MA 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.
Our education efforts have resulted in
new programs such as our 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,
education, 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.
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
President’s Perspective
AMA President Dave Mathewson
A
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.
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 work to
increase an interest and awareness in young
people for all forms of aviation.
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, risk
being 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.”
What this means is 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 as a result 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.
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 policycreating
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.
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. MA
As always, see you next time…
On Sunday, April 10, 2011, the EC voted
unanimously for Dave Mathewson to fill
AMA’s ED position. Dave has done an
outstanding job in the role of AMA’s chief
strategist and now he will lead the
implementation of our strategies.
As most of you are aware, our association
is in an extremely critical time. We now have
a leader who is very knowledgeable about
our FAA issues, one who has earned the
respect of staff, and has the unqualified
support from the EC.
Dave, please know that I am behind you
100%! Additionally, on behalf of the EC, I
want to thank Joyce Hager for stepping in
once again as interim ED. Joyce has a
tremendous knowledge of AMA and I’m
confident Dave will rely on her valuable
experience as he leads the staff.
In the next few months we will hold an
election for the position of president, but in
the interim, I pledge to you that I will do my
best to assume the duties of president
responsibly and to the best of my abilities.
—Mark Smith
Executive Vice President
It’s now time for a new challenge.
Dave Mathewson
AMA president
[email protected]
June 2011 5
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