Author: Jose Soto
Edition: Model Aviation - 2013/03
Page Numbers: 138

AMA News: District V - 2013/03

Jose Soto — Vice President

A great start to the year

What a beginning to the year! The AMA Expo has taken place, and we are gearing up for Joe Nall, the Southeast Model Show, and many local events. The associate vice presidents (AVPs) and I have been very busy with modeling.

Upcoming events include:

  • Joe Nall
  • Southeast Model Show
  • Numerous local club events

AVP Pablo Fernandez

One of our AVPs, Pablo Fernandez, was hospitalized and had one of his legs amputated below the knee. He called to tell me he would be laid up for a couple of weeks and couldn't cover events during that time. I told him to take all the time he needed and get better — and he’s already covering events! You go, Pablo!

Taking Flight in the Right Direction — Vern Horne

Vern Horne, a talented, all-around pilot, has created a program that impacts troubled youth in the Columbia County Juvenile Court System in Georgia. The program, Taking Flight in the Right Direction, aims to give young people a better understanding of the consequences of their decisions.

  • The program is a 10-week course and has been offered twice.
  • The most recent session included seven nonviolent offenders ordered to attend; their parents were also mandated to participate.
  • Participants build, program, and fly an RC model airplane.
  • The AMA donated simulators to support training.

The program works: participants collaborate as a team, build and fly models, gain a sense of accomplishment, and are introduced to aeromodeling.

Recognition and thanks

I received a letter from Margaret Tutt-Adams, Chief Probation Officer/Manager, Columbia County Juvenile Court, thanking the AMA for supporting Vern’s program, which introduces young men and women to modeling, changes lives, and makes a difference.

This is a worthwhile program. We must remember that we were young once and that someone introduced us to modeling. What a great start!

The program has been so successful that Vern and his participants made the local newspaper. Thank you, Vern, for being a caring AMA member, friend, and mentor. Introducing young people to life lessons through model aviation is one of the most gratifying things we can do. Kudos, Vern!

New clubs and submissions

We have many new clubs popping up throughout the district. If you would like to be included in this monthly column, please write to me. I will be happy to come fly with you and feature your club in this column.

See you soon.

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