District IX Report - 2009/10
AMA Leader Club Awards
To recognize the leadership of the best modeling clubs, AMA has established the AMA Leader Club Awards. These awards can be earned by any AMA-chartered club that meets certain standards of community service and activity. There are three levels of AMA Leader Clubs: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Once a club meets the minimum criteria, it qualifies for a level based on performance.
AMA has established 14 goals for Leader Club status. Five of these goals are required for all levels:
- A club that meets the required five goals plus three electives qualifies as a Bronze-level Leader Club.
- Meeting the required five goals plus six electives qualifies the club for the Silver level.
- The ultimate recognition, Gold level, requires that all 14 goals be met.
Arvada Associated Modelers
Arvada Associated Modelers has successfully achieved Gold-level status for 10 consecutive years. A plaque for the club and patches for all of its members were presented by AMA at the club's general meeting.
Pikes Peak Soaring Society (PPSS) — Milt Woodham
Milt Woodham of the Pikes Peak Soaring Society (PPSS) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, reported:
June and July saw PPSS members continue a long tradition of assisting Boy Scouts in building and flying AMA Delta Darts. For six weeks, each Monday brought a new group of Scouts eager to build and fly a model.
It's rewarding to see the reactions of the boys when their airplanes fly. Most of these kids have never seen or flown anything like this before, and some literally jump for joy when their creation flies.
PPSS member Frank Deis equips these Delta Darts with indoor free-flight (FF) contest rubber and teaches each Scout how to expertly trim their little airplanes prior to flight. The results amaze the Scouts, with flight times of almost two minutes sometimes being achieved.
A benefit to PPSS is that the Boy Scouts have generously provided sailplane flying space on the Boy Scout ranch and have also granted access to the ranch's pond for flying float airplanes. PPSS also supports a model-rocket-building program with the Boy Scouts and has assisted the local Cub Scout troops in building Delta Darts.
Omahawks R/C — Ambassadors Worship Center Presentation
E.J. Murphy, president of the Omahawks R/C Flying Club in Omaha, Nebraska, sent this report about an Ambassadors Worship Center R/C presentation.
As part of the TAG (Take Off and Grow) program, several Omahawks R/C Inc. club members joined the staff of the Ambassadors Worship Center to introduce the children to flying. The Omahawks provided the RC portion of the display. Participants included E.J. Murphy (president), Larry McChesney (vice president), Ed Paasch, Skip Brown, and Ralph Brown.
E.J. explained the operation and similarities of airplane controls for full-scale and RC-scale model aircraft. The Worship Center kids were having the time of their lives — approximately 50 children attended, along with staff (some in costume).
We were able to start a glow-powered airplane: Ed Paasch's Enya-powered Protégé (the one with the Wonder Bread wrapper–looking wing). Ed also flew his electric-powered Slow Stick; the kids loved the loops and jokingly thought Ed skimmed the grass on purpose.
Other airplanes on display included:
- F-22 Raptor
- Seawind EP
- TwinStar
- Avistar on floats
- Blade CX2 with Jet Ranger body
We also invited the children to see the float airplanes the next morning at Standing Bear Lake, and to stop by Hawk Field on training nights for an introductory flight.
Thanks to the Ambassadors Worship Center for inviting the Omahawks to join the program. It's always a pleasure to introduce our hobby to youngsters.
Keep the sunscreen on and keep the cancer off!
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
