District X
Lawrence Tougas, District X Vice President [email protected]
States in District X
- Arizona
- California
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Nevada
- Utah
Last month I discussed how clubs could build better ties to their community leaders. Please continue to send me the tips and techniques your club uses to keep your relationship with your field's decision makers strong. In a future column I'll share ideas from across the district.
Evangelizing modeling
This month I'd like to talk about how we can be modeling evangelists. One definition of an evangelist in Webster's Dictionary is "an enthusiastic advocate." That's what we need to be to make modeling thrive.
We can evangelize modeling in our workplace, during other leisure activities, and of course at the model field.
Monday through Friday I work in an office setting. There are several AMA stickers and modeling pictures in my office. They are great conversation starters; people see the pictures and ask about my modeling.
I emphasize that the sport offers a wide variety of choices:
- FF (Free Flight)
- CL (Control Line)
- RC (Radio Control)
I let interested parties know that for a modest investment and the help of a club in their hometown, they can start to enjoy the magic of modeling. Launching a new model into the breeze for the first time is a thrill they'll never forget.
In 2010 I convinced two people in my office to give it a try. Now two people may not sound like much, but if each person in the district did that we'd have 46,000 people trying modeling.
Some AMA members have leisure interests in addition to modeling. These interests could include a church social group, professional organizations, hobbies, or affiliation with youth groups. These are all prime opportunities to promote our sport.
Whether it is the Kiwanis, Toastmasters, Lions Club, Moose Club, or any other service organization you belong to, this is a chance to give a presentation on the aspects of modeling that you like and encourage others to join you. The same idea applies at your church or any youth groups you support. Don't keep the passion you have about modeling to yourself — get out and spread the word.
At the field and in your club
Every club interested in attracting new members can do a lot to promote modeling. It can start with a simple hello to newcomers who visit the field. When you see them, walk right up, introduce yourself, and offer to show them around. Answer their questions and give them a chance to get a close look at your models.
One word of advice: try not to overwhelm them with technical jargon. When they ask questions about engines, radios, or aircraft, try to answer them in plain English at a level of detail that a newcomer can understand.
They will naturally ask about cost. Try to discuss purchasing choices that would be appropriate for someone starting out rather than what may be the latest and greatest. Perhaps a good solution would be to have what your club considers a basic setup detailed on a flyer and include information about your club so they can take something home to consider before their next visit.
One club I'm aware of in our district has a standing policy of having a trainer and buddy box set up during the same time frame every Saturday. This makes it easy to give prospective modelers a chance to get some hands-on action.
After the prospective modeler has had his or her first session, invite the person back for another try. The AMA developed the Introductory Pilot Program so you can give the prospective modeler an extended opportunity to try modeling without requiring a commitment up front while the person is deciding if modeling is a good fit. It's a voluntary program for clubs and one I highly recommend.
I would be interested in hearing from you about how you and your club evangelize modeling. We'll collect these ideas and share them on the district website so everyone can benefit from the tools and techniques that transform prospective modelers into members of your club and the AMA.
Never underestimate the power of a committed modeling enthusiast to change the world.
Government relations
I hope you have participated in the AMA's letter-writing campaign to oppose the FAA's unnecessary regulation of modeling. If you haven't yet, this is the time to do so. We've made it simple for anyone to send a letter to his or her senators and representative.
Go to the AMA home page and you'll see a link to the Government Relations page. On that page are links to create instant letters by entering your name and address. There are also tips on writing letters from scratch and a tool to find out who your senators and representatives are and what their mailing addresses are.
Anyone can use these tools; you don't have to be an AMA member. Please encourage friends and family members to help in our campaign. It's appropriate to remember what one of our founding fathers Benjamin Franklin said at the signing of the Declaration of Independence: "We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
Those words are true today for modelers, so let's all hang together.
District news
I am still trying to fill several Associate Vice President (AVP) slots. This month we welcome Duke Chung as our AVP in Hawaii.
As of the time of this writing we need an AVP in Utah, so any Beehive State modelers who would like to participate in a rewarding opportunity to oversee modeling in Utah please contact me.
This is AMA's 75th anniversary. I am interested in hearing from modelers who have been with the organization since our earliest years. If you live in District X and joined the AMA in 1940 or earlier, please contact me.
Please remember to keep sending items for our website. Event write-ups, pictures, and videos are welcome.
Until next month, may you have nothing but happy landings.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
