n my May column I began to outline
several programs that AMA has created
and made available to our members and
chartered clubs as benefits of membership. I
wrote about the AMA Ambassador Program,
our new Take off And Grow (TAG) Program
first released in 2007, AMA’s Introductory
Pilot Program, our Flying Site Assistance
Grant Program, and the AMA Youth
Education Stipend (YES) Grant.
This month I’ll continue by discussing a
number of additional programs.
Mall Show Support Program: Many AMA
chartered clubs hold annual mall shows to
promote the club and model aviation within
their local communities. AMA makes
available a free mall-show package to help
these clubs.
The package contains handouts, brochures,
and literature that you can use to help
introduce model aviation to those who visit
your show booth. In addition, AMA will
provide mall-show pins to members who
volunteer their time to help make these events
successful. Contact AMA’s Programs
Department for materials or more information.
Disaster Relief Grant: In October 2005, as a
result of the extensive damage created by
Hurricane Katrina, the AMA Executive
Council (EC) approved a new program
designed to grant immediate financial
assistance to AMA chartered clubs that have
flying sites damaged in a natural disaster such
as a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or
firestorm.
The grant is designed to assist clubs in
the area of clearing debris and such, so that
the field is once again accessible and
usable to club members. It is not designed
to pay for repairs to structures or facilities,
President’s Perspective
AMA President Dave Mathewson
I
except as to the extent to make the facility
and runway adequate for flying once again.
The grant is limited to $500 per club
and you can apply for it by completing a
simple application and sending it to AMA
Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana. The
application process has been streamlined
to allow for a quick turnaround to help
clubs begin the rebuilding process as
quickly as possible. Please note that this is
a grant, not a loan.
AMA Scholarship Program: AMA awards
several scholarships annually to young AMA
members entering a college or university.
Upward of $40,000 is distributed each year in
various amounts based on AMA modeling
activities, scholastic achievement, and
citizenship activities. All applications are
evaluated by the AMA Scholarship
Committee, which then makes its
recommendations to the EC.
In choosing the recipients for the AMA/
Charles H. Grant Scholarship Program, many
aspects are taken into consideration. The most
desirable applicant is one who is academically
superior and also is a participant in many
aspects of school, aeromodeling, and his or
her community.
The applicants are rated in several major
categories, including grade average and test
results. High achievement in all of the
categories is important for an individual to
receive the maximum amount of scholarship
monies; however, a person who is not
necessarily at the top of his or her class may
win a significant scholarship award if he or
she is active in the community, in
aeromodeling, or both.
To be eligible for a scholarship, the
applicant must have been an AMA member
for the last full 36 consecutive months prior to
the application deadline; graduate from high
school in the year in which the award is to be
granted; and have been accepted by a college
or university offering a certificate or degree
program. Applicants are eligible to receive a
grant only once.
AMA Club Recognition and Reward
Program: New for 2008, AMA’s Club
Recognition and Reward Program is designed
to recognize clubs that promote model aviation
while at the same time organize events that
support local charities. If your club has
received positive newspaper, magazine, radio,
or television coverage showcasing its
involvement in community events, AMA
wants to know about it. For your efforts, AMA
will recognize your club in MA magazine and
reward your club’s treasury.
Examples of qualifying activities include
your club hosting a fun-fly and donating all
proceeds generated to the local Ronald
McDonald House. If your activity and
donation are highlighted by local media, that
qualifies the club for the AMA Club
Recognition and Reward Program. If your club
decides to dedicate a certain number of manhours
to a park for the purpose of picking up
trash along the access road every month and is
recognized in a positive manner by the media
for its ongoing efforts, you would qualify for
the program.
Positive newspaper/magazine coverage of
your event will garner a $100 reward. Positive
radio or television coverage will earn $200 and
$300 rewards respectively.
All your club has to do is send a completed
application and verify the publicity received by
including the original newspaper or magazine
article or a CD of the radio airing or television
broadcast to AMA. Funding for this first-year
program is limited and will be awarded on a
first-come, first-served basis.
More information on all of these programs
I’ve mentioned in this and my previous
columns can be found on the AMA Web site at
www.modelaircraft.org. If you prefer, you can
call AMA Headquarters at (765) 287-1256,
extension 272. MA
See you next time ...
June 2008 5
Positive radio or television coverage will earn
$200 and $300 rewards respectively.
Mission Statement
Dave Mathewson
AMA president
[email protected]
The Academy of Model Aeronautics is a world-class association of modelers organized for the purpose of
promotion, development, education, advancement, and safeguarding of modeling activities.
The Academy provides leadership, organization, competition, communication, protection, representation,
recognition, education and scientific/technical development to modelers.
06sig1.QXD 4/24/08 12:17 PM Page 5
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/05
Page Numbers: 5