From the Copilot’s Seat
Gary Fitch, Executive Vice President
Announcing a new CFO and AMA’s Model Aviation Day
After more than two years of searching and interviewing candidates, I am pleased to announce that the AMA Executive Council has appointed Keith Sessions as our new chief financial officer (CFO). Keith has been an AMA member for 18 years, lives in Burlington, Kentucky, and is a vice president with US Bank in Cincinnati. He brings to this position a wealth of financial and investment knowledge and we are fortunate to have Keith as our new CFO.
One of Keith’s duties will be to write a Model Aviation column, alternating months with my column. I appreciate Keith accepting this volunteer position and look forward to working with him. I have no doubt that, through Keith’s efforts, the AMA will become financially stronger.
National Model Aviation Day
The inaugural AMA National Model Aviation Day is history. To say that it was successful is an understatement. Several hundred AMA clubs participated and sponsored events to help raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Although the final numbers aren’t in, clubs have donated tens of thousands of dollars. The Executive Council hopes that National Model Aviation Day will become an annual event. It is expected that many more AMA clubs will participate in this worthwhile program.
My hat is off to all of those who took the time to organize these events and raise money for this charity.
District VII Vice President Tim Jesky and Ed McIntosh, CD and promoter of the Benzie Area Radio Controllers’ (BARCS) National Model Aviation Day fundraising event, asked me to attend. BARCS has roughly 45 members who fly at the airport in Thompsonville, Michigan.
BARCS partnered with Benzie County and Ed contacted the three local television stations, the newspapers, and area radio stations. Ed arranged for the media to be present the evening before the event, filming various model airplanes and helicopter flights. Ed explained the reason for this event and that the Wounded Warrior Project was the beneficiary.
The fundraiser was held on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and raised more than $2,400 through donations. Several thousand spectators attended and were in awe of the many flight demonstrations. The county sheriff spent much of the day enjoying the model flying and talking with his constituents.
I met many people and AMA members and everyone seemed appreciative that AMA was represented. Randy Gibson, a District VII associate vice president, and Cindy Peters, from near Lansing, Michigan, towed an AMA flight simulator trailer from Muncie, Indiana, to this event.
Randy volunteered his time to organize the trailer and ensure that the computer systems and the simulators were operational. We set up the units and Cindy staffed the simulators, helping newcomers experience RC flying and talk about how to get into the hobby. Randy and Cindy represent the best of the best in AMA volunteers and my hat is off to them.
Ed told me that the BARCS club expects to pick up three or four new members from the day’s activity. The BARCS Fun-Fly/Wounded Warrior Project, part of AMA’s National Model Aviation Day, is testimony that even a small club can have a major impact in its community.
Print or Digital?
When you renew your AMA membership, you will be asked to decide whether you want the print version of Model Aviation, the digital version, or both for a small additional fee. The digital version can be downloaded to your computer, tablet, or smartphone in either the iPhone or Android platforms. The digital MA will also provide additional information, written copy, and videos not included in the print version, making it an even better value.
Until next month, help secure our future and take a youngster flying.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
