Guest Editorial: Stand Up—Tall and Proud—and Be Counted!
Joseph M. Nunes — Hanover, MI
Preface
For over 20 years a common concern voiced by individuals within AMA has been the need to initiate junior-oriented modeling programs, preferably but not necessarily within AMA. Various individuals have initiated personal programs toward this end; many have been quite successful. However, these voices and efforts have not yet resulted in national or large-scale programs simply because too few people, and perhaps dollars, have been involved.
Apathy is typically blamed for lack of greater progress in this direction, which means that calls for help have generally been ignored. But hope springs eternal, and the following guest editorial seeks to remove the apathy by stirring others to respond and join in a renewed effort. The nature and size of that response will help determine where we go from here. Read on, and respond—pro or con. Your response (or lack of it) will help decide the future.
Help!
The Academy of Model Aeronautics is interested in finding out how many clubs and individuals within our ranks are willing to step forward and be counted.
Background
Many of you are aware the average age of today's model builder is associated with a few gray hairs and that we no longer fit into those "trim" jeans like we used to. The short of the matter is this: as we are getting older, there is a definite lack of "new blood" in the form of youngsters entering into the joys of model building and flying. Take a real good look at those in attendance during your next club meeting or flying session. You will be able to readily observe exactly what I'm talking about.
Many of us have had the wonderful experience of starting our modeling hobby through the guidance of a knowledgeable, friendly, older modeler. Remember the days when you couldn't wait to get to your favorite park and fly your model? The one you built with your own hands and so lovingly protected as you made the walk from home to your favorite flying site. You had the model looking "just right," and it was a great thrill to launch it into the wind. Once the model became airborne, that was the "icing on the cake!" Wow, what grand memories we created, folks. Memories and knowledge like that will be with us forever. We sure were lucky to have another modeler who cared about helping us to learn to fly models—in the right way and just when we needed assistance.
Editor: Many of today's adult modelers had little help when they were kids. Some were loners; others learned together as youngsters, often in their own local and informal clubs. While aid from older modelers would have been helpful—and probably would have shortened the learning period—it was not vital. In any youth program, this factor should also be considered, so that help might simply be in the form of teaching aids and materials to make it easier for those on their own to help themselves.
I mention knowledge. This modeler owes a great deal to being able to learn at an early age the importance of reading plans, following directions accurately, solving mathematical problems, working with tools, etc. This is the same kind of knowledge that enables some modelers to seek higher education and, as a result, walk on the moon! The educational benefits are astronomical (pun intended).
What does all this have to do with you and me? The answer is simple: we can join together and help the youth of today "re-discover" the fun and extra-special benefits of becoming a model builder-flier. We can turn on our youngsters to model projects if we are willing to help in a positive manner.
Jr. Aviators—Model Citizens of the Future
In June 1984 I sent a proposal to Mr. Geoff Styles, public relations director of AMA. The proposal outlined a model aviation program designed for all our youths, entitled Jr. Aviators—Model Citizens of the Future. The program offers five levels of goals in model building and flying proficiency, along with a patch and reward system (level badges), to encourage our youth to complete the model projects contained therein.
As a result of reviewing this proposal, Mr. Styles offered very positive encouragement for future development in this much-needed area. We are now working together on the common goal of successfully implementing a model aircraft program into our clubs and youth-oriented organizations, perhaps with special emphasis on working with our handicapped and disadvantaged youth. Working on basic models will enable all of us to help this program succeed.
We cannot do this alone! Any program the Academy of Model Aeronautics adopts will need your assistance in order to work. Please don't sit back and wait for the other person to do it. Will you help us determine if you and your club membership will be ready and able to help?
The preliminary questionnaire at the end is for the purpose of aiding AMA in determining how many clubs/individuals would be able to assist in making a youth program a success. Please take the time to fill out the form, and join those who really care about our youth of today. Depending upon the response, a further outline and explanation of our Jr. Aviation Program may follow in a future issue, along with the results of this inquiry. Be a voice in this great opportunity to show others how much you enjoy our fine sport. Stand up and be counted!
Please accept our sincere thanks in advance for your willingness to assist this worthwhile endeavor. Hope to hear from you soon!
Please return the questionnaire, along with any comments and/or suggestions, to: Mr. Geoff Styles Director of Public Relations Academy of Model Aeronautics 1810 Samuel Morse Dr. Reston, VA 22090
Mr. Styles will forward any letters and comments to me after reviewing them. Thanks again for your support.
Postscript
This article embraces the more-or-less traditional view that youngsters should learn about modeling via simple gliders and rubber-powered free-flight models, also control-line models. Certainly that is the route that many, probably most, of today's adult modelers took. It is still a good, basic way to go. Yet it's a different world today, with youngsters able to handle computers and other high-technology electronic gadgets (often better than adults!). It seems reasonable that such sophistication needs to be accommodated in any program to attract and hold youngsters' attention.
Ideas about how to do this are needed and hereby solicited. General question: Since it has been shown that many youngsters can be skilled radio-control fliers before they become skilled model builders, what effect should this have on youth programs?
Questionnaire on page 119
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
