President’s Perspective
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 provide financial assistance to clubs working to improve their current flying site or to purchase property for a permanent club facility. Others are designed to help clubs that have been the victim of an unfortunate natural disaster that damaged the club’s flying field. 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 available as part of AMA membership. To help solve that problem, I have listed some of AMA’s more popular programs and offer a brief explanation of their purposes.
Ambassador Program
AMA’s Ambassador Program is designed to provide an incentive and to thank current members who introduce someone new to AMA and model aviation, explain the benefits of membership, and encourage that person to become a member.
- For every three new Open or Senior members an Ambassador signs up, the Ambassador receives a one-year membership credit toward annual AMA dues. There’s 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)
TAG is an intensive, one-day introduction to aeromodeling held at club fields. The TAG program was launched in 2007 and is intended to introduce model aviation to our friends and neighbors.
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 events to AMA by April of each year. Clubs selected to host an AMA TAG day receive grants of as much as $1,000 to help promote, prepare for, and host their event. Items purchased with grant funds remain 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 while 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 be closely supervised (direct, one-on-one).
- The non-AMA member receives the same liability insurance coverage that other AMA members receive only while under the direct 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 improvements to current sites or to help toward the purchase of a club-owned facility. Grant applications must 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 cost, with a maximum limit of $5,000.
- AMA allocates a certain dollar amount to the fund annually based on membership numbers and distributes the entire amount among approved requests.
- The number of applications and total requested amounts determine how many grants are awarded.
Youth Education Stipend (YES)
One of AMA’s goals is to introduce young people to model aviation through education. The Youth Education Stipend (YES) Grant was developed to help clubs create educational programs that reach youth in their communities using model aviation as an educational tool.
- The YES Grant provides as much as $750 to help create an educational program.
- Applications for YES Grants are due by January 1 each year; grants are awarded by February 1.
- The program is administered by AMA’s Education Committee.
- Although grants are available to AMA-chartered clubs, teachers or local community groups may partner with an AMA-chartered club to develop a program and submit an application.
Next month I’ll continue with other programs that AMA offers as a benefit of membership. For more information on any of the programs 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.
