Author: Bruce Nelson
Edition: Model Aviation - 2010/10
Page Numbers: 154

District XI - 2010/10

Every year I get questions about the date of the Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Float Fly. This year the event was September 3–5. Many of us usually go up as much as a week early. This is a great event and our friends to the north are great hosts.

The event will be over by the time you read this, but I'll have more about the float-fly in a later column.

Upcoming float-fly — Lake Entiat

The Wenatchee Red Apple Flyers in East Wenatchee, Washington, will host a float-fly at Lake Entiat on September 25–26. Dean Nichols is the CD (contest director); his telephone number is (509) 888-2449. Visit the club's website at www.redappleflyers.org for more information and park reservation details for camping.

AMA benefits, grants, and recognition programs

AMA provides a number of benefits and programs to assist and recognize clubs. I’d like to highlight a few.

#### Flying Site Development/Improvement Grant

  • This year the Fly-A-Ways RC Club received an AMA Flying Site Development/Improvement Grant in the amount of $1,221.90 toward development of the club's new flying site. Eighteen clubs around the country received similar grants; the Fly-A-Ways club was the only club in our district to receive one.
  • If your club could use funds to help develop or establish a flying site, consider this grant:
  • Provides up to 10% of the total cost of the project.
  • Maximum grant award is $5,000 for a $50,000 or higher project.
  • Application and deadline details:
  • Grant applications should be sent to your district vice president on or before March 1, 2011.
  • The district vice president will review and approve the application and forward it to AMA Headquarters for arrival on or before March 15, 2011.
  • Grants awarded will be announced approximately May 1 each calendar year.
  • Projects are expected to be completed within 12 months.
  • Grant award amounts are expected to be dispersed within 12 months of receipt.
  • The application is Document #712 on the AMA website: www.modelaircraft.org/documents.aspx

#### Club Disaster Assistance Program

  • Established by the AMA Executive Council in 2005 to grant immediate financial assistance to AMA-chartered clubs whose flying sites are damaged by a natural disaster (hurricane, earthquake, firestorm, etc.).
  • Intended to assist clubs in clearing debris so fields are once again accessible and usable by members. Not designed to pay for repairs to structures or facilities, except to make the facility and runway adequate for flying.
  • Your club must provide adequate pictures and information for the application to qualify.
  • The program is streamlined to allow for quick payments to help club members get back to flying.
  • The grant is limited to $500 per club.
  • Applications should be sent to:

Academy of Model Aeronautics c/o Joyce Hager Flying Site Disaster Grant 5161 E. Memorial Dr. Muncie, IN 47302

#### AMA Leader Club Awards

  • The AMA Leader Club Awards recognize the leadership of the best model clubs. Any AMA-chartered club can earn these awards by meeting standards of community service and club activity.
  • There are three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
  • AMA has established 14 goals for Leader Club status; five of these goals are required.
  • Bronze: the required five goals plus three electives (eight total).
  • Silver: the required five goals plus six electives (11 total).
  • Gold: all 14 goals met.
  • Each goal must be documented. If an elective does not pertain to your club’s operation, include an explanation with your club's application (for example, a soaring club that uses only winches or hi-starts need not address sound limitations; a free-flight club may not face frequency concerns).
  • The application and a list of the 14 goals are available on the AMA website: www.modelaircraft.org/files/708.pdf

Locating flying sites on government land

Each year I get questions about getting help locating flying sites on government land. The best advice I can give is to first get involved with the community — kind of like the camel getting his nose under the tent.

You will have to give to the community before you can expect to get support. I have seen this work time and time again. The club I belong to has a great working relationship with its community. That relationship started many years ago, and we are still reaping the benefits. It's all about taking that first step.

That's all, folks!

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.