View from HQ
Joyce Hager Executive Director
What is more rewarding than teaching a willing student the joys of model aviation?
Another month has flown by. During the holidays there just doesn't seem to be enough time to catch up.
As I am writing this, the Headquarters staff is busy preparing for the first show of the year: the AMA Convention in Pasadena, CA. By all signs, the number of vendors attending the show this year is even larger than last year. After the September 11 disaster, we were not sure that would be the case. So many people are afraid to fly, and the airlines are being very selective in their processing of passengers and luggage.
District X Vice President Rich Hanson has taken this opportunity to host a breakfast in honor of any Hall of Fame recipients who can attend the convention. This is truly a great way to recognize such individuals. I am sure Rich will have pictures in a future column.
As for the International Aeromodeling Center, work continues. We are still contending with leaks in the roof of the new Headquarters building and a few other minor problems.
We have started to do some work on the National Model Aviation Museum, and we anticipate having all the work done prior to the flying season. Look for a new lobby entrance, a larger museum store, and a better place to watch videos.
Make this the year that you visit us on your vacation. We enjoy the company, and it seems as though everyone who has come to Muncie has enjoyed the facility.
Don't forget that if you have a group or are having an event at Muncie, we have a conference room that can be made available for meetings. If you would like to use the facility, please contact Mary Lou Vojislavek at [email protected] for details.
Attention Club Officers: During the second and third week of January, new club kits were mailed to the designated club contacts. If your club hasn't received its new kit, please contact Lois Pierce.
All club charters expire March 31. Don't wait until the last minute; send your information in early. If your club has changed officers, please write, call, or e-mail Lois with the current information. We need your help updating this information.
The Academy has been working to improve our Web site (www.modelaircraft.org). Please take a moment to look at it, and let me know what you think. Employee e-mail addresses are listed, and updated information is placed on the site almost daily. The AMA Web site can be a great source of information about your organization.
Periodically I try to bring to AMA members' attention various programs the Academy offers. A brief summary of most of these can be found in your Membership Manual. This month I'll discuss the Adopt-A-School program.
The AMA Programs Department suggests that all AMA chartered clubs adopt a school in their community. This "adoption" involves using club funds to purchase a full AMA membership for a teacher (usually math, science, or industrial arts) at a school. The sponsoring club's members assist that teacher with programs involving building and flying model aircraft.
Club members decide what the lesson plans should be and whether or not to include hands-on building and/or flying as part of the project. A simple building activity could be AMA's Delta Dart, which is available at bulk rates through our Merchandising Department. Subject to available space and safety factors, flying could involve anything from Delta Darts to radio control helicopters, electrics, or rockets.
Show-and-tell sessions demonstrating the skills to be gained and the fun that can be had through model aviation can also be part of the program. Space permitting, the club could give a model-flying demonstration or even organize a school club devoted to model aviation.
Club members need to agree on a support schedule for working with each teacher so that minimum hours are required of participating members. Many clubs have members who work different shifts and are available during the day. Members who work daytime hours could provide some Saturday-morning time for the school students or club.
This type of scheduling avoids having the load fall heavily on any person or group of people in the club. If the entire membership recognizes the benefits to the community and to the club, many should be willing to play a small part in the program.
We frequently hear that youngsters need to improve their skills in and understanding of math and science. Your club would be meeting an important obligation by using a fun hobby to help these youngsters gain a better understanding of classroom lessons.
One goal of AMA—and modelers in general—is to expose people to the joy of aeromodeling. What better way than to combine required school lessons, a captive audience, and a wonderful hobby?
Not only can the program be educational for the students, but club members find the endeavor fulfilling. What is more rewarding than teaching a willing student the joys of model aviation?
The AMA club can receive recognition in the community for this public-spirited project. Problems with the club, such as noise-related complaints, would be heard in a more sympathetic light if the members had made this effort to contribute to the community.
You may even find a local group that will sponsor you or help you if a flying-site situation occurs. A club with only one flying field can experience several anguished months (or longer) if that site is lost.
Local newspapers, radio stations, and television programs look for community involvement and human-interest stories. If your club becomes involved in an Adopt-A-School project and works with local students to help them understand the applied principles of the math and science they are studying in school, you are bound to receive community recognition.
So, what do you think? AMA has more than 2,600 chartered clubs, so many school programs could be established.
For additional information, help, answers to questions, or to request details about Adopt-A-School programs that have been successful, contact AMA Education Coordinator Jack Frost at [email protected]. He is always willing to lend a hand and share helpful hints to make a program such as this work.
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager Executive Director [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
