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... cast your vote for those whom you believe can best lead us during the next several years
By the time this issue of MA reaches you, AMA will have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the FAA creating a partnership to promote aerospace education. The purpose of this MOU is to facilitate a collaborative partnership between AMA and FAA that encourages and fosters the development of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills by today's youth.
FAA's Aviation and Space Education Outreach Programs (AVSED) and the Academy of Model Aeronautics share common goals of promoting aerospace interests and developing programs to benefit educators and students. These programs contribute to the goals of creating a diverse, qualified aerospace workforce for the future.
This partnership is an opportunity to establish a working relationship, where each organization brings its unique expertise, experience, and resources, in support of common goals. The partnership will promote joint endeavors that motivate and help students to develop STEM skills that may lead to careers in aviation and aerospace, as well as outreach initiatives such as teacher workshops, and mutual website promotion.
AMA truly believes that model aviation is the perfect stepping stone to careers in aviation and aerospace; this new partnership will support that contention.
AMA renewal notices will arrive in your mailbox soon. Included with your renewal notice will be your ballot for this year's elections. Both national offices—president and executive vice president—are up for election this year, as well as the vice president positions in Districts III, VII, and XI.
Campaign statements for the candidates can be found in this issue of MA as well as on the AMA website. Some of the candidates also have websites. Please take a moment to read the candidates' qualifications and positions on issues that are important to all of us and cast your vote for those whom you believe can best lead us during the next several years.
AMA hosted the FAI F3A World Championship for Aerobatic Model Aircraft in late July through early August. Teams from 32 countries came to Muncie to participate in the eight-day event.
Congratulations go to the United States team of Andrew Jesky, Chip Hyde, and Brett Wickizer for winning team gold. And congratulations to Andrew Jesky for his third-place individual finish. For more information and pictures from the competition visit the AMA website at www.modelaircraft.org/events/f3awcc2011.aspx.
AMA's 75th Anniversary celebration was held July 14-17 with a gala banquet in downtown Muncie, Indiana, and a fly-in held at the International Aeromodeling Center. Members from across the country came to take part in the flying activities and enjoy the planned events that took place throughout the weekend.
Friday evening's banquet was an outstanding affair that brought together members who shared stories and the history covering AMA's first 75 years. The AMA staff spent countless hours planning and organizing this event and judging from the many comments heard from those who were there, it all paid off. Pictures from the event can be found at http://bit.ly/OCFpSJ.
The FAA's effort to regulate small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) continues. The FAA had previously indicated that rulemaking would not take place until after the release of a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). However, Congress' inability to provide funding to keep the FAA running caused several weeks of furlough for FAA employees. The rulemaking process was slowed temporarily when the government shutdown occurred.
AMA's internal workgroup continues to develop a set of standards that, once approved by the FAA, will allow modelers who operate within the standards some latitude from what is expected in the (default) rule. After the standards work is complete, AMA will vet the document throughout the entire model aviation community before it is presented to the FAA.
At this point the FAA UAPO still estimates that the rule will be released as a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in mid-December 2011 and the rule will be implemented in the second or third quarter of 2013. The best place to follow the progress of the regulatory effort and find the most current information is on the AMA's Government Relations page on our website at www.modelaircraft.org/aboutama/gov.aspx.
AMA's newly revised Leader Member program rolls in September 2011. The AMA Leader Member Development Committee was tasked with creating new and creative ways to communicate with and utilize the diverse education levels, motivations, and talents of our Leader Members. This volunteer force represents nearly 2,700 members who benefit the Academy and the general membership by giving back to AMA their time and talent.
In this revised program, Leader Member duties vary by category. Although it is the responsibility of every Leader Member to represent and promote AMA and the sport of aeromodeling, Leader Members within the new categories of Education and Flight have specific duties and responsibilities including public outreach, assisting clubs, member support, membership development, and other obligations as defined by the Leader Member Program.
More information about this new program can be found on the AMA website.
See you next time.
Dave Mathewson AMA Executive Director <REDACTED>
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
