Executive VP’s Report - 2004/03

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AS I WRITE this, it is early December
and all of the financial information is not
yet available. It will be completed after
December 31, 2003; however, it looks as
though we are having a very good year.
The renewals are ahead of last year at this
time by approximately 3%.
I plan to provide some preliminary
numbers as soon as they are available and
the information has been sent to the
auditors.
Our largest expense category is
insurance. Premiums are high but claims
have not been as bad this year as in the
past, so fly carefully; it helps AMA
financially.
I’ve been flying smaller Electric airplanes
such as the GWS models, the Jenny from
Sig, the ever-popular GWS Tiger Moth,
and I electrified a Rubber Fairchild 24
from the Dumas series. After building and
flying those, I found myself working on
the Roadkill series. I built a Spitfire then a
Jenny, both of which I enjoy flying. Those
models weigh 3 ounces.
Having flown Peanut Scale in times
past and some Indoor aircraft, I became
interested in finding something under 1
ounce that I could fly in my living room.
There is a man in Raleigh, North Carolina,
by the name of Larry Park who has an
airplane called Housefly.
The Housefly has a wingspan of 14
inches and a 4-inch chord equaling an area
of 56 square inches. The weight when
finished is 12 grams. The model can be
built heavier by using larger batteries,
motor, and control mechanism.
I have built two of them and, as far as
I’m concerned, Christmas came early this
year!
I hope you will participate in model
airplanes with the idea of enjoying the
hobby and having fun with the sport. At
AMA we will do the best we can to have
rules that protect without burdening.
Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, “I
have no particular talent; I am merely
extremely inquisitive.” Our sport offers a
lot of opportunity to be inquisitive. There
is a lot to learn and a lot of fun to be had
when you take what you learn and make it
fly. So, apply that and have a good 2004.
Remember: ABC, Always Be Courteous.
Until later ...
Executive VP’s Report
Doug Holland
AMA Executive VP
3517 Fernwood Dr.
Raleigh NC 27612
(Home) (919) 787-5163
(Office) (919) 787-7454
AMA Grand Event
—a Radio Control and Model Hobby Show—
The seventh AMA Grand Event will be held in Evansville, Indiana, at the Evansville R/C Club flying site located near
Interstate 164. It will be hosted by the Evansville R/C Club June 18-20, 2004.
The Grand Event provides hands-on modeling experience to everyone by offering activities including Radio Control aircraft,
cars and boats, as well as Control Line aircraft, kite flying, and rockets. Opportunities for Make-and-Take projects including
kites and rockets make this an interactive event. Attendance is free!
The event is scheduled to begin at noon Friday, June 18 and run through 3 p.m. Sunday, June 20. A detailed scheduled will be
published at a later date.
The event director and contact for this event is Steve Parker, E-mail: [email protected]; (812) 985-9109.
Last year’s Grand Event was hosted by the Des Moines Modelaires, in Des Moines, Iowa. It was a great success as the
following attendance and participation numbers show:
• 6,000 people attended the event, held at Water Works Park, with 100 out-of-state visitors from 10 different states
• 400 model rockets were built, launched, and taken home
• 318 kites were built, flown, and taken home
• 115 parachutes and 180 gliders were built, flown, and taken home
• 288 buddy-box Radio Control flights by non-modelers
• 250 individuals operated Radio Control cars for the first time
• 492 people experienced their first Radio Control boat operation
This is one of many E-mails received concerning the 2003 AMA Grand Event:
“My husband and I took our neighbor boy who is mentally challenged to the air show on Saturday, June 7, in Des Moines,
Iowa. We couldn’t have had a more wonderful experience for all of us. Sam was able to make and fly a kite, make and watch his
rocket go, fly an airplane with assistance and watch the boats and other airplanes. He was thrilled. I can’t thank you enough for
your volunteers and the way they treated him and the two of us. My husband enjoyed it also.
“Thank you again,
“Kathy”
Come with the whole family and enjoy the day; it’s free! We assure an unforgettable experience for young and old!
The national coordinator for the AMA Grand Event is Ilona Maine, AMA, 5161 E. Memorial Dr., Muncie IN 47302; Tel.:
(765) 287-1256, ext. 251; Fax: (765) 289.4248; E-mail: [email protected].