In the Air

In the Air

AMA Headquarters and Member News

Frequently Asked Questions: AMA Online Event Calendar

Q: What is the AMA online Event Calendar? A: An online listing that contains the same information as the “Contest Calendar” in MA does. You can access this feature of the AMA Web site at www.modelaircraft.org/events/calendar.aspx.

Q: What fields must be selected before I can search for an event? A: The “Type of Event” drop-down menu, “Start Date,” and “End Date” must be completed to perform a search. “City,” “State,” “Class,” and “Category” are optional.

Q: Can I simultaneously look for flying and nonflying events? A: No. Only one can be entered at a time; that is the option in the “Type of Event” field.

Q: I searched for my club’s event that will be held next week and did not find it. How can I locate it? A: Search using different criteria. Look at the whole state instead of city and state, or expand the start and end dates. If you want to search for events held at the International Aeromodeling Center, you must select Muncie and Indiana as your city and state. Note that the start and end dates can be only one year apart.

Note: Your club’s event will be posted within 24 hours of your submitting the information.

Q: Where can I find definitions for the listings in the “Class” search? A: On the AMA home page, go to “Competition/Events,” then “Competition Regulations,” then “General Regulations,” or go directly to www.modelaircraft.org/events/compreg.aspx.

Q: Can I bookmark my search results? A: Yes. And when you return, any new information that qualifies for listing under your criteria will also show up.

Q: I tried to print my search results but got an error message. What might cause this, and how do I obtain assistance? A: You must have a PDF (Portable Document Format) viewer to look at and print the page. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free downloadable program available at http://get.adobe.com/reader.

Q: Can I see the Event Calendar in its entirety? A: No. You will be able to view only what you enter in the search criteria, up to one year apart from the start and end dates.

Q: We need to make a change to the information about our posted event. How do we do that? A: You can make any corrections or adjustments to your published event by contacting the AMA sanction secretary at [email protected] or (765) 287-1256, extension 232.

Q: Will supplementary advertisements continue to be published in MA? Will they be included in the online Event Calendar? A: Yes. Supplementary ads will continue to run in MA, and they will be posted on the online Event Calendar. They are available for you to see if the calendar listing has a “View Advertisement” button next to it.

Q: What changes will be made to the procedure for submitting supplementary ads? A: None.

Q: Do those who post information about nonflying events need to pay for a line listing in addition to paying for a supplementary ad? A: Yes. All those who hold nonflying events must pay the $10 listing before a supplementary ad can be accepted.

Q: Why not continue to publish the “Contest Calendar” information on both the Web site and in MA? A: The Internet version offers much more than print ever could, at a fraction of the price. Rising costs associated with print magazines, coupled with a membership that is more comfortable with digital technology, necessitate this change. A recent magazine readership survey indicated that the “Contest Calendar” portion of MA has broad support for moving to an online format.

—AMA HQ

Expo "Thank You" Card

Without question, the vendors that attend the AMA Expo in Ontario, California, are a huge part of what makes the weekend a success. They deserve a portion of the credit for the fact that this year's edition was such a hit.

If you think the footprint this show has made on the exposition trail is one to follow, demonstrate your support for the following companies, clubs, and organizations.

—AMA Headquarters

• Ace Hobby Distributors
• Aero-Model/Hacker Brushless
• ADC Hobby Store
• Aeroworks
• Air Age Media
• Airborne Models
• AOPA
• Airland Hobbies
• Airscape
• Airtronics
• AirWild Hobbies
• All Star Warbirds
• AMA District X
• American Model Airport Association
• Antique Radio Display
• Banana Hobby
• Batteries America
• Big Train Show
• Brainstorm Products
• CA Scale Modelers Association
• Castle Creations
• Commander, Naval Air Forces
• Century Helicopter Products
• Cermark
• Charger RC
• Combat Wings
• Common Sense RC
• Corona RC Club
• CST—The Composites Store
• D&L Designs
• Dan Linehan
• Desert Aircraft
• Digitronics
• Du-Bro
• Dymond Modelsport
• Electronic Model System
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Fabco
• Flight Expo
• Fly Eagle Jets
• Gorilla Bob's
• Great Planes
• Grex Airbrush
• Hayes Products
• Hitec
• HMA
• Hobby People
• Horizon Hobby
• House of Balsa
• IFO
• Inland Slope Rebels
• Innov8tive Designs
• IMAA
• Jet Hanger Hobbies
• Kangke International
• Klotz Synthetic Lubricants
• Knights of the Round Circle
• Lapcad Engineering
• Leisure Electronics
• Maritime Modelers
• MARKS
• Maxford USA
• Micro Fasteners
• Miller RC Products
• MTA Hobbies
• NAMBA
• NMPRA
• NRHSA
• NSRCA
• Nitro Models
• Orange Coast R/C Club
• Pacific Coast Hobbies
• Peak Electronics
• Pegasus Hobbies
• Pomona Valley Model Airplane Club
• Premier RC
• Propwash Video
• Puretech Products
• Quest Engineering
• Radio Control Combat Association
• RAM RC
• RC Accessory
• RC Heli magazine
• RC Hot Deals
• RC Micro Flight
• RC Toy House
• RC Trayman
• Rodman Co.
• SAM
• San Fernando Valley RC Flyers
• San Gabriel Valley RC League
• Scale Squadron of Southern California
• Soaring Society of America
• SoaringUSA.com
• Sonic Electric
• Sophos Silkscreening
• Southern California Rocket Association
• Southwest Armour Group
• Super Battery Pack
• Task Force 96 Model Warship
• Team Edge
• Team Losi
• Thunder Power
• Toymine International
• Utopia Tools
• Victor Valley RC Flyers
• Xoar International
• Xtreme Power Systems
• Zurich International

We Need Your Help to Redefine AMA's Business Strategy!

