View From HQ - 2009/03

168 MODEL AVIATION
Executive Director Jim Cherry
e receive too many telephone
calls or e-mails that start like
this: “The local city council has
just banned all model flying in the public
parks. What can we do?”
Regretfully, it’s often too late if the
council has acted and the ordinance has
passed. It is much harder to have a city
ordinance repealed than to prevent one
from passing.
Most city and county procedures call
for multiple readings of a proposed
ordinance before it can be enacted. Unless
there is a reason to declare an emergency,
the process usually takes time so that the
public can be made aware of the proposal
and has an opportunity to react.
This awareness process generally
doesn’t apply to recreation and parks’
governing boards. Issues such as banning
model flying have a greater chance of
“flying under the radar” before action is
taken. It is often too late to avert a ruling
that a little public relations and
community involvement might have
prevented.
The development of the park flyer type
of aircraft, and the ability of a
nontraditional RC pilot (newbie) to go out
and fly anywhere space is available, have
w
counteracted the positive public relations
efforts of organized clubs. The new flier
has likely never heard of the AMA Safety
Code, doesn’t think twice about flying in
unsuitable areas, and often performs antics
that would make any club safety officer’s
blood boil.
My point is that clubs can never do too
much building of good relations with the
community, elected officials, and park
governing boards.
There is an urban legend about losing a
flying site. It is the story of a young dad
going out to a flying site with his son,
seeking help with a park flyer. The “gang”
at the site basically told the man that they
didn’t mess with park flyer airplanes and
he needed to take his “toy” elsewhere.
This young father happened to be the
son of the mayor. The story goes on to
reveal that the flying site was on city
property and its lease was due to be
renewed. You can guess the rest.
I’m amazed how well some clubs are
able to build those important relationships
in advance of a crisis or problem. I’m also
astonished at the naiveté of other clubs
that think they exist in a vacuum when it
comes to the world around them.
While he was still the District IX vice
president, Mark Smith invited Dave
Mathewson and me to attend a local club
meeting and participate in a ceremony
awarding the members their Leader Club
pins. The club had thought to invite two of
the local officials to be a part of the
celebration. As a part of the recognition
ceremony, the club presented a plaque to
Jim Cherry
Executive Director
[email protected]
… goodwill generated by these
small actions: priceless!
View From HQ
the officials in appreciation of their
support of the club.
As the credit-card commercial goes,
cost of time inviting the officials: $15;
cost of plaque: $20; goodwill generated by
these small actions: priceless! Next time
this club has a problem, the value of the
relationships built by this action is
incalculable.
If your club doesn’t have a person
responsible for public relations, consider
the benefits of adding that position to the
list of officers or committee to the club. It
can pay dividends.
It has been said that locating things on
AMA’s Web site can be challenging. The
site, www.modelaircraft.org, contains a
wealth of information—if you can find it.
To help those such as myself, who
sometimes find themselves broken down
on this information super highway, an
AMA Web site map can be found on page
150. I hope this guide will prove helpful in
navigating this member resource. MA
In the spirit of flight.
Mission Statement
The Academy of Model Aeronautics is a world-class association of modelers organized for the
purpose of promotion, development, education, advancement, and safeguarding of modeling
activities.
The Academy provides leadership, organization, competition, communication, protection,
representation, recognition, education and scientific/technical development to modelers.
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