Executive Director View from HQ
"If it wasn't for the voluntary assistance from individuals, the AMA would be flat on its back."
Excerpt: "Operation Headache" (Air Trails, March 1948) — Gordon S. Light
The $64 answer to the "What Do I Get for My Buck?" question by one of America's most famous model aeronauts. A revealing behind-the-scenes picture of what goes on at the Academy of Model Aeronautics Headquarters.
"Operation Headache" began in 1935. The movement for a truly national model organization took definite shape that year with a series of meetings during the St. Louis Nationals. Hobby leaders from all parts of the country threw in their ideas. The organization set up was agreed upon. "Of, By, and for the Model Builder" was the rallying cry. Officers were elected. The Academy of Model Aeronautics was created. In the beginning it operated out of the vest pockets of its officers. In 1939 national headquarters were set up in Washington. All the troubles were dumped into the lap of the headquarters staff; thus "Operation Headache" was started. In thirteen years the AMA has grown in size — and so have the problems. Today headquarters has even worse headaches.
About 1942 we lost first-hand contact with the Academy, after having participated in its activities since 1935. Moving to Washington not so long ago brought us again up to date on "Operation Headache." Headquarters is still getting sandbagged frequently enough to keep life from becoming monotonous. There are still some unhappy lambs in the fold and, though they are a minority, they are vociferous. HQ is doing a fine job of carrying out "Operation Headache" — keeping most of the model builders happy most of the time.
Unhappy model builders are usually not at all timid about revealing their feelings. To them the Washington headquarters is an over-staffed, over-stuffed group of ringleaders who delight in forcing rules down the throats of innocent modelers and playing favoritism with one group or another. These same rascals at headquarters play into the hands of the pressure groups, write rules to suit the manufacturers, and generally ignore the poor little model builder.
Headquarters is used to such talk. However, many a well-meaning AMA member who serves on an important committee for the first time becomes baffled. The critical tone of all the letters from unhappy AMA members hurts his sensitive soul. Apparently no one writes a letter unless he is unhappy and not pulling punches. A certain amount of sniping is a good sign. The Academy should be wrapped up in moth balls and laid away when all members agree in a gummy and disinterested fashion. Snide remarks ought to be tempered with a little sense, however, because the organization of the Academy is thoroughly and completely democratic. The individual member carries more weight than in any comparable national organization; model builders are still running their own show.
Some of the criticism directed toward AMA headquarters is legitimate enough. Too little money is one obvious shortcoming of the whole set up. This might be hard to explain to Academy members who are currently asking "What do I get for my buck?" The Academy's goal is to promote model building, coordinate activities on a nationwide basis, help clubs and individual model builders, maintain a system of licensing, sponsor contests and exhibitions, promote safe and sane flying and a score of other duties which need experienced personnel working full time. Aside from the salaries of staff members, the cost of maintaining even a small office is considerable. Innocent little items such as printing and postage make quite a dent in the meager budget.
The Academy's income is from membership fees alone. The fifty-cent and one-dollar memberships can't be stretched far enough, and it's financially impossible for the Academy to give the kind of service that it wants to its members. Headquarters' efforts are of necessity spread thin. The budget is too small to put staff members in the field to contact all groups in all parts of the country. There's just no money for traveling expenses and it takes a real emergency to justify an AMA-financed field trip.
Executive Director's Note
Does most of this still sound familiar? If it wasn't for the voluntary assistance from individuals, the AMA would be flat on its back. These very wonderful people — officers, committee chairmen and members, contest directors, and advisors — throw in their efforts not for pay, but for the personal satisfaction of having helped a worthwhile cause.
What we might have had on our hands today if patient people hadn't nursed the Academy idea through the critical years is indeed frightening. There would be a dozen or so organizations all on a so-called national basis — with their own national contests and their own national champions.
The AMA has built up well-deserved prestige among sponsoring clubs and groups; they look to the Academy for help and advice. Academy membership and activities have been increasing steadily through the years. Dreams of replacing today's shoestring budget with one large enough for an adequate program are gradually coming true. Membership dollars are urgently needed, as are larger sums from public-spirited citizens who understand the important role that model aviation plays in the life of our youth and our nation. However, active participation is also needed. The AMA is your organization.
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager Executive Director jhager@modelaircraft.org
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
