I'm
multitasking. I have been told that's a polite
way of stating I'm not giving you my full
attention.
As I write this month's column I'm
in Toledo, Ohio, at an AMA Safety Committee
meeting. I mentioned that because this is AMA
at its best. Around the table are gathered
some of the most experienced modelers across
the nation. Two Executive Council (EC) members
are present as are two staff members in
support roles.
A 19-item agenda sits in front
of them, which will present a full day of
challenges. Bob Underwood sits at the head of
the table and is tasked with keeping the
meeting on time and on track.
I call this AMA
at its best because this is what the Academy
is all about. Volunteers bring their expertise
and talents to the meeting with the AMA
leadership and staff to help improve the
safety aspect of flying.
Some agenda items are
simple and don't require much time. Others
have much greater ramifications if not
researched and acted upon correctly. The
aspect of unintended consequences of new rules
is always in everyone's thoughts, and the
Thomas Paine quote, "That government is best
which governs least" comes to mind.
Actions
from the Safety Committee, as are those of all
AMA committees, will be reported to the EC for
either information or possible action if
necessary. The AMA creed is "Bringing Modelers
Together." In the minds of Safety Committee
members, it is "Bringing Modelers Together
Safely" without overburdening the pilots with
restrictions.
Last month we published the new
AMA Membership Dynamic program to enlist
members to become involved in the committee
actions of the Academy. If you missed the
application printed on page 49 in the April
issue of MA, you can go to the AMA Web site,
and in the Members Only section, click on the
Membership Dynamic link.
Next month members
will be polled concerning their political
clout. If you can help in a time of need and
are politically connected, please take time to
let us know who you are. I have already
received E-mails from members who have
volunteered their expertise.
As the flying
season comes into full swing, I would be
remiss not to remind everyone of the AMA
Custom Products Department. From awards and
plaques to screen-printed T-shirts, the staff
can provide clubs, event directors, and
individuals with affordable merchandise for
your flying events.
While I'm plugging AMA
services, the Cloud 9 Museum Store also has
AMA-branded apparel for the young and young at
heart.
Can't make it to Muncie to shop? Check
out AMA Custom Products online at
www.modelaircraft.org/products.aspx and
the museum store at
www.modelaircraft.org/shopama . The
Product Guide is available online at
www.modelaircraft.org/shopama/08amacatalog.pdf.
This month's first "You know you're a modeler
when ... " comes from Gil Major of
Clarksville, Tennessee, telling us that,
"There are three limitations in this
hobby/sport: your imagination, your
pocketbook, and your wife's patience."
I had
to seek help on this next one, but Charles H.
"Jerry" Burk in Arlington, Texas, offers, "You
might also be a modeler if, when walking the
treadmill, you especially note when it reads
2:56, 4:40, 6:32, 8:32, 10:32, etc." (Okay, if
you didn't get it the first time, as I didn't,
think thread sizing.)
"You know you're a
modeler when the legs of the trousers you wear
while building are stiff from wiping the glue
from your fingers," came from Roy Stewart.
Dave Duarte from Georgia sent, "Your wife is
complaining about the gas mileage of her new
automobile. She hasn't caught you with your
Oklahoma credit card (siphon hose) tapping her
tank for two gallons of premium late every
Friday night."
Darrell Warren of the Michigan
Signal Seekers club offers, "You know you're a
modeler when:
"Any time someone asks for
directions and you use the nearest flying
field as a reference.
"You stop at garage
sales and ask if they have any planes for
sale.
"Everytime you see a vacant lot you
check for overhead wires and a smooth landing
area.
"Everytime you hear a plane you think,
'I got it.'
"You watch the Weather Channel and
can't wait to see the wind direction and
speed.
"You use CA and epoxy to make household
repairs.
"You use an incidence meter to level
furniture."
Because I started this month's
column with "this is what AMA is all about,"
referring to volunteers, I want to finish with
that same thought.
The next time you go out to
the flying site and look at that mowed grass
or paved runway, more times than not
volunteers made that happen. When you go to
the next fly-in or competition event, keep in
mind that all who are involved in staging the
event are volunteers.
When a CD, Leader
Member, club president, or club officer asks
you to do something, he or she is asking you
to become one of them—a volunteer.
Sometimes we
forget that those in leadership positions are
volunteers, giving up their flying time to
make things happen. We don't call them
volunteers. We call them our fellow AMA
members, club members, flying buddies, and
most importantly, our friends.
MA
In the spirit of flight.
Jim Cherry, Executive Director
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