The
flying site is calming down now that the
days are getting shorter and the
temperatures are falling. The Nats are
history and all the trophies are hanging on
a wall or sitting on a mantel somewhere.
The memories and photos are all we have to remind us of
the summer of 2008. One of these great
experiences was the AMA Host/Hostess program
and some new friends I made.
Richard and Marilyn Ferguson from Tampa, Florida, were
June's "keepers of the AMA National Flying
Site," and Errol and Claudette Link from
Kansas was May's couple. George and Jo Joy
from Arizona held down the fort during the
month of July. As of this writing, we are
waiting for Ron and Kay Tibbetts from
Cincinnati, Ohio, to show up and take care
of the site during August.
These people volunteer an entire month to help watch
over the Muncie flying site. Providing their
own lodging in the form of RVs, the Academy
gives them on-site transportation, the
recognizable AMA blue Host and Hostess
T-shirts, and some well-deserved pats on the
back.
While I'm writing about this program, the phrase "there
are no strangers in the world, just friends
we haven't met yet' comes to mind. At the
beginning of the month, strangers arrive on
site and by the end of the month we're
saying goodbye to our friends.
Keeping an eye on 1,100 acres on a 24/7 basis is
fraught with experiences and rewards. If you
want some great stories about the AMA
National Flying Site, take one of the
couples out for dinner sometime.
Errol and Claudette Link, Marilyn and
Richard Ferguson.
Each morning as we tackle the
E-mails, we receive at least two or three "I
lost my membership card. Please send me
another one" requests.
Having generated one of these E-mails myself by leaving
my membership card at another flying site
that was too far from home to make a return
trip, one of my flying buddies gave me some
good advice. Simply stated, he said: "Scan
your AMA card into the computer when you
first get it in December. Then print out a
dozen of them and put them in your flight
box. You can leave the duplicates all over
the place and still have the original safe
at home."
I never had to call the AMA again for a lost card.
It's election time at the AMA with
one nationwide position, that of executive
vice president, open and several district
vice president races on the ballot. I
encourage you to read the campaign
statements that will be included in your
membership renewal notices. Ask questions
and make an informed decision about whom to
support.
I continue to be amazed at the low response rate for
AMA elections. It is important to the future
of the Academy that the membership becomes
involved in this election process.
Sadly, this July we lost a longtime
staff member and her husband in a motorcycle
accident. Jeannie Howard had worked in the
Membership Department since the AMA moved
from Reston, Virginia, to Muncie, Indiana.
She was a part of the AMA family and team,
and she will be missed.
As we approach the holiday season and
Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's time to
look back at 2008. Did you do what you
wanted to during the year? Did you build
that airplane or master that helicopter?
Were you able to help out with the club or
help a newbie?
It's not too late. You still have time to make that
difference, whether it's your personal
project or helping another. There is never
enough time, but every journey begins with
that first step.
MA
In the spirit of flight.
Jim Cherry, Executive Director
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