Executive Director View from HQ
We work for the members.
As we enter the new year, I would like to review some of the Academy's services, programs, and accomplishments of 1997. Most of these will be repeated in 1998.
Education
- 1. Hired a full-time Education Coordinator.
- 2. Continued our relationship with the Indiana Academy (Ball State University) distance-learning program, providing electronic field trips about aeromodeling.
- 3. Continued gathering all existing educational programs and made the information available to anyone interested.
- 4. Financially supported youth programs, such as YES (Youth Education Stipend).
- 5. Most importantly, reduced the Youth Membership rate to $1 and became involved with the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association)/AMA Air Academy.
Income and Merchandising
- 1. Purchased a traveling trailer that will allow us to move from site to site selling merchandise and attend various trade shows.
- 2. Renovated AMA's farmhouse to house our merchandising headquarters.
- 3. Purchased equipment and provided training to enable custom embossing and heat transfer on garments, bags, and hats.
Other accomplishments and activities
- Produced an environmental video to be made available to chartered clubs when obtaining flying sites.
- Held a successful Nationals.
- Hosted our first "Grand Event" at the Muncie site.
- Installed new computer systems.
- Made improvements to the Muncie site.
- Constructed an AMA website.
- Gave financial assistance to clubs for legal fees and help with their flying sites.
- Sanctioned more than 2,400 events.
- Participated in five World Championships: Free Flight, Pylon, Soaring, Helicopter, and Radio Control Aerobatics.
- Made continual improvements and changes in Model Aviation to produce the best publication possible.
- The total membership for 1997 was 149,700.
This listing doesn't include the day-to-day operation at the site or in the museum, nor the hours spent by volunteer officers on local issues or by committees that work in specialized areas.
The Academy is made up of 50 paid staff and several hundred volunteers. We work for the members: preserving places to fly, making sure flying is done safely, learning to be good neighbors, and preserving model aviation history.
It was a good year. We hope that the reduced price of Youth membership, increased marketing, and other efforts will increase membership in 1998. If you have any questions concerning programs or events, please don't hesitate to write; we are here to offer quality customer service to our members.
Grand Event 1998
Yes, it will happen again, June 12–14. This event will cover all types of model flying, make-and-take activities, buddy-box flying, open flying, and more. It is once again Homecoming for our members. Be sure to mark your calendar for this weekend of fun with demonstrations, music, a cookout, and other activities free to AMA members. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the weather works in our favor this year. I look forward to seeing you there!
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager Executive Director
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
