District III - 2012/07

To begin, I want to congratulate the
following District III individuals for
obtaining their CD licenses: Anthony
Guide, New Freedom, Pennsylvania;
Robert James, New London, Ohio;
Bruce Reynolds, Franklin, Ohio; John
Harder, Toledo, Ohio; Mark Powelson,
Pataskala, Ohio; Jeffrey Sumey,
Uniontown, Pennsylvania; Perley
Bowen, Galeton, Pennsylvania; Garrett
Wolfe, Columbiana, Ohio; and Frank
Zagotti, New Springfield, Ohio.
Does your club have at least one CD?
If you answer: “We don’t have a contest
so we don’t need one,” I would like to
point out some reasons why your club
should have a CD on the roster.
Does your club host at least one
non-competitive event a year, such as
a fly-in? Although it doesn’t involve
competition, there are some good
reasons why you should sanction the
event. With a sanction, your event has
a protected draw area to keep events of
the same type from attracting the same
people. Your event is listed in Model
Aviation magazine and on the AMA
website calendar. This can help increase
exposure and attendance.
Sanctioned events are endorsed by
AMA. This adds value by assuring pilots
that AMA members will follow AMA
safety guidelines when organizing and
operating the event.
To obtain these benefits, a CD must
file for the sanction, run the event, and
file the proper paperwork with AMA
after the event is concluded.
Obtaining a CD license is not
difficult. Visit the AMA website, click
on the members and clubs tab, then
AMA documents, and scroll down and
you will find the application. Print it
and follow the instructions. Answer the
quiz and send it to AMA. If you pass
the quiz and meet the requirements on
the application, you will be a licensed
CD and are eligible to hold AMAsanctioned
events.
I would like to announce a new
Associate Vice President for District III.
His name is Al Myers, and he has been a
modeler for more than 50 years.
Al is a leader member, a CD, large
model aircraft inspector, and assistant
director of the International Miniature
Aircraft Association in District III. Al
has been club secretary of the Mahoning
County Model Club for more than 20
years.
Al worked on unmanned aircraft
for the military, building and installing
electronics. He is retired from AT&T
and travels to many fly-ins across
the district. He flies everything from
a Vapor to a 42% Extra 330S. Al
feels we need someone in the greater
Youngstown, Ohio, area to represent
the AMA. I encourage any modeler who
sees Al to introduce himself or herself
and express any ideas that will help
grow model aviation.
How do we get more young people
involved in our hobby? How about
a model airplane club in a high
school? This is what’s happening in
Ravenswood, West Virginia, with
the Ravenswood High School Aero
Modeling Club.
Club president Michael Wilkenson
reports that the 11-member club has
been in operation for roughly two years.
Club members fly in the gym, baseball
fields, and football field when athletic
teams aren’t present. Michael indicates
the administration is supportive, and
teachers and staff are as interested in
flying as the students!
Several trainers teach the students
basics about airplanes—some of which
were donated by local hobby shops and
their partner club, the Jackson County
Aeromodelers. We applaud these young
people for educating the schools and
public about our great hobby. I urge all
clubs to partner with your local schools
and let’s teach others about our passion.
Go fly and have fun!