View from HQ
Don Koranda, Executive Director
Writing a column is never easy, and it's made even more difficult when you are as new to the association as I am.
It has been five days since I stepped into my new role as the Academy's executive director. I have a lot to learn about the organization and how it runs, about the people at our Headquarters office and the work they do, and about the members who make up this exciting and dynamic association called the Academy of Model Aeronautics.
By almost any measure, this is an impressive organization. Whether you want to talk about our history, the size of our membership, our accomplishments, the modern facilities, or the staff of dedicated individuals serving AMA members, this organization measures up and can stand proudly on its accomplishments.
Stepping into a strong and healthy organization such as AMA is a luxury that not many executive directors enjoy. Clearly, I am a lucky man in that regard. Thanks to Joyce Hager and her management team, a dedicated staff, and involved Executive Council leadership, I am looking forward to exciting opportunities and challenges.
One of those opportunities is the chance to work with some of the finest people in the world of model aeronautics. These are passionate people involved in something more than just a hobby. They are builders and fliers, volunteers, competitors and fun fliers, young and not so young.
I know something about their passion for this activity, for I was infected with the same disease at a young age. My earliest memories are of my father, a career Air Force pilot, sitting with me on the bed and building a model of the Boeing B-52. I also remember the scale P-51 control-line model he built in his bedroom, placing it high above my clumsy reach. Occasionally I would be granted the special privilege of "flying" it around the living room under Dad's watchful eye.
We spent wonderful hours together as he told me the stories of his youthful model building and shared with me the secrets of CL flying. Those are treasured memories that make this new job feel like a homecoming.
Yes, I am the new guy, but being new to the association doesn't mean that I am inexperienced. With 27 years of association management under my belt, I bring a wealth of experience that I intend to apply to the problems facing AMA. As healthy an organization as we are, there are still many challenges that lie ahead.
My focus will be in two primary areas that come naturally to me because of my previous work experience:
- Membership services
Simply put, this is why we exist: to serve the members. Without members, there would be no organization. Providing services to you that are appropriate, timely, and add to your enjoyment of building and flying is an important task that we all share. Whether you are a CL, RC, or FF enthusiast, it's important to keep you up to date on the latest developments in model aviation, and that is what we will do. Providing top-quality service and searching for new benefits to make your flying more enjoyable will always be high on my priority list.
- Membership growth
The old adage that there is strength in numbers is true. I have seen that power demonstrated repeatedly during my association career. Our link to clubs, special interest groups, and individual members is a source of unity and strength that we must nurture and enhance. I am a firm believer in growth as a means to improve our sport and activity for all members. More members mean a stronger organization that is better able to promote and protect the activity we all enjoy. Whether it's preserving our flying sites, addressing technical issues with government agencies, or helping you get the most out of your flying experience, your membership in the association makes it happen and gives us the clout to work for you.
That is my background, and my promise to you is to work hard for our sport, to make sure we provide superior products and services, and to make sure we use the resources you provide us carefully and efficiently.
As I mentioned, writing a column is never easy, but I hope I have given you a sense of my background, what my focus will be, and why I think AMA is a great organization with even greater potential to serve the needs of its members.
I know my dad is happy to see his son back in modeling and sharing his passion with 165,000 other avid modelers. So am I.
Happy flying,
Don Koranda Executive Director [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
