Executive Director View from HQ
"... we will be glad to assist you in any way ..."
Media Awards Program
The Radio Control Hobby Trade Association (RCHTA) is proud to announce it will once again offer the Media Awards Program. The organization has budgeted $100,000 to be awarded to consumer clubs and hobby shops that obtain general-audience media coverage for radio control (RC) events they sponsor. The prize fund quadruples last year’s budgeted amount of $25,000. The program is intended to reach those who are uninformed about the fun and excitement of RC products.
To qualify:
- Coverage must be for a club-sponsored or hobby-shop-sponsored RC event held between April 1 and December 31, 1998.
- Submissions must be positive in nature and verified with proof of coverage.
- Submissions must be received with an official 1998 application while funding is available.
- Qualified television coverage will receive $200.
- Qualified newspaper, magazine, and radio coverage will receive $100.
- Each club/shop has a $500 cap per year.
A complete set of rules and an application can be obtained from the RCHTA office at 560 Bonner Rd., Wauconda, IL 60084.
Environmental Protection Agency
In July 1995 the EPA finalized the first federal regulations affecting small nonroad spark-ignition (SI) engines at or below 19 kilowatts (kW), or 25 horsepower. These regulations, commonly known as "Phase 1," took effect for most new handheld and non-handheld engines beginning with the 1997 model year and are expected to result in a 32% reduction in hydrocarbon (HC) emissions from engines.
- Handheld engines are used in equipment such as chain saws, string trimmers, and leaf blowers.
- Examples of equipment that use non-handheld engines include lawn mowers, garden tractors, tillers, and certain construction equipment.
The EPA is also proposing "Phase 2" standards for small nonroad SI engines that would reduce HC plus oxides of nitrogen (HC+NOx) by an additional 30% beyond the current Phase 1 standards. The proposed rule includes provisions to give industry flexibility and ease the transition to the more stringent Phase 2 program, especially for small-volume engines and equipment manufacturers. The new standards would be phased in between 2001 and 2005.
A public hearing will be held February 11, 1998, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Carl Maroney, AMA Special Services Director, will attend. When he returns, a decision will be made on how to proceed with this issue.
Trade Shows and Meetings
Trade show season is upon us. It is good to get out of the office and meet new people. As usual, the AMA will have a presence at as many shows as possible. Recently, a crew attended the International Modeler Show (IMS) and the Puyallup show; both events were well attended, and the number of membership applications—for new members and renewals—increased compared to last year.
The next big show will be the WRAM (Westchester Radio Aero Modelers) show in New York. If you have questions, please come to the booth and introduce yourself to the staff; we will be glad to assist you in any way.
By the time you read this column, the first Executive Council meeting of 1998 will have taken place. Members should note:
- The meeting agenda is posted on the AMA Web site as soon as the vice presidents receive their copies.
- Motions are published in the next available issue of Model Aviation.
- Minutes are added to the Web site approximately 45 days after the meeting.
These changes were made to provide members with more timely information. Any AMA member may attend an Executive Council meeting. Plan now to attend the annual open membership meeting on June 14 at 5 p.m. in the AMA Museum.
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager Executive Director jhager@modelaircraft.org
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
