View from HQ - 2004/02

200 MODEL AVIATION
AS I WRITE this month’s column in mid-
November, the weather in Muncie, Indiana,
can’t decide whether it wants to be Indian
summer or the beginning of winter and
wind. At this time of year the activity at the
AMA flying site has slowed down
tremendously. That is a good thing since it is
membership-renewal time. The work has
simply moved inside the buildings.
AMA has been asked to address an issue
that concern clubs. How do you verify a new
membership when the person doesn’t yet
have an AMA number? That’s a good
question. We are working on a way to assist
clubs in this area.
AMA will discontinue issuing 30-day
temporary receipts. New membership
applications that are faxed or submitted via
the Internet will receive a confirmation that
the application has been received and will be
processed as soon as possible.
These new memberships will not be in
effect until they have been processed and
their AMA numbers assigned. Membership
renewals, of course, are good through
December 31.
Since this is the busiest time of the year
for membership processing, individuals and
clubs will need to be patient. License cards
are being produced on a daily basis and are
mailed two or three times a week. As we
explore ways to assist clubs and new
members with quick verification of their
membership, we will place a notice on our
Web site.
Club charter renewal is just around the
corner. As in the past, the kits will be mailed
to the designated club contact, so be sure
that we have the current information for your
club. If you have access to our Web site, you
can verify the contact person listed for your
club in the charter club listing or using the
club search function.
Leader Club Awards: To recognize the
leadership of the best model clubs, the
Academy has established the AMA Leader
Club Awards. These can be earned by any
AMA chartered club for meeting certain
standards of community service and activity.
There are three levels of AMA Leader
Clubs: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Once a
club meets the minimum criteria, it qualifies
for different levels based on performance.
AMA has established 14 goals for Leader
The work has simply
moved inside the
buildings.
Joyce Hager Executive Director
View from HQ
Club status. Five of these goals are required.
A club that meets the required five goals and
three of the electives qualifies as a Bronzelevel
Leader Club.
Meeting the required five goals and six
electives qualifies the club for the Silver
level. The ultimate recognition—the Gold
level—requires that all goals be met. Each
goal must be documented.
In the event that an elective does not
pertain to your club’s operation, an
explanation included with your club’s
application is all that is necessary for
inclusion in the program. For example, a
club that is for Soaring exclusively and uses
only winches or hi-starts will not have to
deal with sound limitations at its field.
Consequently, the club remains eligible for
Gold status. Its explanation will satisfy
elective 5.
The same holds true for a Free Flight club
that is not faced with frequency concerns.
Elective 1 would be satisfied with an
explanation of the club’s specific situation.
Each year your club will be sent forms
and instructions by which it will be able to
show its goals and achievements. These
currency reports will be the documentation
required for continued participation in the
Leader Club program.
Required activities for Leader Club
status:
1) AMA chartered club for a minimum of
five years. Club membership is open to all
AMA members and is not limited to a certain
number.
2) Club has developed and posted safety
and operational rules at its flying site.
3) Club has filed a copy of safety and
operational rules at AMA Headquarters.
4) Flying field has separate areas for
fliers and spectators, clearly marked as such.
5) The AMA Safety Code is posted and
visible at the field.
Leader Club electives:
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager
Executive Director
[email protected]
1) Club has implemented and enforces a
frequency control plan that allows all 50 RC
channels to be used at its club flying site
where RC is allowed.
2) Club has implemented an AMA
Adopt-A-School program or donates a
Model Aviation subscription to schools or
libraries.
3) Club conducts a review of the AMA
Safety Code at a club meeting at least once a
year.
4) Club sponsors an annual public event
such as a mall show, flying show, or
demonstration.
5) Club monitors noise levels and/or
institutes club field rules such as a
requirement that models be operated at a
maximum of 90 db at 9 feet.
6) Club has created an informational
handout and provides it to the general public.
7) Club participates in charity programs
or public fund-raising events.
8) Club has a formal lease or agreement
for the use of its flying site or owns its site.
9) Club participates in the AMA
Introductory Pilot Program or has its own
instruction program.
A list of Leader Clubs can be found on our
Web site at http://modelaircraft.org/templates/
ama/leaderclubs03.asp. Check to see if your
club is listed. If not, see if it can qualify.
Leader Club status is based on the
previous year’s performance, so if you
applied for status in 2003 it will not be
posted to the Web site until 2004.
Attention AMA Members: The new
merchandise catalog was enclosed in the
December issue of Model Aviation. There
are some new products featured, so look
through the catalog and see if you can find a
special gift for that aviation enthusiast.
Another good gift idea is a Walk of Fame
brick. Have someone’s name permanently
placed on the sidewalk of the AMA
administration building. Information about
the Walk of Fame program and a printable
order form can be found on our Web site or
you can contact Steve Weaver at (765) 287-
1256, extension 522, or E-mail him at
[email protected]. MA
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