September 2011 President's Perspective

AMA Executive Vide President Mark Smith	Hi folks! I hope you have taken note that we now have a monthly report to update you on our activities in Washington D.C. We are vigilant to make our presence known with the FAA and other stakeholders. Although the governmental issues consume a large amount of my time, I want to discuss other aspects of this great hobby of ours. As some of you may know, my wife and I moved to Arkansas roughly a year ago and we’re “lovin’ every minute of it!” Next to the climate, the best part of Arkansas is the friends we’ve made.
People here are extremely personable and friendly, which brings me to the topic of this month’s column. I have been in this wonderful hobby for more than 40 years and, although I truly love model aircraft, it’s the friendships I have made over the years that I enjoy the most. Maybe some of you can relate to this, but I remember how I couldn’t seem to get enough flying in at the field. And competition was a big part of my life. I’d travel up and down the East Coast to fly in events from Canada to Georgia, but over the years, I travel to these same events to visit with my friends. Shoot, I used to not drink coffee in the morning of the event because I thought it would make me too nervous; now I have been known to take a nap between rounds! I have been fortunate to have a complete workshop and now, it seems as though building is just as important to me as flying, but the real essence of my love for this hobby is the camaraderie I enjoy with my flying buddies. I’ve said this often, “The first piece of equipment I pull out of my trailer is my lawn chair.” The club membership throughout this great country of ours is similar, regardless of location. You have the “doers,” the occasional fliers, and the modelers who simply like to come to the field to socialize. I’ll make an observation here. Those clubs that are most active seem to be the clubs that are growing and this provides a means for more social interaction! Too often we get caught up in trivial club issues when, in the big picture, it’s all about friendships. Many of us fly on publically owned land and it is critical that we show our gratitude for this opportunity to fly on the site. One of the best ways to do this is to get involved in community activities. Not only does this give us a chance to socialize with our flying friends, but we are giving back to the community in which we live. AMA’s Leader Club award program encourages clubs to get involved with the community in a number of ways. Some suggestions include the club donating to the AMA Scholarship Program or donating a Model Aviation subscription to schools or libraries. A club could sponsor an annual public event, such as a mall show, flying show, or demonstration. Some clubs create an informational handout and provide it to the general public. Others still participate in charity programs or public fundraising events. Earlier this month, I had the honor of presenting my local club with the Gold Leader Club award. Our president, Larry Holcomb, artfully arranged for me to make this presentation at the county quorum court meeting at the county courthouse. We had several club members present along with many county dignitaries, which gave me the opportunity to explain how only 5% of the approximately 2,500 clubs achieve this honor. Larry then turned to one of the county officials and gave him the Gold Leader Club award to be displayed in an appropriate location in the courthouse! That’s it for this month. Be safe, keep in touch, and have fun! Enjoy the summer and I look forward to flying with you! MA Mark Smith AMA Executive Vice President [email protected] Back To This Month's Issue of Model Aviation