Executive Director This Month's Thought
Be a good neighbor to those near your site
The calendar says May, but I am sure that it is mistaken—did we miss spring?
I hope you noticed that Model Aviation is beginning to take on a new look. The President's column will now appear toward the front of the magazine and, for all those readers who start from the back pages, you get to see the Executive Director first. Let me know what you think of the change. I always welcome comments, and we are always trying to improve our products.
Being a good neighbor is what we stress to the Chartered Clubs. Invite your neighbors to a picnic or club function and show them how much you appreciate their efforts to understand your hobby. The more they know about what you are doing and can get involved, the less likely you will have problems or complaints. Get involved with your community—put on a show for a local group, sponsor a school with a Delta Dart program for youngsters, or do a mall show. All of the following can be done and should be done to strengthen your ties within the community:
- Invite neighbors to picnics or club functions.
- Put on shows for local groups.
- Sponsor a school with a Delta Dart program for youngsters.
- Organize a mall show.
Information on how to do a mall show or a Delta Dart program is available at AMA headquarters. Just give us a call and we can help.
Since moving to Muncie in 1993, AMA has learned how important it is to become part of the community. We recently hosted our third annual neighborhood picnic, planned and executed by Steve Kaluf, Teresa McKee, Randa Coats, and Tina Pool of the competition department, plus several others who helped with the cooking. A special thanks goes to this group of people. We had the biggest turnout of employees and neighbors—just under 75. Everyone was given a name badge and a raffle ticket when they arrived. We took this opportunity to announce upcoming events that were scheduled and solicit volunteer help. We gave away t-shirts, model-related books, kits, etc. All in all, a good time was had and we look forward to next year. I think we could be called good neighbors.
We have also found it very important to participate in other committee work in Muncie. I have members of the staff attend and become part of the Muncie Marketing Group, Indiana Tourism Group, chamber functions, and work with the Visitors' Bureau, just to name a few. Several employees, when weather permits, give flying demonstrations on site to tour groups and build Delta Darts with local schools. This is all above and beyond their job descriptions. I tell them this falls under the little print that says "and anything it takes to get the job done."
The above is part of what it takes to be not only a business (or hobby/sport) but to be part of your community. The community, in return, has been responsive in financial support for some of the events on site. Many clubs already do some of the things I mentioned above, and I am sure these will be the people who, if a problem arises, the community will be glad to pitch in and help. Let's all learn to be good neighbors and active members of the community.
New Computer System for AMA
I know I have talked about this before, but it is finally happening. We went online with the new computer system as of April 15. We will continue to produce products from the old system for at least the next 45 days while we train personnel and work the bugs out of the new system. As much as I look forward to the new system, I know the next six to 12 months will not be problem-free. I ask that members be patient; as with any new system it takes a lot of hard work, time, and support.
We are finally moving to a relational database. No more double-entering. Your name and address will no longer appear one way in one file and another way in another file. Once in the new system, that member, vendor, or organization will remain there. Money will be posted directly to accounts receivable, again stopping duplication of work. The new system will have the capability of attaching donations to the individual record, keeping tabs on when a member called and requested something, what was requested, and when it was mailed or corrected. This has been a gray area for a long time. A member calls and requests a duplicate card. Normally the card is produced and mailed, but no record is kept. The same member calls again and we have no way of tracing the original request. No more—each member record will have a place for history to be stored. There is a fund-raising package and so much more.
Since you will be receiving this column shortly after the Homecoming/Hobby Expo, I hope many of you got to attend and enjoy the event. Now, on to the Nationals.
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager Executive Director
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
