Executive Director View from HQ
"... your Headquarters staff is very dedicated."
Grand Event and Thanks
The Grand Event is over, and here comes the AMA Nationals. As usual, I will only highlight some of the good things about the Grand Event since it will be covered elsewhere.
First, I would like to say thank you to the 120 businesses, foundations, and organizations for their generous support of the AMA Model/Hobby Sport Grand Event. Top sponsors were:
- Radio Control Hobby Trade Association (RCHTA)
- Academy of Model Aeronautics (matching grant)
Second, I would like to thank all of the volunteers who donated their time. As stated many times, events cannot happen unless you have volunteers to make them work. I would like to let the membership know that your Headquarters staff is very dedicated. Almost every AMA employee volunteered to work at either all or some of the event—without pay.
Storm, Tent, and Power Outage
This year there were high winds and rain the day before the event started. On Friday night the storm took down the 350-foot tent that housed all the vendors. AMA members and maintenance crew were still out on the site and immediately went to work to store all the vendors' supplies in a safe area.
A huge thank you goes to these people; without their quick action, we could have had a much bigger disaster. Employees of the tent company were there early Saturday to erect what was left of the structure so that the show could go on.
In addition to the storm, at about 1 a.m. Saturday morning a vehicle hit a telephone pole on Memorial Drive and took out all of the power at AMA HQ. It wasn't until 3 p.m. Saturday that the electricity was restored to the building and we were able to open the museum. However, to continue the saga, AMA's phone system was destroyed, and we were without fax machines and phones until Thursday of that same week. I think this event should be renamed. Any suggestions?
Make-and-Take Projects and Attendance
This year, 800 make-and-take projects were completed by 8- to 17-year-olds. Through the generosity of our partner sponsors, these opportunities were free of charge. Close to 3,500 visitors from 28 states attended the Grand Event. Great turnout!
National TV Exposure (Reprint of Kathleen Racine's "RCHTA NEWS" column)
Jeff Maturo informed me (Kathleen Racine) that National PBS plans to air his "R/C TV" show via satellite this year, either at the end of August or the beginning of September. This is one of two cable shows that the Consumer Marketing division of RCHTA supported with sponsorship during their infancies. The goal was, then, as now, to receive national exposure for our industry. I understand from Jeff, however, that local PBS stations will not air the program unless the stations identify that there is a market for the show. He enlisted our help to spread the word that national exposure is possible if individuals convince their local stations that there is interest in radio control programming.
This call to action asks you—please—to telephone, e-mail, fax, or write your local PBS station and request the R/C TV show. At web site www.pbs.org/stations/html you can get the national listing of PBS stations. Questions about the show should be directed to Jeff Maturo at 941-455-6233. RCHTA's contact: rchta@indcom, phone: 847-526-1222.
Flying Site Coordinator
The Flying Site Coordinator Assistant position has been filled by Joe Beshar. His main responsibility will be to facilitate the structuring of a national network through which the Academy can track circumstances that, in whatever manner, impact the existence of model flying sites.
This structure, as envisioned, will consist of volunteer representatives in each District, or better yet, in each state, whose responsibility will be to keep their eyes and ears open to the goings-on in their particular area. A great deal of reading the newspaper and watching and listening to the news will be involved, along with being in touch with assigned areas in whatever manner necessary—politically, financially, socially, etc. These volunteers will be connected to one point of contact at the AMA—the Flying Site Assistance Coordinator. The purpose of such a structure is to obtain more timely information, allowing a more proactive, rather than reactive, approach to flying site concerns.
Some of you may know the new coordinator, Joe Beshar. He was District II Vice President from 1992 to 1994. With his experience and successes in developing flying sites, and his background of dealing with people, he will be instrumental in establishing the foundation upon which we can build a more effective program to acquire, maintain, and develop flying sites for the future of the sport. Let's give Joe all of our support so that he can accomplish this great task.
FAI Sporting License to Increase in 1999
The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) has reluctantly changed the price of the FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale) Sporting License to $35. The change is because of an increased level of fees imposed by the FAI; however, the cost of a sporting license in the United States still remains below that in Canada, Australia, Japan, and several other countries.
In addition, the NAA has made improvements to the license itself, which is now its own card with your personal information for ease of use and recognition. The license is valid for the calendar year, and can be used in multiple events. The FAI Sporting License is required for entry in any FAI team selection contest and world record activity. For additional information, please contact NAA at (703) 527-0226.
Happy flying,
Joyce Hager Executive Director jhager@modelaircraft.org
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
