District I Report - 2007/11
District I Vice President / Contact
Andy Argenio, District I Vice President [email protected]
States:
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
Membership Development Committee and the TAG Program
Most AMA members are aware that much of the work done by the Executive Council and the AMA president is accomplished through committees.
Changing demographics, competing recreational activities, and longer working hours have resulted in declining membership for many associations. To combat the decline in AMA membership, the AMA Membership Development Committee was established.
During 2007 the committee developed several programs designed to encourage members and clubs to promote aeromodeling. The first program, known as Take Off And Grow (TAG), was introduced early this year. The intent of the TAG program was to grow club membership and to introduce the local community to our hobby. Clubs willing to partner with AMA requested an application package and applied for hosting a TAG Model Aviation Day. AMA provided flight simulators, RTF fly RC aircraft, and buddy boxes. At the end of the day the hosting clubs got to keep these items as AMA’s way of saying “thanks for helping us grow.”
The New Hampshire Flying Tigers was the first club in District I to host a TAG program. This year only one club in District I applied for a TAG event in time to be selected. The following TAG report and photos were sent to me by the event coordinator, Bob Kilmon.
New Hampshire Flying Tigers — TAG Event Report
The New Hampshire Flying Tigers, from Londonderry, New Hampshire, offered a no-cost, two-day, introductory RC flight experience to anyone interested in aviation. Handouts were placed in the local hobby shops and supermarkets and ads ran in the newspaper and on cable TV.
The event started on August 4 and ran from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with a classroom session in a conference room at the Londonderry Police Station. The session began with a slideshow presentation of the club field and flying activities offered by club president Rich Bono.
Bob Kilmon talked about and passed around the basic items used in RC flying, including transmitters, receivers, servos, batteries, and engines. This was followed by a question-and-answer period. The first day of the TAG event ended with all participants receiving hands-on simulator use and instruction.
The highlight of the event took place on the second day at the club’s flying site. The weather was perfect—not a cloud in the sky with a slight breeze.
All who participated in the program had multiple opportunities to experience the thrill of controlling the flight of a model aircraft with the help of the club’s intro pilots: Rich Bono, Glen Bolser, John Lavery, Richard Mastalerz, and Bob Kilmon.
Club member John Clark did a splendid job handling the food and drink concession. In all, 20 people registered for the program and numerous spectators watched the flying activities. At the end of the program seven new members joined the club.
Hobbico Nexstar airplanes and buddy boxes were given to the club as an incentive for hosting the TAG event. The flight line was busy all day with newcomers and their instructors.
The club anticipates that others who expressed their enjoyment will be getting into the sport at a future date. The club waived the training and initiation fees for the new members. Everyone who completed the course received a certificate of completion and gift certificates from the local hobby shops: Hobby Town and Treasured Toys.
All of the club members had a great time putting on this event and felt this was an excellent program to get people interested in the hobby and demonstrate to the local community the values and enjoyment of watching and participating in the sport of aeromodeling.
Outcome and Next Steps
I congratulate the New Hampshire Flying Tigers R/C Club for its successful participation in this worthwhile program. AMA will offer the TAG program again in 2008 with slight modifications. I advise all District I clubs that have an interest in conducting a TAG program to wait for the 2008 announcement and apply early, since there will be a limited number of clubs selected.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
