How The Bald Eagles Involve The Community
By Stephen Kanyusik
The noise from our model engines accounts for most of our lost flying sites. Interestingly, though, making a little more noise (in terms of talks and demonstrations) can be the public relations key to holding onto your favorite field.
The flying field is still the locus of excitement for the RC modeler. RC clubs (and all model clubs) exist because their members find thrills and joy in piloting the aircraft into which they have invested their hearts—and months of building time. Clubs continue because of the satisfaction members derive from sharing the fun and exchanging information with like-minded others.
Community outreach
Nevertheless, model clubs are learning to stretch their boundaries. The very realism of today's RC planes, which perform very much like their full-size counterparts, has made us far more visible and conspicuous than in the past. With that exposure has come a new awareness of our role within the community. We can't ignore the impact we have on our environment (sound levels are an important issue, for example), and that carries with it a sense of responsibility. Clubs that want to be accepted as responsible, legitimate pieces of today's public-spirited mosaic have to get involved.
Local clubs have been reaching out to their communities in a variety of ways. They put on mall shows, seminars, and workshops. Some have participated in a national school program as well. AMA gives us a national blueprint; it's up to the individual clubs to carry it out at the local level.
The Key City Bald Eagles
The Key City Bald Eagles Club, of Mankato, MN, has become very active in the surrounding community. Gary Endersbe heads our public relations program, and he can always be counted on to do an admirable job. Our growing membership—40 at present—includes a number of father-and-son pairs. We try to reach across the generations. We want both to acquaint senior citizens with what we do and to spark interest in young fliers.
Recently, Gary Endersbe was invited to talk to the Mankato Senior Citizens Club by the club's director, Mary Utermohlen, and program director Sheri Riedy. The audience had many questions for Gary, showing a particular interest in all aspects of radio control. Many remembered the rubber-powered models of their day. The Wakefield model I displayed struck a familiar chord, being closer to the models which many in the group had known.
Events and demonstrations
Our flying club plays a key role in the Mankato area's annual "Bend of the River Days." That's when we kick off the summer flying season by putting on a free fun-fly — a chance for the public to see some well-built planes that look great and fly great. The summer flying season in our area is short, and it exacts a price. Battling the gnats, horseflies, and mosquitoes is part of the package. In fact, so persistent are the mosquitoes' efforts to draw blood from one or more models that we've come to call them the "official state bird." Fortunately, iron-on coverings can patch the holes and get a model airborne again in a jiffy.
We do a mall show every spring, and it's well-stocked with models that our members have built during the "frozen tundra" season. This exhibit shows us to advantage, presenting an image of a serious and professional group of modelers.
Gary Endersbe represents the club not only on the service-club circuit but on the flying field as well, where he always takes along examples of planes he has built to show newcomers. These include:
- Tipsy Nipper
- L-4 scale model
- Quarter-scale Zlin
All of the Key City Bald Eagles are ready to assist any young flier who shows an interest in learning how to build and fly radio-control models. This helps us to garner new members and perpetuate interest in the sport.
It's happening everywhere. Clubs all over the country are getting involved in their communities and finding the rewards to be well worth their efforts. A strong public relations program like that of the Bald Eagles draws new members, keeps the club dynamic and vigorous, and earns the attention and respect of the community.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
