View from HQ - 2003/09

192 MODEL AVIATION
THIS MONTH I want to share a letter
that was addressed to me from Ron
Bozzonetti of the District of Columbia
Radio Control Club.
“This past Thursday, April 3, I and
three other members of the District of
Columbia Radio Control Club visited the
museum [AMA’s National Model
Aviation Museum] prior to our trip to the
show in Toledo. We asked for a guided
tour of the museum and were fortunate to
have Mr. Rich LaGrange as our tour
guide.
“The purpose of this letter is to
express our appreciation to Mr.
LaGrange for taking time from what I’m
sure was a busy time for him to guide us
through the museum.
“I had been to the museum before
without benefit of a guided tour and now
realize how much I had missed. Mr.
LaGrange’s narratives of the models
were fascinating, enlightening, and
entertaining. In spite of our taking so
much of his valuable time there was no
sense of urgency during the three hours
that we were there.
“In discussing our tour on the way to
Toledo, all of us in our group were of
one voice in our praise for the wonderful
time that we experienced which we
attributed to Mr. LaGrange. We all
believe that AMA is indeed fortunate to
have such a goodwill ambassador as part
of your staff.
“Please, express our appreciation to
Mr. LaGrange for making our trip so
memorable.”
I can think of no better way to express
my appreciation than to publish this
letter in Model Aviation. Tours are
available at the National Model Aviation
Museum in Muncie, Indiana, at 2 p.m.
each day. Thanks for doing a great job,
Rich!
While thinking about placing an
advertisement, I read an article that gave
some pointers that will help you get the
most out of your advertisement, and I
want to share them with you.
A big thank you to
all those involved.
Joyce Hager Executive Director
View from HQ
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager
Executive Director
[email protected]
• Avoid superlatives, generalizations, and
platitudes.
• Be specific.
• Be personal, enthusiastic, and
memorable, just as if the reader were
sitting next to you at dinner.
• Tell the truth, but make it interesting.
• Write sentences of less than 12 words.
• Write paragraphs of no more than three
sentences.
• Use testimonials.
• Give the reader helpful information.
• Remember that people don’t read
leisurely; they scan.
• People read only a fraction of what is
placed before their eyes. If you want them
to read your message, you’d better make it
interesting—even to established
customers.
Grand Event: Grand Event 2003 was
held in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 6, 7,
and 8. For those of you who are
unfamiliar with the Grand Event, it is a
project that was developed to expose the
public to as many facets of modeling
activities as possible.
The Grand Event is geared toward the
younger generation with make-and-take
activities. This year more than 300 kites
were built and flown, along with 115
parachutes, 180 gliders, and 400 rockets
during this three-day period. The weather
was less than cooperative, but there were
many families at the Waterworks Park in
Des Moines. It appeared that those who
attended had a good time and went away
happy.
I received the following letter from
Kathie Tenner, describing her day at the
Grand Event.
“My husband and I took our neighbor
boy who is mentally challenged to the air
show on Saturday, June 7, in Des Moines,
Iowa. We couldn’t have had a more
wonderful experience for all of us. Sam
was able to make and fly a kite, make and
watch his rocket go, fly an airplane with
assistance, and watch the boats and other
planes. He was thrilled.
“I can’t thank you enough for your
volunteers and the way they treated him
and the two of us. My husband enjoyed it
also.
“Thank you again.”
Grand Event is not new. With the
support of the Radio Control Hobby
Trade Association (RCHTA), AMA
hosted this event for several years in
conjunction with Homecoming. In order
to bring the event to as many people as
possible, it was decided to move the
venue around the county.
I want to thank the clubs that were
involved in putting on this successful
event: Des Moines Modelaires (host
club), Central Iowa Aeromodelers, Mid
Iowa Control-Liners, Southeast Des
Moines RC Flyers, and Des Moines Area
Rocket Society. These clubs assumed a
huge undertaking and put in many hours
to make it a success. A big thank you to
all those involved.
If your club is interested in hosting the
Grand Event, please contact Carl
Maroney at AMA Headquarters for
details.
I would also like to say thank you to
Carl Maroney, Ilona Maine, and Rich
LaGrange from the Headquarters staff for
their support and participation in this
event. MA