President's Perspective - 2012/05

6 Model Aviation May 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
The new venue was a positive
change for the event …
president ’s perspective
Bob Brown, AMA President
[email protected]
demonstrations. You have to see it to
believe it!
The Central Pennsylvania
Aeromodelers Association holds the
largest one-day RC flea market in the
US. The site at the Lebanon Fairgrounds
in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, is consumed
with modeling goods. If more space were
available, it would be used.
Both events allow us a springtime
meeting ground to get together and
enjoy the hobby’s community of
friendship.
FAI Program
The FAI program in the Academy is
costly. During the next couple of years,
you will see the Executive Council (EC)
and the FAI Committee make budget
moves to bring this expense into a more
reasonable perspective.
As a start, the representation at
the FAI Plenary Meeting for the
CIAM (International Aeromodeling
Committee) will be reduced. Modern
communication and increased individual
effort should allow this change to be
accomplished.
In the near future, you will probably
see some AMA participation in FAI
competition disappear. There is no reason
for dollars to be spent in competition
disciplines where there is little interest.
Increased focus on the specific SIGs
will become apparent. Some participants
A lthough our success with
Congress is apparent, we must
realize that additional effort may
be needed in order to continue to enjoy
model aviation. I hope that a positive
relationship with the FAA will allow this
to happen.
WRAM Show
The Westchester Radio AeroModelers
(WRAM) Show moved to the
Meadowlands Exposition Center in
Secaucus, New Jersey, this year. The new
venue was a positive change for the event
and will allow it to continue successfully
for many more years. Lou Scarlino and
the Westchester Radio AeroModelers
deserve a great deal of thanks for their
fine efforts.
Flea Markets
Flea markets provide a unique,
informal venue for modelers to enjoy
the hobby. We enjoyed two of the largest
modeling flea markets in the world this
past month.
Norm Deputy and the Georgia
Aircraft Modelers Association produce
the Southeastern Model Show in Perry,
Georgia. Three huge buildings at the
Georgia National Fairgrounds and
Agricenter allow modelers from across
the country to peddle their hobbyrelated
wares for two great days. A fourth
building is utilized for indoor flying and
have mentioned the possibility of a
competition license. This license would
be an increased cost to the FAI/AMA
member.
If you have any ideas about how the
AMA can reduce the FAI costs, yet still
provide the opportunity for world-class
competition, please advise your EC
representative.
Joe Nall’s 30th Anniversary
AMA will help celebrate the 30-year
anniversary of Joe Nall Week at the
Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff,
South Carolina. Thursday evening, May
17, will be the annual AMA membership
meeting. At the meeting we will provide
information on the latest AMA efforts.
After the meeting, a dinner for AMA
members and their families will be
provided. See you there!
Mission Statement
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.