View From HQ - 2008/02

View From HQ - 2008/02

What We Did With Your Dues in 2007

Last month I mentioned that I was compiling the first-ever AMA annual report for the membership. When this project was announced to the staff, a collective yawn nearly sucked all the available air out of the room.

“This is a model aviation magazine; the members will not want to read that stuff,” was the concern from the staff. I replied that in my first year here I learned of many aspects of the AMA as an organization that I was not aware of, although I have been a member for many years. I was sure other AMA members would also find it interesting.

As a compromise, I promised that it would not be titled “AMA Annual Report” but the more enticing title: “What We Did With Your Dues in 2007.” That is a revision of “What We Did With Your $58 Last Year” because not all members paid $58—Youth, Family, and Senior Citizen dues are different—and because we wanted the year included.

So here goes ...

Accounting

Accounting is tasked with protecting the assets of the organization. Diana Garza, our new comptroller—aka “bean counter”—coordinated the annual audit with independent certified public accountants to assure members of our commitment to sound accounting practices and safeguarding the organization’s financial assets. Diana and her staff have continuously streamlined accounting procedures and processes to cut costs and improve financial operations. They processed, categorized, and accounted for all dues and non-dues revenue—roughly $9.3 million.

In addition, Diana’s accounting expertise is available to clubs for questions regarding not-for-profit status and other tax-related club issues.

Administration / Operations

Administration/Operations director Mary Lou Vojslavek (you get extra credit for pronouncing her name correctly) is responsible for ensuring that things flow smoothly at headquarters. From paper clips to permits, travel arrangements to CPR training, safety to switchboard coverage, it all flows through this department.

Officer support between and during the quarterly Executive Council meetings—supplies, travel arrangements, hotel rooms, agenda items, new-officer orientation, and election information—is crucial. Meeting arrangements, staff travel policies, and purchasing are critical to the success of any well-run organization.

Operations is also tasked with a number of safety and facility projects, including:

• Updating Automated External Defibrillator (AED) equipment
• Organizing CPR/AED classes for staff members
• Monitoring the office for safety issues

(Jim, get your model boxes out of the hallway and don’t leave the arm up on the paper cutter!)

The staff is committed to acquiring non-dues revenue. Mary Lou pulled together a sponsorship program for 2008 called “Flight Team Advantage,” in which local companies or other entities purchase a level of sponsorship and advertise AMA and various events at their establishments. AMA offers reciprocal advertising depending on the level of sponsorship. Mary Lou also updated and distributed a new conference-room rental brochure to advertise use of our facilities. This department saved roughly $5,000 in 2007 by taking advantage of discount prices and shipping specials from various suppliers.

Custom Products

Custom Products falls under the supervision of Jack Frost. This department provides trophies and plaques for on-site events and club needs. T-shirts, hats, and jackets can be ordered for your club contests or fly-ins as well as AMA-sponsored events. Last year the department screen-printed 13,500 T-shirts and produced 1,385 event trophies.

Services and products include:

• Vinyl decals of club logos
• Club logo design
• Customized windsocks
• Name badges and engraved frequency pins
• Ribbons, medals, yard signs, club hats, and golf shirts

The Custom Products Department offers competitive pricing—with AMA member discounts—and will work with you to determine what we can do to serve your club needs. Visit www.modelaircraft.org/products.aspx or call (800) 435-9262.

Education

The Education Department is also managed by Jack Frost. Under the direction of AMA’s Education Committee, this department oversees the AMA Scholarship Program, which awarded $46,000 this year through the Charles Hampson Grant awards, the Sig award, the Toledo Weak Signals award, and the Telford Scholarship.

The department manages the Youth Education Stipend (YES Grant), awarded to clubs or organizations to help fund aeromodeling-oriented youth education programs. This year $3,000 was awarded to four applicants. Information about YES and the scholarship program is in the Education section of the AMA Web site.

Using Alcoa grant funds, the Education Department purchased a new booth for trade shows and education conventions. The booth was used to present workshops at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, and NSTA Area Conventions in Detroit, Michigan, and Birmingham, Alabama.

Thanks to support from the Alcoa Foundation, the Education Committee produced AeroLab: a DVD/CD featuring activities developed by science teachers for teachers. To date, roughly 1,025 copies have been distributed, generating more than $6,000 from sales.

