AMA news 2003/03

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AMA News
Academy of Model Aeronautics 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302
THE 2003 AMA Grand Event will be held
in Des Moines, Iowa at Water Works Park.
This is an AMA-sponsored event being
hosted by the Des Moines Modelaires,
AMA Chartered Club #740. The event is
scheduled for June 6 - 8. The local director
and contact for this event is Ray Pick
([email protected]), Event Director,
Tel.: (515) 964-1408.
The AMA Grand Event was held
previously at the International
Aeromodeling Center and was supported
by AMA employees.
The AMA Grand Event was an idea
developed from several core AMA
managers back in 1996. The idea was to
bring various segments of the hobby
community together. What evolved was a
concept for an event that would be new,
innovative, and fun. This would become a
weekend event when all segments of the
outdoor modeling hobby industry would
gather at the International Aeromodeling
Center for a free, fun-filled exposition and
offer hands-on hobby opportunities for
visitors.
Many industry leaders pledged their
support to the extent that during the last
several years we were able to expand the
event to include free Make-and-Take
activities for youngsters, and a huge raffle
giveaway. In addition, local businesses
were approached for sponsorship and
financial assistance. The Radio Control
Hobby Trade Association (RCHTA)
usually provided financial support and has
been very generous with its contributions.
The event exposes thousands of
individuals to the joy and excitement of all
segments of outdoor hobbies. Our goal is to
gain more members for various Special
Interest Groups (other national hobby
organizations) and more customers for the
hobby industry, and to make an
unforgettable contribution to positive youth
involvement. The AMA Grand Event
operates on an annual budget of
approximately $20,000.
Attendance and participation numbers
show just how successful the AMA Grand
Event has been in attracting visitors to the
City of Muncie and allowing them to
experience the joy of modeling.
Having completed several AMA Grand
Events, we know the event has a very
strong appeal. Given the strength of
attendance and range of this year’s
publicity, we can expect the event to grow
into one of the largest and most popular in
any region of the United States.
But what does the Grand Event mean to
AMA members or clubs in Texas, New
York, or Alabama? How does it benefit
them and their interests?
The Academy, perhaps for the first time,
united the entire spectrum of hobby
interests with free hands-on opportunities
for the aspiring modelers. Through surveys,
we know that many boaters are interested
in airplanes, and people interested in
airplanes are also interested in cars and
garden railroads. By exposing a great
number of people to various outdoor hobby
activities, we strengthen their appeal and
membership in national modeling
organizations.
As the event grows, we will soon attract
national attention, and that will spark the
curiosity and interest of many people who
will come to realize that an outdoor hobby
is a fulfilling, lifelong learning activity.
When they see what we’re doing up
close, they will realize that this is not just a
bunch of individuals playing with toys, but
that we are people of all types engaged in
activities that may require skill, but at the
same time allow us to reap the benefits of
personal growth, friendship, and joy.
To accomplish this, the AMA Grand
Event has been put up for bids to AMA
Chartered Clubs. The primary prerequisite
for a club is that it needs to submit a
proposal and the site it suggests, whether
its own club site or another, must provide
for three major activities—Radio Control
(RC) aircraft, RC cars, and RC boats. Other
activities such as kite flying and Control
Line add to the overall success of the event.
Make-and-Take for Delta Darts, kites,
rockets, and a beginner’s Control Line
model make this an interactive activity.
Clubs interested in submitting a bid for
2004 should contact Carl P. Maroney
([email protected]) to request a
solicitation guideline reference book. Bids
are due by April 15, 2003 and need to be
forwarded to AMA at 5161 E Memorial
Dr., Muncie IN 47302.
We anticipate one key member from the
winning bid attending the 2003 AMA Grand
Event for background experience.
View from HQ
See page 200
2003 AMA Grand Event
June 6 - 8 in Des Moines, Iowa
•• 2,000 cars enter the AMA
International Aeromodeling
Center
•• 3,500 attendees to the AMA
Grand Event
•• 470 out-of-state visitors from
27 different states
•• 800 Make-and-Take projects
completed and taken home (at
no charge)
•• 120 youngsters with Muncie
mailing addresses took part in
our Passport Program
•• 291 “Buddy Box” Radio
Control flights by non-modelers
•• 70 youngsters between the
ages of 8 and 17 took full-scale
“Young Eagles” flights
Nominations Due for
AMA Hall of Fame
Established in 1969, the AMA Hall of Fame honors those men and women
who have made significant contributions to the hobby/sport of model aviation.
The list of members is long and distinguished, and there are others not yet in
the Hall who are worthy of induction.
Any AMA member can submit a Hall of Fame nomination. Consider
nominating a person(s) who has had a positive impact on some facet of
aeromodeling.
For a nomination form, call or write Michael Smith at AMA Headquarters.
Deadline for nominations is March 31, 2003.
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