AMA News: District X-2007/12
TAG Program Expansion
AMA's Take Off and Grow (TAG) program, aimed at expanding and growing the hobby, was test-marketed in 2007. From all accounts, TAG was a huge success as AMA-chartered clubs across the country piloted the new program. Given the encouraging results, AMA is expanding and enhancing the program for 2008.
Red Barons RC Flying Club — Roseville, California
One of the District X clubs participating in the evaluation was the Red Barons RC Flying Club of Roseville, California. The Red Barons stepped forward at the AMA Convention in January 2007 and came on board as one of the first clubs in the country to partner in assessing the new program.
David McCreary, the club’s training coordinator, spearheaded the effort and quickly focused the club’s activities on implementing TAG. Club president Mike Saras embraced the project and scheduled the kickoff event to coincide with the Red Barons’ grand opening of their new flying site on June 2, 2007.
All of the District X clubs participating in the 2007 TAG program did a tremendous job of organizing and implementing the new program. What makes the Red Barons’ achievement so significant is that the club had recently lost its field and had just completed the arduous task of locating, developing, and constructing a new flying site.
Key facts:
- AMA Flying Site Assistance Grant (2006): $5,000
- Club investment in new site: more than $70,000
- Kickoff and grand opening: June 2, 2007
- Site location: 25 miles northwest of Roseville at the Sleep Train Amphitheater in Marysville, California
After many months of building the new site, club members amplified their efforts to complete the finishing touches in time for the event.
Havasu Sport Flyers Association — Lake Havasu City, Arizona
In a desert state such as Arizona, and in one of the hottest places in the country, Lake Havasu City, you’ll find an AMA club dedicated to flying off the water. The Havasu Sport Flyers Association (HSFA) is celebrating its eighth year as just such a club. Members fly off the beach at Rotary Park on Lake Havasu, near the world-famous London Bridge.
The HSFA was organized solely for flying RC float planes. The flying site is provided and maintained free of charge by the Parks and Recreation Department, and the club has a specific permit to fly from sunrise to 12:00 noon daily. Flying is only permitted when the HSFA recovery boat is on site and available for aircraft retrieval.
Photos courtesy of Tarry (TJ) Roberts, HSFA public relations officer.
Until next time, Keep ’em Safe and Keep ’em Flyin’.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