The Education Committee sponsored the Wright Stuff and the Balloon-Launched Glider events at the Science Olympiad in the 2006–2007 season and committed to sponsor both events for the 2007–2008 season.

The department supplied 98 trainer aircraft, simulators, and resource materials to clubs selected for the Take-off And Grow (TAG) program, designed to help clubs with a hands-on flight activity to introduce newcomers to the sport.

The department staff committed many evenings and weekends to local and state events, seminars, and workshops, sharing with attendees the educational programs AMA has to offer.

Facilities / Maintenance

Facilities/Maintenance is run by John Hawley. What site—especially one that hosted approximately 50 events in 2007—could function properly without someone overseeing everything from mowing the lawn to maintaining site and facility security? The department’s responsibilities include two office buildings, Nats Headquarters, five rental houses, three maintenance barns, and a 1,000-plus-acre site.

John and his staff worked tirelessly, weekends included, all summer to ensure that site preparation and equipment needs were met for all events on-site. Whether it was painting CL circles, grooming the grass flightlines, or ensuring adequate water and power for contestants and spectators, the maintenance staff was on the job.

Other tasks included landscaping, signage, running electrical lines to camping areas, maintaining restroom and shower facilities, and graveling and raking parking areas—activities that helped make site visits pleasant for competitors and visitors alike.

The work doesn't stop when summer ends. Equipment requires maintenance, tents need cleaning and storage for the following season, rental properties need managing, and there are always repairs to be made.

A wayward vehicle detoured off the road and through a storage garage last spring. Stored files and garage walls were spread across the lawn, and the maintenance crew had to salvage what it could and rebuild the garage.

Winter brings its own chores when the snow flies and parking lots and roads need plowed, sanded, or salted. The maintenance crew generally clears much of the county road in front of the building to help ensure staff members can get to work safely.

Human Resources

Human Resources is run by Mary Hurn, whose desk overflows with reading material that includes Payroll Law, OSHA General Industry Course, Human Resources and the Law, and Communicating with Tact and Finesse. She keeps us in compliance with current employment laws.

Mary conducts interviews and corresponds with potential employees, updates the policy manual, monitors vacation time, administers all employee benefits and annuity/retirement programs, and posts legally required information. She creates and updates job descriptions, coordinates evaluations, and manages employee insurance and COBRA plans.

One of her more enjoyable tasks is coordinating the monthly employee newsletter, making sure employees' significant accomplishments, birthdays, and employment anniversaries are recognized.

We are fortunate that nearly half of those directly employed at AMA Headquarters have been here more than 10 years. I consider that pretty good for a company that has only been located in Muncie, Indiana, since 1992.

Information Systems (IS)

What do you say about Information Systems (IS)? Is there an abbreviation that hasn't been used by department head Greg Minch? SSL, CSS, CMS, FTP, TCP/IP, etc.—I felt I was learning a new language!

IS is responsible for AMA's in-house and remote communication systems. This includes computers, software, and telephone systems; point-of-sale systems for the museum store, Supply and Service, and remote sales venues; and the company's Web site.

One of IS's most important functions is to safeguard member information and financial transactions. An updated SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate and frequent systems testing and analysis ensure that your transactions—renewing your membership or purchasing an item from the online store—are secure.

Primarily the work of the IS Department, AMA launched a new Web site in 2007 utilizing Web 2.0 and CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) technology and a CMS (Content Management System) that allows staff to update their own areas of the site without relying on other departments.

Through the AMA Web site in 2007, the following were processed:

• 2,792 three-month trial memberships
• 32,017 renewals
• 11,559 new full memberships
• 7,300 address changes

An enhanced club locator system added GPS coordinates, restrictions, multiple flying sites, and Google mapping functions (satellite, directions, etc.). Video, picture-gallery, and streaming-video capability were also added.

Marketing

Marketing's Tom Schwyn and his staff were deeply involved in the Park Pilot Program launch, including two DVDs, four ads, the licensing station, brochure, rebate program, and promotional material for the AMA Convention.

The ongoing Introductory Membership Program has generated more than 2,700 members. The department was responsible for the buddy-box program that generated 3,000 new members in 2007.

