Writing
about Thanksgiving with Christmas not far
behind, it's hard to get into the mood when it
is August and the temperature is still in the
90s outside.
By now you should have received your AMA Product
Guide. On the first page, I asked to have
"directions" about how to use this annual
publication of model-aviation-related items
from AMA. This technique has served the Cherry
household well throughout the years.
Take the catalog and highlight the items you would like
to find under the tree Christmas morning then
leave the catalog where loved ones will find
it. If you have multiple fliers in the house,
use different colored highlighters to
distinguish between pilots.
This works well for those who know we love the sport
but have no idea what we really want. One
flying buddy of mine goes as far as filling
out the order form in the back. Try it and
maybe that part, engine, airplane, or whatever
your loved one can't even pronounce may well
"surprise" you!
Warning: others may use this technique with other
catalogs and you will be expected to "find"
and act accordingly.
Membership renewal forms have been
mailed for 2008. If every member would renew
with the first notice it would save your local
club secretary many headaches during
rechartering time and save AMA more than
$30,000 in second-notification mailing costs.
We would prefer to use that postage and
printing money for other purposes that support
aeromodeling.
Having all club members renew before January 1 means
your benefits go uninterrupted and it is much
easer to recharter the club. This is also the
perfect place to note that you may join or
renew online through the AMA Web site. Visit
www.modelaircraft.org and click on
"Join/Renew."
While you're making that investment in the Academy and
the future of model aviation, it would be a
good time to review just what you get for
those hard-earned bucks. As the old commercial
states, "membership has it benefits." Some of
AMA's benefits include:
• Access to the Members Only section of the
AMA Web site
• A subscription to Model
Aviation: the world's most-read model-aviation
magazine
• Access to MA Sport Aviator: an
online magazine for new pilots
• Eligibility
to participate in more than 2,500 sanctioned
events annually
• Eligibility to apply for the
annual Youth Scholarship Program
• Club
eligibility to apply for Youth Education
Programs and Youth Education Stipend (YES)
Grants • Eligibility to join roughly 2,450 AMA
chartered clubs
• Opportunities to serve in
leadership roles including Contest Director
and/or Leader Member
• Eligibility to compete
for a place on a World Championships team that
includes financing and travel assistance
•
Support and promotion of aeromodeling for
schools, service groups, and clubs
• Support
of the Air Show Team Program, offering
demonstrations of model aircraft to millions
of people
• Club officer recognition
• Support
for historic preservation and research
programs (museum, archives, and library)
•
Eligibility for Hall of Fame recognition
•
Experimental aircraft inspections for models
weighing more than 55 pounds
• Turbine waivers
for jet pilots
• $2.5 million in liability
insurance •
$25,000 medical insurance coverage
while operating model aircraft
• $10,000 for
dismemberment or death insurance while
operating model aircraft
• $1,000 for loss of
model aircraft and accessories because of
fire, theft, or vandalism
• Representation of
the sport at the federal, state, and local
levels
• Flying site acquisition and
maintenance assistance
• Recognition and
support of Special Interest Groups
In the
"special thanks" department, a note of
appreciation goes to Joe Hass, president of
the Skymasters RC club in Troy, Michigan. Joe
invited me to the club's Wednesday night
fly-in where approximately 70 fellow
enthusiasts joined me for a great meal and
flying fellowship.
One member commented that
the group was a "flying club with an eating
problem" only to be quickly corrected by
another member who stated that it was "an
eating club with a flying problem." No matter
what it is, it was great to see the father-son
teams, father-daughter teams, and so many
others just enjoying the thrill of flight.
I'm
still seeking additional input for my "You
know you're a modeler when ... " project. If
you have any suggestions please send them to
me.
This Thanksgiving season take time to do
just that: be thankful. In Panama City,
Florida, when I was the club president we had
an older member named Dave Garret. Dave was a
World War II veteran. He was something of a
club hero because he was a survivor of the Bataan Death March.
The Miracle Strip RC
Modelers voted to dedicate a brick in the AMA
Walk of Fame in his honor. Dave was in his
late 80s and could not fly anymore because of
health reasons but would come out to the field
every day and help in any way he could. He
would tell the "younger" guys that "you had
better fly every chance you can because
someday you may not be able to."
Every time I
walk by Dave's brick in the walk, I can hear
those words again. We lost Dave a few years
back but his words still ring true.
(Information about the AMA Walk of Fame is
available online at
www.modelaircraft.org/brickad.aspx. )
Be
thankful and have a happy Thanksgiving.
In the spirit of flight.
MA
Jim Cherry, Executive Director
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