AMA Building: Update XVI
THIS MONTH'S article reports on how AMA membership renewals are helping the building project and how the project imparts a form of immortality to its supporters.
Membership renewals and donations
AMA is alive and well! We had a good Nats and a record number of members (and clubs). Certainly the new frequencies authorized for modeling by the FCC as a result of AMA efforts (plus a long list of other successes) have made 1982 a great year for aeromodelers and the AMA.
As this was written, 1982 members were signing up for 1983 at a record rate. For the second year, members are including Building Fund donations with their renewals—only this year there are many more who are doing so.
Total contributions to the Building Fund already exceed $210,000. Our 1982 goal was "only" the $160,000 that we needed so desperately to start the project. Now, we actually have raised money to reduce the mortgage—and we are still going. Perhaps another $40,000 by the end of 1982? That's possible—only 50 cents per member.
What happens when these donations are received? First, we are sending out the last of the various patches and brick pins to all those who have donated the respective amounts. However, as stated before, these items will not be reordered when they run out—and they are running out. Only last week we were down to 47 brick pins. The district officers are returning all the leftover pins and patches they had, so we will continue to send them as long as they last.
Everyone from the beginning expected that the pins and patches would become collectors' items. The only surprise is that it is happening so quickly.
Posterity at a discount
AMA encourages members to renew by December 15 each year. For the second year there was even a $2 saving to members who do so. Because AMA headquarters operations will move to the new building in January 1983, a real national aeromodeling center will soon become a reality. It will be a dream come true, complete with National Aeromodeling Museum and Conference Center.
To help record the beginning of operations at this new center, a roster of all those who had signed up as 1983 AMA members by the December 15 cutoff will be made into a wall covering. Hope you weren't left out.
Hutchinson funds and prior donations
At the most recent Executive Council meeting, some of the vice-presidents inquired about donations made in the mid-1970s to acquire property in Hutchinson, KS. This was a project that did not materialize.
The major donors were sent letters on December 5, 1980 asking permission to use the donations for the current building project. Not one of these people objected. Also, the pages of Model Aviation carried the same question for all past donors—again, no objections. The Hutchinson funds were the first $8,000 in our Building Fund Drive, and some of this money was used to purchase the various pins, patches, and plaques. This was done so as to avoid use of general dues money. Fund-raising and the new building construction have been able to grow together so that members' dues dollars could be spent on services for members.
Construction progress
A look at this month's pictures will show that construction was, indeed, moving along very well. At this phase of construction, many things were happening on the inside. The pictures show the completed sidewalks and all of the first-floor windows installed. The parking lot was ready for final paving, and all the interior partitioning was being completed. When these pictures were taken, we were in the last month of construction.
Acknowledgments
Here is the latest list of those whose generous contributions have made this possible. If you see them, say "thank you" for us all.
- New Charter Members, AMA Builders (plaques recognizing $500 contributions):
- Jim Scarborough
- Contributing Members' Honor Roll (donations of $100 and up):
- Milwaukee Flying Electrons
- Westminster Aero-Modelers
- Franklin Alden
- Lee Buffum
- Gold Coast Radio Controllers
- Michigan RC Association
- Donald Nelson
- Lebanon Valley RC Club
- Gold Members (donated $50 to the AMA Building Fund; listed on the Gold Members Scroll):
- Jesse Mitchell
- Leo Gabriels
- Nick Nicholson
- Nick Johnen
- Thomas Munk
- Robert Diefenderfer
- Lewis Dumire
- Arthur Norman
- Randall Jackson
- Carl Hatrack
- Skyknights RC Club
Vince Mankowski Assistant Executive Director
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