Other accomplishments:

• The AMA/DVD series generated between $100,000 and $120,000 in non-dues revenue.
• The Affinity Visa program produced $150,000 in non-dues revenue.
• Marketing designed, produced, and launched the 2007 "Got Wings" advertising series, focusing on members and how aeromodeling has affected their lives and careers.
• The staff designed and assembled the AMA booth and graphics for several events, including the JR Indoor Electric Festival.
• The 2007 Extreme Flight Championships (XFC) at the International Aeromodeling Center featured television, radio, newspaper, and billboard advertising produced by the department.

Membership

AMA's Membership Department maintains club and individual records. Supervised by Colleen Pierce, the department maintains records for roughly 150,000 members, nearly 2,500 chartered clubs, and 14 chapters.

In the past year, customer service staff in the department fielded approximately 39,000 telephone calls, 11,000 of which were membership renewals. That comes out to roughly 155 calls a day, or 20 calls per hour—and that does not include handling mail or e-mail requests for information, applications, or online renewal processing.

You’ve likely contacted this department if you’ve ever called to renew your membership, change your address, ask “When should I receive my card?” or “Where is my magazine?” or to report that you left your card at the field.

National Model Aviation Museum

Museum Director Michael Smith supervises the National Model Aviation Museum, which houses the largest collection of model aircraft in the United States. There are roughly 8,000 artifacts in the collection, including model airplanes, radio systems, engines, building tools and equipment, and memorabilia such as patches, stickers, and clothing.

In the past year the museum staff created four new exhibits:

• Ingenuity Corner
• Exhibit dedicated to park flyers
• Peanut models exhibit
• RC skydivers exhibit

Five current exhibits—helicopters, the Pan American Airlines Payload event, the RC Pylon Racing area, the RC Pattern aircraft exhibit, and the Scale aircraft area—were updated.

A huge bonus to the museum and staff was the construction of a new archival storage area that roughly doubled storage space. The staff moved 645 boxes of material into the new space. Forty-nine new collections were donated to the museum in the past year and the staff cataloged 738 artifacts.

Planning a Scale project and need documentation? The Lee Renaud Memorial Library is a huge asset for anyone researching full-scale or model aircraft. In the past year:

• 771 books, DVDs, and journals were added to the collection
• Roughly 4,500 books were cataloged with a new numbering system
• The magazine-article database was increased to more than 3,000 listings

If you plan a vacation to the AMA facilities this coming summer, please be sure to check out this tremendous tribute to model aviation.

Cloud 9 Museum Store and Supply & Service

Longtime employee Sheila Tweedy oversees the retail aspects of the organization. The Cloud 9 Museum Store and the Supply and Service Department cater to members and visitors, offering AMA-logo clothing and accessories and aviation-related souvenirs, gifts, collectibles, and memorabilia through the store, catalog sales, and the online store.

The museum store serves as AMA's welcome center for members and visitors. Often a visitor's first stop, those staffing the store greet people, supply information about events on-site, register campers, and even accept memberships on weekends and holidays.

Through the catalog or online store, you can find the same items available in the on-site store. We offer everything from windsocks to airplane Christmas ornaments, club-related items including pins, patches, caps, and jackets, as well as DVDs and books.

The store sets up a tent on-site or operates at Event Headquarters during the Nats and other special events, supplying visitors and competitors with souvenirs and often much-needed items such as rain gear, sweatshirts, sunscreen, portable chairs, and hats.

Plans Service

An addition to retail sales is the AMA Plans Service. After purchasing the John Pond Plans Service and combining it with the published plans from Model Aviation, the Academy can offer roughly 15,000 plans to browse and purchase. The listing is available online, and catalogs can be obtained through the Plans Service.

New this year: foam wing and stabilizer cores are available through the Plans Service. For information and pricing call (800) 435-9262, ext. 507.

Programs

The Programs Department administers various AMA-sponsored programs, including Flying Site Assistance, the Flying Site Grant program, providing handout materials for hobby shops, mall shows, AMA awards and certificates, the Hobby Shop Incentive Program, Kit Stuffer Programs, and Leader Clubs.

Director Jay Mealy and his staff are responsible for the annual AMA Convention, which draws roughly 200 exhibitors and approximately 8,000 attendees. The staff coordinates attendance at trade shows, responds to insurance and legal matters, processes medical and insurance claims, serves as liaison to the Federal Aviation Administration, and includes the Technical Department. They address aeromodeling safety issues, process experimental aircraft permits and turbine waivers, answer Safety Code questions, and handle event sanctions.

