View from HQ-2007/12

fforts to keep and acquire flying
sites are always a concern at AMA
Headquarters. In support of this, the
Membership Development Committee has
developed some new tools for members
who are working with local public officials
to secure flying sites. Although these
materials are directed toward obtaining park
flyer-type sites, they do contain information
that is useful for regular modeling sites.
The information includes a short DVD
that explains to elected officials and
recreation board members the benefits and
advantages of incorporating flying sites into
their master plans. It includes leave-behind
information and a notebook with material
that is helpful in securing flying sites.
Contact Tom Schwyn at (765) 287-1256,
extension 273, if you want to receive these
support materials.
The 2008 AMA Convention will be January
11-13 at the Ontario Convention Center in
Ontario, California. We surveyed AMA
members who live within a 300-mile radius
of Ontario concerning topics they would
like to see presented at this year’s event.
Please note that this is not a complete list;
more seminars are being considered.
• 2008 Take off And Grow (TAG) Program
• Associate Vice President training
• Selecting an electric power system for
your model
• Glow-to-electric conversions
• Charging, using, and storing Li-Poly
batteries
• Covering with plastic/fabric films
• Tuning and troubleshooting two- and fourstroke
engines
• Setting up helicopters
• Spread spectrum technology and use
If you’re planning to attend this year’s
Convention, check the AMA Web page for
the details about the seminar presentations,
locations, and times.
“You know you’re a modeler when ... ” has
E generated some great responses. Here are
the first of what I hope are many more to
come. Thanks to those who shared their
thoughts about modeling!
You know you’re a modeler when:
“You arrive at a contest site 300 miles
away, only to discover you left your
suitcase sitting in the driveway at home.”
—Roy Stewart
“You spend two days trying to get a
park flyer out of a tree that is 75-feet high.”
—Stanley Jablonski
“Your wife actually counts your aircraft
and comes up short of the answer because
she failed to look in the closet.”
—Earl Averill
Eric Welfare of Lynchburg, Virginia,
offered a David Letterman-style response
with a top-10 countdown:
“10) You sit close to the window at
church so you can keep an eye on the wind.
“9) You do a search on the Internet for
“models” but delete all the sites that are
about pretty women.
“8) You can describe in detail the model
in the ad but don’t notice the young woman
holding it.
“7) Too sick to go to work is not sick
enough to stay home from the flying field.
“6) You say it is too hot to cut the grass
but not too hot to go to the flying field.
“5) You’ve gone to the emergency room
more than one time for airplane-related
injuries.
“4) You’ve ever had to call someone for
suggestions on how to get glued fingers
apart.
“3) You describe to the nurse how to put
the bandages on so you can hold a
transmitter.
“2) The last car you bought was chosen
not for how many family members it will
hold, but how many airplanes it will carry.
“1) Your neighbor gets a new leaf
blower and you get excited every time you
hear it running.”
Bruce Jablonski ends up this installment
of “You know you’re a modeler when ... ”
with:
• “Your spouse claims your cologne is 15%
nitro.
• “You find yourself pretending to fly that
commercial aircraft as it passes overhead.
• “You’re out flying when your home team
is playing in the Super Bowl.”
Keep them coming in! The staff and I
have gotten a kick out of the responses we
have received so far.
It’s the holiday season and in this world of
being politically correct, one has to cushion
what one may want to say in a public forum
such as MA. I offer no new words of
wisdom in this season of celebration that
you haven’t heard before. What I do offer is
a sincere thank you and hope to all.
Thanks for allowing me to serve as
executive director of one of the most
challenging and rewarding associations in
the world. In this first year I have met many
members who all share the love of this
hobby and sport. I have made many new
friends and had the opportunity to work in
an environment of which most people only
dream.
My hope is that your holiday season is
full of whatever makes you happy. MA
In the spirit of flight.
Jim Cherry
Executive Director
[email protected]