Executive Director View from HQ
"New things may come in 1999."
Busy, busy, busy. If we are not in the middle of contest season, we're in the middle of getting prepared for the next one. At the end of the very busy flying season at Muncie, all executive staff were involved in preparing their parts of the budget for next year. Many are involved in preparing renewal notices, there is the normal daily workload, plus working the bugs out of the new computer system. It never seems to slow down.
Membership numbers and staffing
One interesting fact is that the 1997 membership year ended with a total of 149,700 members. If all of the positions at Headquarters are filled, there are about 50 employees, which means that we have one employee per every 3,000 members. (That number is really an underestimate since not all of the employees answer the phone or correspond with members on a daily basis.)
Membership renewal
I would like to talk about membership renewal. All renewal notices were in the mail (first class) by the second week of September; if you have not received yours, please use the application located in every issue of Model Aviation. Remember that if your membership payment is not received by December 15, it may result in you missing an issue of Model Aviation and having a lapse in service.
Keep in mind the 149,700 members. Approximately 65% of the membership renew in a three-month period of time, and there are four employees dedicated to processing memberships. That equates to each data-entry person processing about 400 memberships each day. As a result, some backlog develops. At the present time (mid-November), we have processed and mailed 31,000 license cards.
During peak renewal time, it usually takes about four weeks to process a membership from the time that it is received by AMA HQ, processed, sent to the mailing house, then actually mailed. That's not a bad time frame, but I would like to work on reducing this gap.
Membership renewal is only one function of the Membership department. They also:
- receive thousands of address changes each month;
- handle correspondence requesting information;
- receive incomplete applications with incorrect fees; and
- handle all incoming 800 calls.
So if you have a problem with your membership, please have your license card number available, a copy of your canceled check, a credit card number if you charged the amount, and, most important, allow at least four weeks before calling.
Youth programs and reduced youth rate
It has been brought to my attention that many phone calls have been received regarding the two-year renewal and the reduced rate for youths; the price for members age 19 and younger has been reduced to $1. This was presented at the July Executive Council meeting. The theory behind this decision was to attract more youth to the sport; it has been expressed through members that the future of AMA lies in the hands of youth. Programs and getting aviation into the schools have become a primary focus.
If you are not aware, we are now in the process of the third electronic field trip project; it's featured in the classroom and aired on public television. If you know of someone who is active in a youth program or a club that sponsors a youth group, please send the information to AMA—share what you are doing with others. Mail the details to AMA to the attention of Mike Stokes, Education Coordinator. If you would like to get involved, request information through Mike or check out our web site.
Two-year renewals and license cards
The second most frequent call is from members who have renewed for two years and are concerned that a club or fliers at a sanctioned event will not be allowed to fly if their cards indicate the year 1999. So, what does it mean if you receive a card that expires in 1999? Memberships are in effect from the date that we receive a complete application and correct dues payment until December 31, 1999.
I am not sure why this has become a problem, since this process has been in place for the last two years. I can only assume that since we changed the color of the license card, the information somehow appears different. In order to clarify this problem, we will be putting additional information in the sanction kits, club rechartering kit, and a message out on the Internet to make sure that none of our members have problems when attending functions.
Plans for 1999
New things may come in 1999. By popular demand, we will take a close look at:
- improving the quality of the AMA license card;
- reducing the time to process memberships; and
- developing a program that would allow members who have no address or name change to renew by credit card over the phone.
If you have any suggestions, please drop me a letter or e-mail. Now is the time to start thinking about 1999.
Executive Council meeting and Leader Member survey
This past weekend (November 8–9), I attended a day-and-a-half Executive Council meeting, which focused primarily on the 1998 budget. I am glad to say that the members approved what was submitted, but I will not go into the details of what happened. Motions and how your district representative voted will appear elsewhere in this issue. Should you have a question dealing with the motions, please contact your Vice President.
However, there is one item on which I would like to comment, and that is the Leader Member survey distributed this past summer. Chuck Foreman (District IV), chairman of the Leader Member Committee, gave a summary of his findings. Out of 3,599 surveys mailed, 239 were returned, and of those individuals who responded, there was a feeling that they would like to be more involved with the association but need help.
In order to accomplish this task, the Leader Member Committee will develop a program and ways to improve communications with the Leader Members and give them the tools they need to "sell" the Academy. The committee members are:
- Chuck Foreman, District IV (chair)
- Charlie Bauer, District VI
- Dave Brown, President
- Joyce Hager, Executive Director
You will get more information as plans develop.
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager Executive Director
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