AMA's Flying Site Assistance coordinators are proactive in helping clubs find, acquire, and retain flying sites. Highlighting economic benefits of partnerships between clubs and communities and developing a partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been instrumental in this endeavor. In conjunction with the EPA, there is even a promotional video in the works.

The Programs Department ensures your event makes it onto the Contest Calendar online and in Model Aviation. CD reports are logged and the Contest Director's guide and rule book are kept up to date. Special-wording insurance certificates are another service handled by the department.

One of AMA's "Did you know?" programs administered by this department is the Flying Site Development/Improvement Program. In 2007 AMA gave away more than $32,000 to clubs that participated. Does your club qualify? Visit www.modelaircraft.org/PDF-files/712.pdf to find out.

Publications

The Publications Department is headed by Rob Kurek. The staff is responsible for the Academy's flagship publication, Model Aviation. In addition to the monthly magazine, the department produces a bimonthly electronic newsletter for clubs and newsletter editors called The Insider.

The department is responsible for the e-zine Sport Aviator (www.masportaviator.com), which is updated weekly with new articles. Last summer's NatsNews, coverage of the AMA Nats posted online daily, ran nearly 300 pages and included roughly 1,200 photos of the event.

Various staff members update the AMA Web site as needed and maintain the Model Aviation portion of the site. A number of publications and forms, including the Membership Manual and the annual club kit, are produced and posted online.

The annual Product Guide is produced by this department, including photography. The staff also produced new publications including the Guide to Membership Services, the Newcomers Guide, and items supporting the new Park Pilot Program such as Top Tips to Keep Your Park Flyer Flying.

From concept to production, Publications launched Park Pilot, a quarterly magazine with the premier winter issue published in early 2008.

Staff members also provide editorial, photography, and design support to the rest of headquarters. More than $1.3 million in gross advertising revenue (non-dues revenue) for Model Aviation and Sport Aviator was attained in 2007.

Staff Director

Staff Director is a new position at AMA. Joyce Hager, an AMA employee for more than 37 years and formerly AMA's executive director, fills this role. Besides assisting me in my job, she fills in when I need to be out of the office. She has eased the transition between her leadership and mine, as well as effectively stepping in and carrying out many other important functions.

Joyce scheduled and coordinated more than 50 events held on-site and played an integral role in the 2007 Nats management. She filtered and responded to e-mail and correspondence for various employees who were on leave or had departed, and she assisted the Human Resources Department in its responsibilities.

FAI programs are recognized internationally. Members participate in these programs to become members of teams that compete in World Championships held in various countries. A Team Selection Committee (members elected from each district) chooses participants for world teams. Joyce helps manage distribution of information, vote tabulations, and monitors guidelines and procedures for each, supporting the various teams monetarily and administratively.

Joyce helped develop the AMA Host and Hostess Program, ensuring that visitors to the facility would have an on-site resource for help 24 hours a day. She worked at Event HQ during XFC/Summer Heat and the International Radio Controlled Helicopter Association (IRCHA) Jamboree.

A familiar face at numerous conventions and trade shows, Joyce has represented AMA several times in the past year. She also helped with preparation of the 2008 budget and the strategic planning meeting. Joyce's wealth of organizational experience and knowledge will continue to be a valuable resource as we move into the new year.

Final Notes

So there you have it: the first "what we did with your dues last year" report. This is not to be confused with a boring "annual report." Have you learned anything new? I hope you have a better understanding of what your organization does to support the membership and hobby.

We are fortunate to have a dedicated staff working across the nation to serve the membership. Many work behind the scenes and never get the recognition they ought to have.

One staff person who needs a well-deserved "atta-girl" is Liz Helms. She took the input from all the departments and compiled this report.

This and every other month Liz is tasked with getting 11 vice presidents, one executive vice president, one president, and one executive director to submit their columns on time and in a usable format. She has taken many poorly written articles and made them intelligible, informational, and readable.

Thanks, Liz, for your dedication and service to the AMA.

In the spirit of flight.

Jim Cherry Executive Director [email protected]

Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.