Newcomers
32 Hollandbush Ct., St. Charles MO 63304
IDEAS LEAD the way to creating a variety of things. They swim around in the mind and, more often than not, spill out in the form of words or pictures. This column began its flow of verbiage almost a decade ago. Since its inception, it has morphed several times as situations within the magazine and my responsibilities changed.
Early on, this column labored under something of a schizophrenic personality. From month to month it shifted through developing events from attempts to provide pure information for newcomers to more esoteric items regarding general educational developments within the Academy. It ultimately moved to a more singular purpose. Perhaps an overview of my involvement and changes in the Academy’s outreach programs since 1993 would help.
Although Model Aviation carried a beginner’s column prior to the Academy’s move to Muncie IN, there was a growing feeling on the magazine staff that a new direction was needed. As I moved from the position of technical director to that of “retiree,” the concept was that I would pick up this responsibility. Several things impacted that decision when I became the interim executive director for nine months.
When Jerry Rouillard was hired as the executive director, I returned to the position of technical director on a remote, part-time basis. That continued for a year or so. It was then suggested that the position was much too complicated to be handled remotely and part-time. A full-time Muncie staff person was assigned the responsibility.
At that time, I suggested to Mr. Rouillard that an Education Committee be formed and new programs developed. So again, instead of retirement, I found myself creating a new committee, working with education programs, and generally coordinating the many new activities which included the Youth Education Stipend (YES) grants, Interactive Ball State University television programs, teacher education, and other programs.
Perhaps one of the more productive suggestions was made following my participation at an Indoor Nationals when President Dave Brown and Executive Director Joyce Hager were approached with the concept of a $1 membership for kids younger than 15. The result was the Executive Council’s approval to create a $1 membership for all youth!
In the few years since then, the Youth membership has doubled; 2001 revealed almost 24,000! Those who work at trade shows are seeing some of those young people returning the following year to sign up mom and dad as members.
And so we come to 2002. This column needs a refocus and a fresh approach.
After a year or so of part-time education work, the rapid growth in the committee’s activities and planning made it clear that a full-time staff person was needed, and an individual was hired. In addition, the Education Committee was expanded, and, through a generous yearly grant from the Radio Control Hobby Trade Association (RCHTA), impressive strides began to be made in all facets of education.
How does all that affect this column? In its infancy I tried to strike a balance, as noted earlier, among helping newcomers with specific modeling information, sharing educational ideas for clubs, reporting educational accomplishments, and other areas of concern.
At times the river of information tended to take too many directions—something like the delta of a large river when it empties into the ocean. Then when it was suggested that two columns be developed: one for newcomers and the other for educational activities. This worked; however, care had to be exercised not to let the two columns cover the same material.
And so we come to 2002. This column needs a refocus and a fresh approach. For some months, it has become increasingly difficult for me to create the text. Even though the nature of the column suggests that a topic can be revisited every year or so, it is not easy to accomplish this with a freshness and vitality that the column deserves. To that end, we need to step back and evaluate each element, and, if it is to continue, entrust it to new hands.
In reality, I do feel that there is a need for a simple, informative column. It should speak to newcomers of all ages and attempt to address all aeromodeling interests. Far too often when we speak of “education” or providing help, we concentrate on youth. Such a focus fails to provide the help needed to the senior citizen who is recently enamored with the thrill of aeromodeling.
I challenge you—the membership—to suggest a format or a vehicle to provide the help. Perhaps we need to go beyond a magazine column. Maybe several individuals could use this space—each versed in a specific aeromodeling category—to provide help to the newcomer. Perhaps the division of responsibility could be centered on specific needs, such as engines, covering, building, and radio. Experts in those areas could accomplish this. There is a host of other possibilities we might consider.
How can you help? Send your suggestions to Rob Kurek, the director of publications, at [email protected], or to Bob Hunt, the aeromodeling editor, at [email protected]. They would like to hear from you as they consider future plans.
As for me, let me say how much I have enjoyed sharing ideas and dreams with you. I have been blessed with many wonderful experiences in such a wide area of responsibilities with the AMA. Perhaps the most rewarding has been seeing the renewal of educational activities. I want to continue to work in that arena, but this column’s needs have outgrown my skills. Please help create a new and invigorated approach.
Until the next time, learn, fly, and enjoy! Cheers! MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
