Estimate Your Club’s
Impact on the
Community
Use Steve’s model to try to
put a value on the impact of
your club to the community.
• How many members do
you have?
• Estimate fuel purchases
per year.
• Estimate food purchases
(coffee, donuts, lunches,
etc.) per year.
Develop a model to estimate
the impact of any special events
your club conducts (contests,
swap meets, etc.).
• Total attendees?
• Motel or hotel impacts?
• Food, drink, or
entertainment impacts?
• Transportation impacts?
(Did participants fly or
drive?)
• Campsite or RV impacts?
Find out how many “people
days” of activity you have at
your facility.
• How many people attended
a specific event?
• Were they participants or
spectators?
• How far did they drive, fly,
or swim to get there?
Brief questionnaires handed
to all participants or spectators
can add vital information to your
database and can provide the
basis for worthwhile statistics
you can use in your
presentations.
A FEW months ago I received a request for
flying-site assistance from Steve Shipley, a
member of the Wings Miniature Aircraft
Society in Lubbock, Texas. His request went
something like this—in fact, it went exactly
like this:
“Wings Miniature Aircraft Society in
Lubbock, Texas, is in danger of losing its
flying site within the next 12-18 months. We
have been fortunate to have a 10,000-foot
runway at the closed Reese Air Force Base
for the last several years, but now with the
redevelopment of the facilities, it is entirely
possible that our activities will cease to be
compatible with some of the new businesses
that anticipate moving out there.
“Consequently we are in the beginning
stages of acquiring a new flying site. I have
contacted several of the smaller communities
around the Lubbock area and have found
them to be receptive—and even desirous—of
us moving to their community. As a board
member of a chamber of commerce, and the
president of the Board of City Development
in a small community, I understand what it
takes to get a community’s attention:
economic impact!
“In the past, AMA had some presentation
information or at least a format for the
presentation of economic impact data, and an
impressive list of information that would
make developing a ‘business proposal’ much
easier. We are more than capable of
producing such a document, but if it is
available, there’s no point in reinventing it.
“Any assistance you can provide in this
area would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in
advance for your efforts on our behalf.”
Two things jumped out at me as I read the
E-mail. This is a textbook example of great
advance preparation by members of a club
whose flying site is potentially “on the block.”
Too often I receive calls or E-mails from
members whose urgent pleadings are prefaced
with the words “We’ve just lost our field.”
Often the conversation uncovers the fact
that the demise of the flying site was the result
of a situation that was recognized months or
years ago, but no positive action was taken in
the hopes that the situation would resolve
itself. Once the field is lost, club membership
starts to hit the skids. Nothing good comes
from member inaction in the face of a
potential flying site loss.
Survey stakes are an early warning sign.
By the time the bulldozer arrives, it’s
probably a bit late.
Steve’s approach is excellent. A lead time
of 12-18 months allows the club’s siteacquisition
committee time to pursue many
options.
The other item of interest to me was
Steve’s idea that indications of a substantial
positive economic impact might drive
favorable responses on the part of local
officials to whom we are making pleas for
new flying sites.
In all of the presentations I have attended,
I don’t think I’ve ever heard any mention of
the potential economic impact of a flying club
on a local community. We tout the
recreational and educational benefits of our
sport; we clearly demonstrate that entire
families benefit from model aviation activities
and that people from the very young to the
very old can participate, but that’s all about
us. What benefits accrue to the community as
a result of our presence?
Steve’s ensuing E-mail begins to put some
dollar values on a potential economic model.
“I think what would be as helpful if not
more so would be a way for clubs to estimate
their impact on a community. Of course the
increased business for a major event is
significant, but most clubs just don’t draw that
kind of attendance to their local events.
“When a club is being forced to look for a
permanent site outside its original
municipality, the members need to be able to
go to a chamber of commerce, economic
development board, or the city council of a
satellite community and convince the
authorities that they are deserving of the
community support.
“What I have found in my conversations
with some of the small communities near
Lubbock is that they are excited about the
prospect of having us move there. What they
didn’t realize is the potential impact of having
us there.
