View From HQ - 2011/05

168 MODEL AVIATION
field activities remain the safest in the
National Airspace System.
We’re not perfect—far from it—and we’re
always open to suggestions about how to do
things better. AMA does things the right way.
It’s never been a better time to be a
member of the Academy. Tell your friends
and even your congressperson.
On a brighter subject, in January I received
a nice thank-you note from the Twin Falls
Aeromodelers. It read:
“On behalf of the Twin Falls
Aeromodelers, I just wanted to thank you for
your assistance last summer in helping us
supply gliders for the kids who attended our
fun-fly and demo days.
“The gliders were a big hit and the club
members had a great time helping out as well.
We still talk about the fun everyone had on
those two days.
“We really appreciate all your help.
Thanks so much!”
—Dan Lee
Thanks, Dan, for the nice words, and I’m
glad that we could assist your club in
exposing young people to model aviation.
View From HQ
On a sad note, one of our employees,
Jeff Hoover of the Maintenance
Department, has been very ill. Many of
you who have come to the International
Aeromodeling Center have met Jeff and
have had very kind words to say about
him, along with the other members of
the maintenance crew.
As co-workers of Jeff’s, we at
AMA pray and wish for his speedy
recovery. Please keep Jeff in your
thoughts.
As I am writing this I have just
returned from the Westchester Radio
AeroModelers (WRAM) Show and a
swap meet in Perry, Georgia, and I am
getting ready to head to the Radio
Control Expo in California. I look
forward to attending many of the
shows in which AMA participates. It
gives me a chance to visit with
individuals I normally would not see
and to meet new members.
I hope that those who attend these
shows find the various seminars
informative. We try our best to keep
our members informed about important
issues, and I again ask that if you have
an e-mail address, please submit it to
us and keep us informed of any address
changes. We use electronic means to
get information out in a timely fashion.
Enough for now. Go out and fly if you
are located in a place where the
weather is good! MA
lthough the FAA regulations
matter is worrisome for AMA,
there is a very bright spot to the
issue. Our members and many supporters
are rallying behind our cause.
As of this writing, more than 80,000
letters have been sent to federal
representatives through our Congressional
Awareness Campaign. This underscores
the passion for our hobby and sport that is
out there just waiting to be mobilized.
Rich Hanson, former Executive
Council member and current government
relations and regulatory affairs
representative for AMA, has been leading
a terrific team effort by staff and
volunteers to keep our members and
friends informed and energized. His
campaign has worked. We’ve gotten the
attention of Congress and, no doubt, the
FAA.
I’ve been involved with AMA for
more than 40 years. I know firsthand how
well we conduct ourselves regarding
safety issues and believe that we have
earned the right to continue to be selfpolicing
without government intervention.
Our Safety Code is strong and our flying
Interim Executive Director Joyce Hager
Our members and many supporters
are rallying behind our cause.
A
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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