
[email protected]
Edition: Model Aviation - 2005/02
Page Numbers: 184