“I explained to the mayor of Anton, Texas,
that if the approximately 90 members of our
club bought one tank of gas there once a
month that would be a $54,000 increase in
annual retail sales. Add to that the occasional
lunch or dinner, drinks, and snacks at the local
convenience store, and a $4,000-$5,000
Flying Site Assistance continued on page 153
average daily balance in our club bank
account, the next thing you know people are
clamoring for you to move in.
“I think the approach we’ve taken when
we try to convince people to take us may be a
little backward. From my experiences of the
past few weeks, it has sure been interesting to
have communities actually try to compete for
us!
“Anton is a town of approximately 2,100
and none of the land anywhere near where
they picked out for us will ever be developed,
but it’s only 25 minutes from Lubbock and it
would be a permanent solution to a flying site
in West Texas.
“So, I guess what I’m asking for is help to
not leave anything out in making a ‘business
proposal’ to an interested civic group when
estimating the positive impact of model
aviation on a community.”
There are myriad paths we can follow in
an effort to try to put a dollar value on our
club’s impact on the community. I called the
Convention and Tourism office in my town
and discovered that the average business
tourist spends $1,457 during the average 3.37-
day business trip. Gee, if we have a three-day
flying event, how much could we reasonably
estimate the participants and spectators would
spend in our community?
What should we consider? We need some
data so we can make some predictions.
We can add many things to these lists.
What is important is that we start to gather
data on how we impact the local economy.
AMA Executive Director Jim Cherry had
a useful idea. Once you develop a model for
the value of your club’s annual contribution to
the local economy, multiply it by five, and
present it as a five-year impact. Five-year
planning cycles are common in the budgeting
process, and of course, the number looks
better when it is five times greater!
We’re looking at a fertile field. I welcome
your ideas and suggestions on how we can
begin to gather pertinent data on the economic
impacts of our sport in your area. Google is
great for getting ideas. You are our best
resource for local practical applications.
Flying Site Assistance continued from page 152
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/03
Page Numbers: 152,153
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/03
Page Numbers: 152,153
Estimate Your Club’s
Impact on the
Community
Use Steve’s model to try to
put a value on the impact of
your club to the community.
• How many members do
you have?
• Estimate fuel purchases
per year.
• Estimate food purchases
(coffee, donuts, lunches,
etc.) per year.
Develop a model to estimate
the impact of any special events
your club conducts (contests,
swap meets, etc.).
• Total attendees?
• Motel or hotel impacts?
• Food, drink, or
entertainment impacts?
• Transportation impacts?
(Did participants fly or
drive?)
• Campsite or RV impacts?
Find out how many “people
days” of activity you have at
your facility.
• How many people attended
a specific event?
• Were they participants or
spectators?
• How far did they drive, fly,
or swim to get there?
Brief questionnaires handed
to all participants or spectators
can add vital information to your
database and can provide the
basis for worthwhile statistics
you can use in your
presentations.
A FEW months ago I received a request for
flying-site assistance from Steve Shipley, a
member of the Wings Miniature Aircraft
Society in Lubbock, Texas. His request went
something like this—in fact, it went exactly
like this:
“Wings Miniature Aircraft Society in
Lubbock, Texas, is in danger of losing its
flying site within the next 12-18 months. We
have been fortunate to have a 10,000-foot
runway at the closed Reese Air Force Base
for the last several years, but now with the
redevelopment of the facilities, it is entirely
possible that our activities will cease to be
compatible with some of the new businesses
that anticipate moving out there.
“Consequently we are in the beginning
stages of acquiring a new flying site. I have
contacted several of the smaller communities
around the Lubbock area and have found
them to be receptive—and even desirous—of
us moving to their community. As a board
member of a chamber of commerce, and the
president of the Board of City Development
in a small community, I understand what it
takes to get a community’s attention:
economic impact!
“In the past, AMA had some presentation
information or at least a format for the
presentation of economic impact data, and an
impressive list of information that would
make developing a ‘business proposal’ much
easier. We are more than capable of
producing such a document, but if it is
available, there’s no point in reinventing it.
