View From HQ - 2009/05

168 MODEL AVIATION
Executive Director Jim Cherry
ne of the main concerns here at
AMA Headquarters is the
declining membership of the
Academy.
The erosion of our membership base
is consistent with similar membership
organizations. The Boy and Girl
Scouts, civic clubs, even church
membership has declined in the last
decade, although the US population has
increased.
From a high of 173,754 members in
2002, we finished the year in 2008 with
148,487 members. We can hope the
downward cycle is complete and we
will regain members as reflected in the
1991-1997 cycle (see chart 1). In 2008
we lost 1.9% of our membership, which
was an improvement from the 3.4%
loss in 2007 and 2.6% loss in 2006 (see
chart 2).
Although this decline is consistent
with the national trend, we cannot
accept it as inevitable and sit back and
do nothing. The cost of doing business
increases each year and the Executive
O
Council’s desire not to raise dues in a
time of declining membership make for
challenging budget meetings each fall.
Other sources of non-dues income are
limited because of concerns restricting
contacts by companies with the
membership.
Thousands have embraced the thrill
of flight utilizing new park flyer-type
airplanes and helicopters. They usually
have no knowledge of the AMA, its
Safety Code, or the additional
enjoyment and technical help that can
be found when flying is enhanced by
the camaraderie normally found at the
flying site and club meetings.
Therein lays the challenge: how do
you recruit these new pilots? One
effort is the AMA marketing
committee’s endeavor to secure 100
new park pilot flying sites by the end
of the year. Another is our first
national membership drive: the
Academy’s “Bringing Modelers
Together Begins With You” program.
The 11 AMA districts, clubs,
individuals, and even hobby shops are
eligible to participate for recognition
and awards. Details about the drive are
on the AMA Web site atwww.modelair
craft.org/membershipdrive.aspx.
“It takes two: the Academy and you.”
View From HQ
In my previous positions, one of the
oldest slogans concerning membership
drives was “It takes two: the
(organization’s name) and you.” Today
we would use: “It takes two: the
Academy and you.”
It says so much in only seven words.
The Academy exists because of its
membership. AMA’s strength is
measured by its number of members.
You are the Academy of Model
Aeronautics. It’s your involvement that
can reverse the current membership
trend.
The next time you’re talking about
flying with a newbie, ask him or her to
join the fun as an AMA member. MA
In the spirit of flight.
Jim Cherry
Executive Director
[email protected]
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