President’s Perspective - 2011/06
Organizational progress
AMA has moved in new and exciting directions in the last few years. Support programs have been enhanced, member benefits have improved, and we have taken new directions with many of our community programs.
This is particularly apparent within our educational outreach efforts. The Claude McCullough Education Facility addition to the National Model Aviation Museum was the foundation and the beginning of these efforts. Built entirely with member donations—including a generous bequest from the estate of former AMA President Claude McCullough—the spacious facility is used to introduce young people to model aviation. It has helped spark an interest in aeromodeling that may lead some to careers in aviation and aerospace.
Education and partnerships
Our education efforts have resulted in new programs such as Model Aviation Clubs in Schools (MASC) and our new partnership with the Civil Air Patrol.
We will launch a new program this summer designed to pair promising young model aviation enthusiasts with top-flight instructors. This June at the International Aeromodeling Center (IAC), we will host kids from across the country who will hone their skills in both a ground school and a flying school environment.
In 2010, in conjunction with the Indianapolis Children’s Museum—the world’s largest of its kind—we were awarded a NASA grant to develop new programs using model aircraft as a tool to teach science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses in the classroom. Our recently signed memorandum of understanding with NASA will partner AMA members and clubs with local teachers who will use model aircraft as data-collection vehicles to teach earth science.
Flying site assistance
Our Flying Site Assistance Program (FSA) was redesigned last year with the intent of making the program more proactive. Our members have consistently told us that their number-one concern as aeromodelers is flying site acquisition and retention. The FSA’s change in direction has already helped a number of clubs obtain new facilities and helped save several more flying sites. Our new matching-dollar flying-site legal defense fund has helped clubs fight the loss of a flying site when they might otherwise not have had the funding to do so.
Collaboration with other organizations
AMA has worked hard to build relationships with other aviation-oriented organizations, believing that there is strength in numbers. The most visible of these relationships has been with the EAA. Our two organizations have created a special youth membership category that provides young people with an interest in aviation the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits both entities provide.
As I write this, more than 1,000 kids have signed up. We recognize the common interest that EAA and AMA members share, and we will continue to work together to create programming that will not only support our individual missions, but also increase interest and awareness in young people for all forms of aviation.
Member liability coverage
AMA recognized that our members who rise to the challenge of being an officer in their local club, or accept the responsibility of representing AMA in a volunteer role, are exposed to a higher liability threat. AMA felt a responsibility to these members who serve in these positions and now provides primary coverage for these groups of members for “vicarious acts.” This means that if a member is brought into a claim as a result of an incident caused by another member and is connected to the incident because of his or her position, AMA will provide these individuals primary coverage. Because of this, more members are now willing to take on these roles knowing that their personal insurance protection isn’t at risk.
Leadership transition
These added services, benefits, and new programs are the result of the collective leadership of the AMA Executive Council (EC) and are executed by our staff. As president, my job has been to take the individual efforts of our board members and unify those efforts into a single message and common direction.
It’s now time for a new challenge. The EC has offered me the opportunity to step into the role of executive director (ED). My job as president was to present the message of the board; my job as ED will be to orchestrate the efforts of our first-rate staff to reach a common goal.
Although I’ve always enjoyed the policy-creating side of the organization, I look forward to leading the effort to implement the policies and direction set forth by the board. I see this as an exciting new challenge, and I can tell you that this decision was made with much thought and consideration. Many of you know my wife, Ginger, and know that she is one of AMA’s greatest ambassadors. She fully supports this move and looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead as well.
Closing
Thank you to everyone who has offered me their support and encouragement during my time as president. I’ve made hundreds—if not thousands—of new friends. These friendships are as important to me as model aviation itself.
Although it may sound like a cliché, it’s time to turn the page to start the next chapter in a book filled with model aviation experiences.
As always, see you next time…
Signature
Dave Mathewson AMA president [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
