AMA News: Flying Site Education-2011/12

FALL IS IN THE AIR here in the Southeast. Cooler temperatures
mean more days at the flying field. I hope you can take advantage of
the weather before winter sets in.
This month I want to let you know about AMA’s revised Flying
Site Assistance Volunteer (FSAV) program. The concept of FSAV
began with the idea of getting the AMA membership involved in
looking for possible flying sites. The program never really took off,
but it was a good idea. I have revised this program to give direction
to the FSAVs to help find new flying sites for clubs. Here is an
outline of the program:
Flying Site Assistance State Program
Purpose:
The purpose of this program is to help acquire flying sites for AMA
clubs by attending state conventions to solicit support from city or
county representatives who are in attendance.
Program:
This program is modeled after our national program. I attend the
National League of Cities or the National Recreation and Park
Association annual conventions and solicit support for AMA club
flying sites.
A state-by-state approach can have a positive impact. Based on
what District II Vice President Gary Fitch was able to accomplish in
2010 at the New Jersey League of Cities, we will duplicate this
program on a state-by-state level and use our Flying Site Assistance
volunteers to maximize benefits.
As an FSAV you would become part of a statewide work group
devoted to assisting clubs with flying site acquisition issues. The
task is to organize, train, and support each state work group in order
to attend a statewide convention to present the AMA story to
attendees with the intention of obtaining flying sites for AMA clubs.
The state work groups would organize and select a group leader. The
group would then research statewide conventions and select one to
attend each year.
The AMA would provide the booth materials and training, as
well as cover the cost of the booth space and entry fee for two
FSAV’s to work at the booth. The FSAV convention workers would
educate those who come by the booth and express an interest in
providing a flying site for a club. The FSAV state work group would
then follow up on these leads. This information would be used to
connect clubs with the contacts from the convention in hopes of
creating new flying sites for clubs.
I am working to recruit AMA members to serve as Flying Site
Assistance volunteers. If you are interested, please contact me at
[email protected] and I will forward an application to you.
I have had good results with a test program run by the Sonoran
Desert Flyers Inc. of Oro Valley, Arizona. The group attended a
State Parks and Recreation Association convention and created
several dozen new contacts that we are currently perusing for clubs
in Arizona.
Based on my experience with the National League of Cities
program I have been involved with for the past few years, this is a
great opportunity for AMA members to partake in a program that
can really make a difference. Please consider becoming a Flying Site
Assistance Volunteer!