Why does the AMA need to redefine its strategy? AMA continues to be an association with a declining membership and a membership whose average age rises every year. AMA is not unique in the association world. Most associations, both in and out of the aviation environment, are experiencing the same phenomenon.

Today's generation is looking for instant gratification and there are many competitors vying for their disposable income. Video games attract the attention of young people at the expense of other activities including model aviation. Online social networking is replacing meetings. Electronic communication has replaced the physical camaraderie of being with others who share a common interest. The associations that not just survive but also thrive will be the ones that recognize and react to these changes. The world is changing and AMA must adapt to the world "outside" of ours, not the other way around. While AMA has made some effort to adapt to these changes, the effort has not had the positive impact for which we had hoped.

AMA needs to act to address these concerns and to find a solution to return the organization to growth. Two major risks associated with a declining member base are loss of revenue, resulting in a decline in programs and services, and a "smaller" voice when advocating for our members. Some associations are accessing their reserve accounts to remain fiscally afloat and others are reducing personnel and cutting back on services to members. This is not the time to cut costs by making any changes to reduce the value, benefits, products, and services provided to AMA clubs and members.

AMA's revenue level must increase to support and maintain the increased inflationary costs in providing product and services to the membership and offset the revenue loss resulting from the current trend in membership decline. In a declining economy, an increase in member dues is not the answer. We must explore potential sources of new revenue streams.

Development, implementation, and optimization of profitable non-dues revenue programs may require us to think and act in an entrepreneurial way. Non-profit is a tax status, not a mission statement. Organizations that succeed do so because they are willing to shift to a new paradigm; the ones that fail are those that refuse to see beyond the traditional ideas. It was said, "Not accepting the status quo will create an environment where innovation and entrepreneurial spirit will flourish."

Today most associations include in their strategic plans new initiatives that will require entrepreneurial skills, especially when those goals involve revenue. The non-profit traditionally generates non-dues revenue from affinity programs, sponsorship, advertising sales, products and services, grants, and donations. These traditional sources are not always successful in meeting the needs for additional revenue without a major shift to an entrepreneurial strategy. Non-profits have found that their boards and staff need to have members who are able to perform as entrepreneurs. Smart boards recognize that to acquire the absolute best level of expertise, the association may need to go outside to acquire individuals possessing these required qualities and form a task force to work with the board and staff.

How does the AMA plan to change its strategy? As a result of the success of the AMA Membership Dynamic program and the members who volunteered some of their time and specific expertise to help our committees, we believe that our best resource for bringing the necessary changes to the AMA business strategy should come from our membership. The latitude to consider all factors without fear of confinement to the "traditional box" can best be achieved by a task force primarily of individual members who have business expertise in desirable areas specific to the defined mission.

This idea was presented to the Executive Council (EC) during the January 2010 meeting and approved by the board. We were charged with creating an elite AMA Strategic Task Force (STF) empowered to recommend comprehensive changes to AMA's business model. The initial STF focus will be directed toward developing strategies and initiatives for increasing revenue streams and membership.

"Agents of Change" — the AMA Strategic Task Force: The STF core group will consist of one AMA EC member to lead/facilitate the STF, one AMA senior staff member to provide liaison between the STF and all AMA departments, and six team leaders who have individual executive work experience in any of the following areas: association management, marketing, finance, revenue/resource, information/technology, and legal/regulatory. In addition to the STF core group, the selected team leaders may choose individuals as members of their teams to aid them in their work.

Each STF executive team leader will review the AMA business strategy with their team members and apply their areas of expertise along with other team leaders to the development of programs and initiatives to accomplish the STF mission.

If you are willing to volunteer some of your free time and expertise to serve as an AMA STF team leader or team member, you will be ensuring the future of your Academy and the sport of aeromodeling. We recognize the need for flexibility in terms of your participation in the work group, so the primary interaction will utilize online discussion threads, periodic Web conferencing, and collaboration software. Any expenses incurred by the STF or its team leader members in the performance of the STF mission would be funded by the AMA.

STF Membership Application and More About Membership Roles: Download the AMA STF application and STF member role information that can be found as a link on the opening page of the AMA Web site (www.modelaircraft.org). Return the application to the e-mail address on the form.

All applicants will be considered for STF membership. The applications will be reviewed by the AMA president and EC. They will select the initial core group of team leaders. These team leaders will then make additional selections for their team members from the remaining applicants. Those who are not selected will have their applications kept on file in a database and, as the need arises, may be solicited again for STF membership.

We would appreciate your participation in this important Strategic Task Force. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Dave Mathewson at [email protected] or Andy Argenio at [email protected].

—Dave Mathewson, AMA President Andy Argenio, AMA District I Vice President

Review of Reviews in MA

The mission of MA is to inform and serve its readers. We never knowingly hire manufacturers, product representatives, or team members to research and write review articles for the magazine.

Our new "Double Take" review is based on the popularity of our long-running "Worth a Closer Look" section. These departments feature editors' picks of new and/or successful aeromodeling products.

Reviews in this publication report on successful projects by AMA staff and independent experts. These articles include constructive information to support the authors' findings and report on points that help the membership copy that success.

This magazine is not influenced by any brand, origin, or sponsor. If you think MA reviews could be improved to better achieve its goals, please send your ideas for doing so to me.

—Michael Ramsey Editor, MA

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.