Bert Striegler

THE GREATEST PROBLEM that we face in the AMA today is attracting youth into model building. They are the next generation of modelers. If we do not somehow attract youngsters to the thrill and excitement of model aviation, there may not be a "next generation." Ample evidence of this problem is all around us. At the 1994 AMA Nationals at Lubbock, Texas the facilities were excellent, and the city of Lubbock went all out to make things pleasant and the contest was run efficiently, but the turnout just gets lower every year. I was struck by the age of the contestants. There were very few youngsters in attendance, and this has been the trend for many years.