President's Perspective - 2009/04
My column in the February 2009 MA was a recap of AMA activities that took place in 2008. Much of what we did last year was an effort to work toward accomplishing the goals and objectives that we've begun to define as part of our long-range strategic plan.
The response I received from that column was far greater than any other in the past year. The overwhelming majority of comments were extremely positive, which I think is a good indicator that many of you feel that we are moving AMA in a positive direction. During 2009, we will add a number of new goals to the list while continuing to build on the work that we started in 2008.
In the past I've written about the value of good communication between an association and its members being the key to success for any membership organization such as AMA. Improving that level of communication is one of the areas on which we will be focusing in the coming year.
2009 Information for Chartered Clubs (CD)
As a first step in achieving that goal, those of you who are club contacts found a CD included with your club charter materials that you received from AMA. The CD, titled 2009 Information for Chartered Clubs, contains a wealth of information about various programs and support that we provide to all of our members.
Included is information about all of our benefit programs, including:
- Take Off And Grow (TAG)
- The Charles H. Grant Scholarship program
- The AMA Flying Site Development and Improvement Grant
- The Club Disaster Assistance Program
- The AMA Club Recognition and Rewards Program
Also included is information concerning our various insurance programs and suggestions for creating public-relations efforts that will benefit your club.
All of the information on this CD is intended to help our members and make them aware of all that we offer as benefits of membership in AMA.
AMA Web site and online presence
Another area on which we will be focusing this year is the AMA Web site and our online presence. In today's "Internet society," it has become obvious that a first-class Web presence has become a necessity to support our current membership as well as attract new people to both model aviation and the AMA.
To support our current membership, we will be developing new Web features that in the past could only be accomplished through the tedious process of using paper forms and the U.S. Postal Service. Planned features include:
- Renewing a club charter online
- Applying for an AMA sanction online
- Giving club officers the ability to update their club rosters and other information with AMA online
However, as we move in a direction that technology takes us, we realize that we still have members who either do not have Internet capability or who prefer to continue to do things as they have in the past. Being able to continue to do that won't change.
Many today use the Internet as a research tool, and a large percentage of those who are interested in learning more about model aviation or the AMA will look first to the Internet to begin their research. As with most other associations, AMA's Web site has become the front door to our organization for many. That front door needs to be visually attractive and easy to enter. Once inside, a visitor needs to easily and quickly find his or her way around. Additionally, the content the site contains needs to be perceived as valuable and of enough interest to make that visitor want to return often.
As we move through 2009, look for changes and improvements to our Web site that will move us in this direction.
Model Aviation's Sport Aviator (e-zine)
While we're on the topic of AMA's online presence and benefits of membership, have you had a chance to visit our online e-zine: Model Aviation's Sport Aviator at www.masportaviator.com?
Sport Aviator is primarily designed for the new modeler but contains information that even many longtime modelers find useful. The primary focus of the site is entry-level modeling and it contains a number of kit reviews, radio reviews, and how-to articles appropriate for someone just getting involved in aeromodeling. Other areas of the site include articles on flight training and how to do some basic maneuvers.
In Sport Aviator Editor Frank Granelli's words:
"Sport Aviator presents a mix of basic and mid-level technical information, piloting how-tos, aircraft reviews, and some event coverage, just to let newer pilots know how varied and deep model aviation truly is. The aircraft reviewed and technical information presented is about an even mix between glow power and electric propulsion.
"The aircraft range from RTF basic trainers to aircraft suitable for second, or at most, third aircraft. Helicopters reviewed have been from the beginner level, twin-rotor versions to the next step up; small, single-blade, electric-powered basic machines. The piloting information varies from how to land to performing advanced maneuvers."
Sport Aviator has already helped a tremendous number of new modelers become successful. Mentioning Sport Aviator to your friends new to modeling may help them as well.
See you next time ...
Dave Mathewson AMA president [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
