Edition: Model Aviation - 2002/09
Page Numbers: 154, 163

THE YES (Youth Education Stipend) Grant program has become so successful that we have run out of funds earlier each year. YES Grant funds were depleted by May this year. Because of this, we have made the following changes to the YES Grant program: • Clubs may only receive funding for one year. • The maximum award cannot exceed $500. • Proposals must be postmarked or submitted by January 1 each year. We will review proposals by February 1 each year. If you have any questions, please contact me. I'm again highlighting a YES Grant program. The following letter describes another Herculean effort by a few concerned and caring modelers. Tim Pease, president of the Oswego Valley Modelaires of New York, shared his story. "We're two weeks into our Hawks RC (Radio Control) Junior Flight Training Program and we wanted to let you know how things are going so far. Here's a little refresher first. "Our club, the Oswego Valley Modelaires in NY, does a few Scouting events every year where we set up a flightline and give the kids some stick time. We also have a few kids who visit our field now and then to watch us fly. "We wanted to somehow involve kids without giving equipment away, which would deplete our resources rather quickly, and using the Intro-Pilot program would not give the kids enough time. Several of us thought we might expand this idea and set something up at our home field that would give us what we wanted. "Out of a few brainstorming sessions came the Hawks RC Junior Flight Training Program. The basic program is to have equipment available for the kids to use Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. in the months of June, July, and August. The Hawks program also pays for the kids' membership in the AMA so we can provide this program to the kids free. We supply the equipment and the kids get to use it. Ready to Fly (ARF) models (what a nice airplane!). We also got a huge surprise from Heather Rose at Hobbico* in the form of two flight boxes. Modelaires Darrel Eckhard, Glenn Stinson, Gay Sawyer (hidden), and Wayne Howard test flight times. Danny Rounds and Shane Pease cleaning up one of the Kadet LT-40s. Student flier Shane Pease along with Gay Sawyer and Darrel Eckland. "You know how they have baseball and football summer camps? Well this is kind of like a Radio Control summer camp where kids come to learn to fly. "We were originally looking at using our own equipment, trainers, radios, engines, etc. to get the program started. We would have preferred to use new equipment but we were ready to use whatever we could dig up. "Since we had nothing to lose and everything to gain we applied to the AMA for a YES Grant. I was pleasantly surprised when you called to congratulate us on being approved for a grant. "We made up a wish list of airplanes, radios, engines, flight boxes, etc. With AMA grant money available and wanting to stretch it as far as possible, 1 sent letters to those manufacturers from where we were going to buy our equipment and basically told them 'we're starting this youth program and we have grant money to spend. Can you help us out by giving us a price break on this item or that item?' "Well, we seemed to be on a roll because Sig Manufacturing" took the liberty of contacting Walt's Hobby here in Syracuse to get us a deal on two Kadet LT-40 Almost Garrett Fitzsimmons, with equipment purchased with the aid of a YES Grant. "The other vendors didn't reply—too bad—but we bought their stuff anyway because we knew what we wanted. We borrowed a radio here and an engine there. We bought one trainer box with a cord from one guy and the other from eBay. Anyway, with all that in place we were off and running. "We have started the program and are so far having a great time. On the first night the weather threatened to shut us down with sprinkles here and there. "We had four students in attendance and started them right off with stick time. We felt that they would be in a condition of information overload to begin with and the best thing to do would be to minimize book and verbal instruction and just get them flying. This worked out well as they had trouble focusing with all the new sounds, smells, and other activities going on that we as RCers take for granted. "Although we had labeled the buddy boxes with left and right stickers, they still had problems with this as was expected. The common phrase heard most of the evening from the instructors was, 'okay, now give it a little right—no, not that right, your other right' or 'not that left, your other left.' "The kids arc taught safety issues such as [the danger of] spinning propellers, staying behind the safety barriers when flying, and generally being aware of their surroundings. One of the ways we did this was to make them observe all takeoffs and landings, and basically to keep an eye on those things that might reach out and bite them. "They were taught the proper way to fuel up and de-fuel the airplane, to be careful where they step, how to hold the airplane while it was being started, and to clean up. Basically, we kept those not flying busy with other hands-on activities and it has worked out great. They are eager to learn. "We have a four-step training program and by the time the kids solo they will have been taught all the necessities to fly safely at any club field. The kids have been and continue to be helpful and involved, and having the parents around is a big plus too. "Our youth program officially started on June 4. The Kadets look and fly great. We currently have Garrett and Coleman Fitzsimmons, Josh Chipkin, Shane Pease, Danny Rounds, and Sam Case signed up with two more in the process—all by word of mouth. Josh Chipkin is one of the student fliers. The airplanes will get a lot of air time since we'll be flying Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. until the end of August. Barring any major mishaps, they'll both have skis on this winter too. "Well, that's it for now. I'll send more as the program moves along." Coleman Fitzsimmons is one of the first members of the Hawks RC Junior Flight Training Program. rft'.n,v.-<i<. It's people like Tim and other folks like the Modelaires who are doing so much to promote the sport of aeromodeling to our ( youngsters across the country. Keep up the great work! Programs like this one and many others , will soon be able to find a home on the Internet. The AMA Education Committee Web site at www.buildandfly.com has been launched. The program registry on this site is a great place to get the word out about your aeromodeling programs.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2002/09
