Let's work together
From the Copilot's Seat — Gary Fitch, Executive Vice President
AMA and the EAA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) a couple of years ago. This agreement commits the two organizations to work together in fostering the spirit of aviation, especially among youth.
You may recall articles in this publication about AMA clubs partnering with the nearly 1,000 EAA chapters to put on EAA Young Eagle events. Youngsters are invited to participate and receive their first full-scale airplane experience, typically in a small, single-engine aircraft. When an AMA club participates, these youngsters often receive their first exposure to model aviation. Each youth who signs up and participates in the Young Eagles program receives a free AMA Junior membership.
This is a great opportunity to entice new members. Often, the young people’s families want to support these activities, which helps grow your club’s present and future membership. See if there is an EAA chapter or a full-scale aviation club in your area that would be interested in this type of cooperation. It can be a lot of fun, and the relationships you develop can last a lifetime. AMA’s overall membership has grown by more than 10,000 youth members this year.
Event at Central Steuben Flying Club
I attended a model-flying event and fly-in breakfast sponsored by the Central Steuben Flying Club (CSFC), a small EAA club near Bath, New York. The contest director (CD) was Dave Lander. This is the club’s largest annual gathering.
The overfly area was amazing: CSFC provided a well-manicured, full-scale runway for the model pilots. The club offered an all-you-can-eat breakfast and lunch on-site. There was a display of experimental aircraft to inspect and discuss with their owners, and of course the usual swapping of aviation horror stories about hard landings. Some of these full-scale pilots are also interested in model aviation.
In its third year, the event was lightly publicized, but pilot turnout was good. Pilots flew from four flight stations and there was no landing fee. Weather kept many spectators away, but those who attended had a great time.
Hobby shop program
AMA has a hobby shop program that provides businesses with AMA membership information and encourages owners to promote the benefits of belonging to AMA. At no cost to hobby shops, AMA supplies materials including applications, handouts, brochures, and counter displays used exclusively for this program. There is a small financial incentive for owners who help, but the real value to both hobby shops and AMA is when the new member becomes a local club member. If the new member successfully learns to fly, he or she becomes a repeat customer of the hobby shop and a renewing member for the club and AMA.
Erin Dobbs, an AMA staff member, has done a great job increasing the number of hobby shops that partner with us. Our members should support local hobby shops and, when visiting, look for the AMA brochure. If you can’t find it, ask the shop to join the ranks of hobby shops that support AMA.
Welcoming new members
I want to expand on Dave Mathewson’s August 2012 column: Are our charter clubs welcoming to potential members? Not all are. The number of calls from new members reporting that they were made to feel unwelcome at some clubs has grown.
Is the entire club unwelcoming? Not typically. Generally only a few members resist being inconvenienced by questions and requests for help. Do you remember how you got involved in this wonderful hobby? Was it because one individual took you under his or her wing and the club welcomed your innocence and tolerated your lack of ability? You likely weren’t shunned but were taught how, what, and where to fly. Over time you became a valuable club member.
Have you made—or will you make—the investment of time to mentor a new person? When you do, you help your club, the local hobby shop, AMA, and the future of aeromodeling. Every person can have a major impact, either negative or positive. The choice is yours; the future is ours.
Until next month, help secure our future and take a youngster flying.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
