The
holiday season is upon us and a recurring
question comes to mind. "What do I get for
[fill in the blank]?" Last year I shared the
Cherry household practice of highlighting
your aviation wants in the magazines and
catalogs with a cannot-be-ignored color of
marker.
Those who remember that column also remember
my warning that this practice can be
employed by your significant other, and we
all have to play fair in such matters. It's
not too early to be pulling those
highlighters out of the desk drawers or
taking that special person for a tour of the
local hobby shop.
Don't forget the AMA Museum Store and its
online catalog at
www.modelaircraft.org/shopama/.
I finished my latest project: a Cox Models
Dust Devil ARF Glider. This electric-powered
glider was used during the Nats competition
by a number of pilots. Knowing that there is
more than just reading the instructions when
assembling an ARF, I turned to the Web for
some additional information before I even
opened the box. I Googled the name of the
airplane and the results popped up in
seconds.
First on the roster was Model Aviation's
Sport Aviator Web site that offered a
detailed building-and-flying review of the
airplane (www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=1&ID=189&index=0).
I learned that the model tends to need
weight in the nose to balance it correctly.
I approached the project knowing that I
needed to lighten the tail as much as
possible and was aware that some lead would
be needed when I installed the motor.
I'm from the "learning from others'
experiences" school, and the Sport Aviator
review provided me with useful information,
making the assembly go much smoother. The
next time you're looking at a new project,
check out the resources of Sport Aviator.
We finished the 2009 budget and Program of
Work (POW). The AMA budget is the "ways and
means" of accomplishing the POW. Anyone who
has worked for a board of directors knows
the value in having a roadmap of established
goals so that limited financial resources
are utilized in an efficient manner.
This is the second year that a written POW
has been developed, supported by the budget
process. Both are necessary management tools
for any organization.
AMA staff members have been working on a
non-dues development program to help offset
increasing operational costs. For non-profit
organizations, these normally come in the
form of affinity programs.
AMA currently offers three such plans: an
AMA credit card with U.S. Bank, Ameritas
dental and vision insurance, and the DVD
series with TN featuring how-tos and events.
We also offered a membership directory this
year.
Members who choose to participate in these
programs because of the goods or services
offered help support AMA. In turn, this
support helps balance the budget and keeps
the AMA dues structure stable.
For this to happen, AMA must communicate
these offerings to the membership. The next
time an AMA-sponsored program comes your
way, give it some serious consideration. You
may be helping yourself as well as your
organization.
Recently I said goodbye to the last of this
year's AMA Hosts and Hostesses, Tom and
Marge Smrdel from Lodi, Ohio. They completed
their one-month stay at the AMA's National
Flying Site in Muncie, Indiana, helping keep
watch over the grounds. The Host and Hostess
program has proven more successful than we
ever envisioned.
This year, when a member was flying very
late in the day, he suffered a stroke.
Realizing that something was wrong, he was
able to land his park flyer and collapsed.
It was so late in the day that the area was
deserted with the exception of the nearby
Host and Hostess who witnessed the event.
They called EMS and medical attention was
given within minutes. Had it not been for
the couple staying out on the flying site,
the member may not have been discovered
until morning. I'm happy to report that
after undergoing a stay in the hospital and
rehabilitation, the man has returned to the
site and is back flying again.
This is a good example of why safe flying
includes not flying alone, even if you're
flying a park flyer type of airplane.
I want to offer a special thank you to the
2008 Hosts and Hostesses for the differences
they have made and for helping all of the
members and AMA staff.
Tom and Marge Smrdel from Lodi, Ohio.
May: Errol and Claudette Lank, Leon, Kansas
June: Richard and Marilyn Ferguson,
Frostproof, Florida
July: George and Jo Joy, Gilbert, Arizona
August: Ron and Kay Tibbetts, Cincinnati,
Ohio
September: Tom and Marge Smrdel, Lodi, Ohio
This year is coming to a close. We'll soon
be subjected to the dreaded "New Year's
resolution" folly. If you could ever make a
resolution that would last, let it be:
"Dance like no one is watching, Love like
you'll never be hurt, Sing like no one is
listening, Live like it's heaven on earth."
—William Purkey
And I'll add one more line: fly every chance
you get.
MA
Happy Thanksgiving and in the spirit of
flight.
Jim Cherry, Executive Director
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