Page Numbers: 154, 163

THE YES (Youth Education Stipend) Grant program has become so successful that we have run out of funds earlier each year. YES Grant funds were depleted by May this year. Because of this, we have made the following changes to the YES Grant program: • Clubs may only receive funding for one year. • The maximum award cannot exceed $500. • Proposals must be postmarked or submitted by January 1 each year. We will review proposals by February 1 each year. If you have any questions, please contact me. I'm again highlighting a YES Grant program. The following letter describes another Herculean effort by a few concerned and caring modelers. Tim Pease, president of the Oswego Valley Modelaires of New York, shared his story. "We're two weeks into our Hawks RC (Radio Control) Junior Flight Training Program and we wanted to let you know how things are going so far. Here's a little refresher first. "Our club, the Oswego Valley Modelaires in NY, does a few Scouting events every year where we set up a flightline and give the kids some stick time. We also have a few kids who visit our field now and then to watch us fly. "We wanted to somehow involve kids without giving equipment away, which would deplete our resources rather quickly, and using the Intro-Pilot program would not give the kids enough time. Several of us thought we might expand this idea and set something up at our home field that would give us what we wanted. "Out of a few brainstorming sessions came the Hawks RC Junior Flight Training Program. The basic program is to have equipment available for the kids to use Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. in the months of June, July, and August. The Hawks program also pays for the kids' membership in the AMA so we can provide this program to the kids free. We supply the equipment and the kids get to use it. Ready to Fly (ARF) models (what a nice airplane!). We also got a huge surprise from Heather Rose at Hobbico* in the form of two flight boxes. Modelaires Darrel Eckhard, Glenn Stinson, Gay Sawyer (hidden), and Wayne Howard test flight times. Danny Rounds and Shane Pease cleaning up one of the Kadet LT-40s. Student flier Shane Pease along with Gay Sawyer and Darrel Eckland. "You know how they have baseball and football summer camps? Well this is kind of like a Radio Control summer camp where kids come to learn to fly. "We were originally looking at using our own equipment, trainers, radios, engines, etc. to get the program started. We would have preferred to use new equipment but we were ready to use whatever we could dig up. "Since we had nothing to lose and everything to gain we applied to the AMA for a YES Grant. I was pleasantly surprised when you called to congratulate us on being approved for a grant. "We made up a wish list of airplanes, radios, engines, flight boxes, etc. With AMA grant money available and wanting to stretch it as far as possible, 1 sent letters to those manufacturers from where we were going to buy our equipment and basically told them 'we're starting this youth program and we have grant money to spend. Can you help us out by giving us a price break on this item or that item?' "Well, we seemed to be on a roll because Sig Manufacturing" took the liberty of contacting Walt's Hobby here in Syracuse to get us a deal on two Kadet LT-40 Almost Garrett Fitzsimmons, with equipment purchased with the aid of a YES Grant. "The other vendors didn't reply—too bad—but we bought their stuff anyway because we knew what we wanted. We borrowed a radio here and an engine there. We bought one trainer box with a cord from one guy and the other from eBay. Anyway, with all that in place we were off and running. "We have started the program and are so far having a great time. On the first night the weather threatened to shut us down with sprinkles here and there. "We had four students in attendance and started them right off with stick time. We felt that they would be in a condition of information overload to begin with and the best thing to do would be to minimize book and verbal instruction and just get them flying. This worked out well as they had trouble focusing with all the new sounds, smells, and other activities going on that we as RCers take for granted. "Although we had labeled the buddy boxes with left and right stickers, they still had problems with this as was expected. The common phrase heard most of the evening from the instructors was, 'okay, now give it a little right—no, not that right, your other right' or 'not that left, your other left.' "The kids arc taught safety issues such as [the danger of] spinning propellers, staying behind the safety barriers when flying, and generally being aware of their surroundings. One of the ways we did this was to make them observe all takeoffs and landings, and basically to keep an eye on those things that might reach out and bite them. "They were taught the proper way to fuel up and de-fuel the airplane, to be careful where they step, how to hold the airplane while it was being started, and to clean up. Basically, we kept those not flying busy with other hands-on activities and it has worked out great. They are eager to learn. "We have a four-step training program and by the time the kids solo they will have been taught all the necessities to fly safely at any club field. The kids have been and continue to be helpful and involved, and having the parents around is a big plus too. "Our youth program officially started on June 4. The Kadets look and fly great. We currently have Garrett and Coleman Fitzsimmons, Josh Chipkin, Shane Pease, Danny Rounds, and Sam Case signed up with two more in the process—all by word of mouth. Josh Chipkin is one of the student fliers. The airplanes will get a lot of air time since we'll be flying Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. until the end of August. Barring any major mishaps, they'll both have skis on this winter too. "Well, that's it for now. I'll send more as the program moves along." Coleman Fitzsimmons is one of the first members of the Hawks RC Junior Flight Training Program. rft'.n,v.-<i<. It's people like Tim and other folks like the Modelaires who are doing so much to promote the sport of aeromodeling to our ( youngsters across the country. Keep up the great work! Programs like this one and many others , will soon be able to find a home on the Internet. The AMA Education Committee Web site at www.buildandfly.com has been launched. The program registry on this site is a great place to get the word out about your aeromodeling programs.