ood-byes are never easy. This one
will be tougher for me than most. I
am retiring from the post of
aeromodeling editor with this issue, and I’m
leaving behind a career in editing that spans
almost 30 years.
In that time I’ve learned on-the-job what a
model-airplane magazine is about. It’s not
about airplanes; it’s about people. In order for
any of the technical stuff to make any sense
and be valuable, it is necessary to know what
the people in the hobby want, where they want
to go with their interest, and how best to fulfill
these needs.
To accomplish this, an editor must learn the
most valuable lesson of all; he or she must
learn how to listen. Without feedback from the
entire modeling family it is impossible to
know what to print and in what format it
should be presented.
A cursory look at our AMA family will
reveal that there are myriad special interest
groups, each with a focus on a specific type of
modeling. At first glance this might seem to
suggest that we are splintered and have no
connection to each other, save membership in
the same parent organization.
What it really shows is that modeling has
grown up and grown out. The simpler
modeling disciplines of yesteryear have paved
the path to extraordinary technical
development and mind-blowing model
performance in all directions.
Our models are larger and smaller than
ever before. They fly faster and slower than
ever before. They are simpler and more
complex than ever before. Yes, it is truly an
amazing time to be involved in model aviation.
It all started, however, with someone
gaining an interest in modeling as a hobby or
pastime. And that initial interest was probably
sparked by coming into contact with another
modeler somewhere along the line. This is a
process that goes back to the very beginnings
of the hobby/sport. And this is where I believe
we now need to focus our attention.
Some of our disciplines have become so
complex that it takes all our spare time and
energy to just keep abreast of a single type of
modeling. That leaves precious little time or
energy to put any effort or thought into the
long-term health and survival of our mutual
passion.
Perhaps it’s time to give back just a little by
remembering where we came from and
realizing that there are others who are striving
to become involved just as we did. They need
our good counsel and our leadership, just as
we took good advantage of the help offered by
those who got us involved. It’s another “pay it
forward” scenario.
But how can we all do something that will
help, and yet still find time for our own
interests? There are those who are called to
serve as their principal involvement, and these
people get true joy from helping others all the
time. Let’s remember that point; they want to
do this, and they are happy doing it.
For many of us, an actual program of
helping others to get involved in, and teaching
them specific lessons about, modeling is just
Aeromodeling Editor Bob Hunt
G
not possible. Don’t feel guilty! Life is short and
there’s no need to apologize for having some
fun and enjoying your hobby/sport in the
snippets of time left between the cold, hard
realities of making a living.
Here’s a thought. We can all make it a point
to mention our interest in modeling to at least
someone every day.
We can put photos of our models on our
office walls and AMA or club stickers in our
car windows. We can take a moment to look
around when we are flying and see if there is
someone watching who may have an interest.
And if we do see someone, we can strike up a
conversation and determine if we can help that
person take the next step in becoming involved.
It may be as simple as carrying a card that lists
the hobby shops in your area or the number of
your club’s membership chairman.
None of these things take much time, nor
do they take you away long from your specific
task. It’s simply sowing seeds.
I’m a huge fan of well-written music and
lyrics. My personal all-time favorite songwriter
is Jackson Browne. He has a way of cutting
through to the heart of a matter with very
straightforward but eloquent verses.
I’m going to leave you with just one
thought from one of Jackson’s songs, “For a
Dancer,” as it really sums up what I’ve been
trying to say. In the following verse, just
substitute the word “modeler” in your mind
when you read the word “dancer.”
“Into a dancer you have grown, from a
seed somebody else has thrown. Go ahead and
throw some seeds of your own. And somewhere
between the time you arrive and the time you
go, may lie a reason you were alive, but you’ll
never know.”
I would like to take a moment to thank the
entire MA crew and all those who work at
AMA. They have become family to me, and I
will miss them dearly.
And finally, thank you all for your
friendship, your thoughts, your criticisms, your
patience, and most of all for just taking time to
read what I’ve had to say. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/12
Page Numbers: 6