“Any assistance you can provide in this
area would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in
advance for your efforts on our behalf.”
Two things jumped out at me as I read the
E-mail. This is a textbook example of great
advance preparation by members of a club
whose flying site is potentially “on the block.”
Too often I receive calls or E-mails from
members whose urgent pleadings are prefaced
with the words “We’ve just lost our field.”
Often the conversation uncovers the fact
that the demise of the flying site was the result
of a situation that was recognized months or
years ago, but no positive action was taken in
the hopes that the situation would resolve
itself. Once the field is lost, club membership
starts to hit the skids. Nothing good comes
from member inaction in the face of a
potential flying site loss.
Survey stakes are an early warning sign.
By the time the bulldozer arrives, it’s
probably a bit late.
Steve’s approach is excellent. A lead time
of 12-18 months allows the club’s siteacquisition
committee time to pursue many
options.
The other item of interest to me was
Steve’s idea that indications of a substantial
positive economic impact might drive
favorable responses on the part of local
officials to whom we are making pleas for
new flying sites.
In all of the presentations I have attended,
I don’t think I’ve ever heard any mention of
the potential economic impact of a flying club
on a local community. We tout the
recreational and educational benefits of our
sport; we clearly demonstrate that entire
families benefit from model aviation activities
and that people from the very young to the
very old can participate, but that’s all about
us. What benefits accrue to the community as
a result of our presence?
Steve’s ensuing E-mail begins to put some
dollar values on a potential economic model.
“I think what would be as helpful if not
more so would be a way for clubs to estimate
their impact on a community. Of course the
increased business for a major event is
significant, but most clubs just don’t draw that
kind of attendance to their local events.
“When a club is being forced to look for a
permanent site outside its original
municipality, the members need to be able to
go to a chamber of commerce, economic
development board, or the city council of a
satellite community and convince the
authorities that they are deserving of the
community support.
“What I have found in my conversations
with some of the small communities near
Lubbock is that they are excited about the
prospect of having us move there. What they
didn’t realize is the potential impact of having
us there.
“I explained to the mayor of Anton, Texas,
that if the approximately 90 members of our
club bought one tank of gas there once a
month that would be a $54,000 increase in
annual retail sales. Add to that the occasional
lunch or dinner, drinks, and snacks at the local
convenience store, and a $4,000-$5,000
Flying Site Assistance continued on page 153
average daily balance in our club bank
account, the next thing you know people are
clamoring for you to move in.
“I think the approach we’ve taken when
we try to convince people to take us may be a
little backward. From my experiences of the
past few weeks, it has sure been interesting to
have communities actually try to compete for
us!
“Anton is a town of approximately 2,100
and none of the land anywhere near where
they picked out for us will ever be developed,
but it’s only 25 minutes from Lubbock and it
would be a permanent solution to a flying site
in West Texas.
“So, I guess what I’m asking for is help to
not leave anything out in making a ‘business
proposal’ to an interested civic group when
estimating the positive impact of model
aviation on a community.”
There are myriad paths we can follow in
an effort to try to put a dollar value on our
club’s impact on the community. I called the
Convention and Tourism office in my town
and discovered that the average business
tourist spends $1,457 during the average 3.37-
day business trip. Gee, if we have a three-day
flying event, how much could we reasonably
estimate the participants and spectators would
spend in our community?
What should we consider? We need some
data so we can make some predictions.
We can add many things to these lists.
What is important is that we start to gather
data on how we impact the local economy.
AMA Executive Director Jim Cherry had
a useful idea. Once you develop a model for
the value of your club’s annual contribution to
the local economy, multiply it by five, and
present it as a five-year impact. Five-year
planning cycles are common in the budgeting
process, and of course, the number looks
better when it is five times greater!
We’re looking at a fertile field. I welcome
your ideas and suggestions on how we can
begin to gather pertinent data on the economic
impacts of our sport in your area. Google is
great for getting ideas. You are our best
resource for local practical applications.
Flying Site Assistance continued from page 152