District X Report - 2004/08

August 2004 163
LEADERSHIP means community
involvement and the First WeedWacker Aero
Squadron of Lakeside, California, takes its
role as an AMA Gold Leader Club seriously.
Community involvement is a key
component to serving as an AMA Leader
Club. This is important in promoting the
hobby; but perhaps more importantly, it
creates good will with the community leaders
and other service organizations. This
relationship can pay huge dividends should
the club ever be in need of support in
developing or retaining its flying site.
On April 10, the First WeedWacker Aero
Squadron hosted a group of 14 boys and girls
from the Royal Rangers of Faith Chapel of
La Mesa, California. Their guests where
treated to a day at the Cactus Park Model
Airport and the kids received hands-on
buddy-box instruction in RC flying.
On April 24, the club participated in the
Lakeside Western Days Parade winning the
first place Community Entry Award.
In true Leader Club fashion, members of
the First WeedWacker Aero Squadron
turned out in force to support the club’s
involvement in the Lakeside Western Days
Parade.
On May 1-2, the Aero Squadron
organized an aeromodeling static display at
the Wings Over Gillespie air show.
The annual Wings Over Gillespie air show
is a major community attraction drawing
10,000-15,000 visitors each year. As many
of the show-goers stopped by to chat
about the hobby and the clubs activities,
club members passed out magazines to
the kids in hopes of seeding an interest in
model aviation.
WeedWacker club members who
supported this year’s static display
included Art Flores (L), Norm Langevin,
club president Walt Wilson, Ted O’Fallon,
and Donn Stewart. Photos are courtesy of
Don Madison, San Diego, California.
This is a small portion of the club’s
ongoing community involvement. The Aero
Squadron is also a very active participant in
the San Diego County Association of Model
Clubs, hosting many of the association’s
events and participating in nearly all of its
community activities. The First WeedWacker
Aero Squadron truly puts the “lead” in
leadership and is an outstanding Gold Leader
Club.
Anaheim, California, was host to the RCX
2004 hobby show, April 23-25. This was the
second year for this commercial enterprise
and by all measures it was a huge success.
Hats off to the promoters, Air Age Media and
Vision Entertainment, for creating a truly
professional hobby show aimed at
introducing hobby enthusiasts and the general
public to all aspects of RC modeling.
California-based Hobby People was a
major exhibitor and this year’s RCX retail
sponsor.
Local hobby exhibitors included Lonnie
and Betty Morrison of Chino, California,
and George Joy of Gilbert, Arizona (above),
and Helmut Goestl from Dymond
Modelsports of San Diego, California.
AMA was
a key
exhibitor at
the RCX
show. Tom
Schwyn,
AMA’s
marketing
director, drew
a crowd while
demonstrating
his skills with
his tethered
indoor electric RC helicopter. Showing your
AMA card at the door earned you a $5
discount—a 40% savings off the ticket price.
Don’t miss RCX 2005 slated for May 20-22.
Till next time ... Keep ’em safe and Keep
’em fly’n.
Associate Vice Presidents
Darwin Barrie Scottsdale AZ (480) 946-8955
Don Goeschl Lancaster CA (661) 940-6066
Don Gulihur Santee CA (619) 449-8397
Marc Karpowich Logan UT (435) 752-3639
Dave Pinjuv Las Vegas NV (702) 656-1772
Frequency Coordinators
Eloy Marez Santa Ana CA (714) 540-4935
(See last month’s column for additional AVPs and
Coordinators)
Arizona / California / Hawaii /
Guam / Nevada / Utah
Richard Hanson
Vice President
PO Box 3312
Scottsdale AZ 85271
Voice/Fax: (888) 899-3548
E-mail: [email protected]
District XWeb page:
Web site: www.ama10.org
District X Report
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