President’s Perspective - 2008/05
Introduction
Throughout the years, AMA has created several programs intended to provide additional benefits for our members.
Some programs are designed to help grow our number of chartered clubs as well as AMA's membership. Some intend to provide financial assistance to clubs working toward improving their current flying site or purchasing property for a permanent club facility. Others are designed to help clubs that have been the victim of an unfortunate natural disaster that has damaged the club's flying field, and still others support and encourage clubs to create educational programs that help them become valuable assets in their communities.
In meeting and speaking with many of our members, it has become apparent that many are unaware of these various opportunities that are available as part of our AMA membership. To help solve that problem, I have listed some of AMA's more popular programs and offer a brief explanation of their intended purposes.
Ambassador Program
AMA's Ambassador Program is designed to provide an incentive and a means of thanking our current members who introduce someone new to AMA and model aviation, explain the benefits of membership, and encourage someone to become a member of our association.
- For every three new Open or Senior members that an Ambassador signs up, he or she will receive a one-year membership credit toward annual AMA dues.
- There is no limit to the number of new members an Ambassador can recruit.
- Life Members who participate as Ambassadors and meet the requirements receive a merchandise credit redeemable through AMA's Supply and Service Department, equal to one year's dues.
- When you sign up a new member, ask the new member to indicate your name and AMA number in the space provided on the application.
Take Off And Grow (TAG)
The TAG program was launched in 2007 and is intended to introduce model aviation to friends and neighbors. TAG is an intensive, one-day introduction to aeromodeling held at club fields.
TAG events should include:
- A brief ground school.
- Simulator flight time (for RC clubs).
- Actual time flying a model airplane for each participant.
Clubs submit applications outlining their proposed event to AMA by April of each year. Clubs that are selected to host an AMA TAG day receive grants of as much as $1,000 to help promote, prepare for, and host their event. Afterwards, items purchased are the club's to keep as AMA's way of saying thank you for helping out. Through the TAG program, individual AMA members can also take advantage of AMA's Ambassador Program.
Introductory Pilot Program
The AMA Introductory Pilot Program is structured to allow a non-AMA member to fly at an AMA-chartered club site and receive member liability insurance protection as long as the nonmember is flying under the direct supervision of a club-designated Introductory Pilot Instructor.
- The Introductory Pilot Instructor must hold a current AMA membership with the Introductory Pilot classification.
- Supervised instruction must take place at an AMA-chartered club's site and must be closely supervised, one-on-one.
- The non-AMA member will have the same liability insurance coverage that other AMA members receive solely while under the direct, one-on-one supervision of the Introductory Pilot Instructor.
- This coverage is limited to 60 consecutive days starting from the first session.
Flying Site Assistance Grants
AMA's Flying Site Assistance Program is designed to provide financial support to clubs to help offset the cost of making improvements to current sites or to help toward the purchase of a club-owned facility.
- Grant applications need to be submitted by March 1 each year and are reviewed and ranked by a committee.
- A club may submit a request for up to 10% of its total project with a maximum limit of $5,000.
- AMA places a certain dollar amount into the fund annually based on membership numbers and distributes the entire amount.
- The number of applications and the amount of the requests determine the total number of grants awarded.
Youth Education Stipend (YES)
One of AMA’s goals is to introduce young people to model aviation through education. The YES Grant was specifically developed to help clubs do so.
- The YES Grant provides as much as $750 to help create an educational program to reach out to younger members of the community using model aviation as an educational tool.
- Applications for YES Grants are due by January 1 each year, and grants are awarded by February 1.
- The program is administered by AMA’s Education Committee.
- Although grants are made available to AMA-chartered clubs, the program guidelines don’t preclude teachers or local community groups from partnering with an AMA-chartered club to develop a program and submit an application requesting funding.
Next month I’ll continue with other programs that AMA offers as a benefit of membership. For more information on any of the programs I’ve mentioned, contact your district vice president, visit the AMA website at www.modelaircraft.org, or call AMA HQ at (765) 287-1256.
See you next time ...
Dave Mathewson AMA president [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
