View from HQ
Joyce Hager, Executive Director
Another month has passed. With the holidays and flu season, I don't know where the time has gone.
I am writing this column while returning from the AMA Convention in Ontario, California. As of Saturday afternoon, ticket sales were up 20%, which is an indication that moving the show from Pasadena, California, to Ontario was a good decision. The facility was great, with room to grow. I had a complaint that some of the vendors did not sell at the show. Let me assure you that this is not a show policy; it is up to the individual vendor whether or not to sell products.
There were a few complaints about parking and that signage could be better. We will work on all those areas and any other feedback that we received from our visitors. Otherwise, I think it was an excellent event. When they are all in, the numbers will tell the story.
I want to thank all the volunteers who worked the various booths and acknowledge all the hard work that Programs Director Jay Mealy and Erin Dobbs did to make this show a success.
This year's Grand Event will be held in Evansville, Indiana, June 18–20. AMA Homecoming will be in Muncie, Indiana, June 4–6. I will try to explain the difference between the two.
- Grand Event (Evansville, Indiana — June 18–20)
- Primarily an educational experience for the public.
- Main purpose is to expose modelers and nonmodelers to as many radio-control venues as possible.
- Features hands-on exhibits and make-and-take demonstrations.
- The likelihood of flying your own aircraft at the Grand Event is small unless you are doing a demonstration flight.
- AMA Homecoming (Muncie, Indiana — June 4–6)
- Generally for our members; comparable to a big fun-fly.
- Open to the public for observation rather than hands-on participation.
- Includes an appreciation dinner on Saturday night and usually an informal membership meeting.
AMA members are invited to attend both shows. I would like to see as many members as possible attend both events. Kids of all ages enjoy watching boats, airplanes, cars, and kites. I hope to see you sometime this summer.
Some members have complained about the time that elapses between mailing in their payments and receiving their license cards. As I write this in mid-January, it is taking approximately 2½ weeks from the time we process incoming mail until your license card is sent to you. There is a place on our website where you can go to see if your membership has been updated. All that is needed is your last name and AMA number.
This month I have chosen to print our membership status sheet. You can see how many memberships have been processed and mailed since the middle of September.
Hurry up, spring! For those who live where the weather is warm, go out and fly.
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
