Some Club Recognition Programs

By Chad Budreau, Executive Director | [email protected]

As seen in the December 2023 issue of Model Aviation.

When it comes to clubs, recent discussions have centered around securing our club FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) status for our RC flying sites. At the time of writing, 1,193 clubs had been approved for FRIA status. We resubmitted approval requests for the 273 that were denied and are working to get the remaining pending clubs also approved.

While this is mission-critical work, a reminder about all of the other programs and services AMA offers is overdue. Allow me to highlight many of these programs, which can also be found at www.modelaircraft.org/programs/clubs-recognition.

In order to recognize the leadership of the best model clubs, AMA established the AMA Leader Club Award Program in the early 1990s. These awards can be earned by any AMA chartered club that meets certain standards of community service and activity. There are three levels of AMA Leader Clubs: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. When a club meets the minimum criteria, it qualifies for different levels based on performance. Benefits include certificates, pins, special recognition in AMA outlets, inclusion the club search results, additional consideration for AMA grant programs, such as the Flying Site Improvement Grant, and more.

AMA and the AMA Foundation also fund our clubs through many grants. If your club has received publicity through the local media, submit your article, radio segment, or television clip to the AMA Foundation. The foundation will review the application and reward the club’s treasurer based on the coverage received. In addition, the AMA Foundation and AMA support Take off And Grow (TAG) grants and Disaster Relief grants, as well as Flying Site Improvement grants to support club community projects and site improvement expenses.

Visit www.modelaircraft.org/programs/clubs-recognition or contact Rachelle Haughn of the AMA Foundation at (765) 287-1256, ext. 221, to learn more.

Three years ago, we decided to celebrate our clubs through the AMA Club of the Month program. We want to share the success stories of our clubs and inspire others through social media, the AMA website, and other channels. You can nominate a club or your own club by visiting www.modelaircraft.org/club-submit.

AMA’s most recent program was launched last year: the AMA Club Anniversary Award. This program allows AMA to honor its tenured clubs that achieve 25-, 50-, 75-, and 100-year anniversaries. Clubs are encouraged to apply at www.modelaircraft.org/programs/clubs-anniversary.

We ask you to identify the club’s founding year, even if that predates when the club was chartered through AMA. Please include any documentation or supporting evidence for your district vice president (VP) to review. If selected, the club will receive an award and a digital badge to prominently place on its website or social media. Additionally, the club will be recorded in the National Model Aviation Museum archives and on the club’s records at AMA. Please contact your district VP if you have questions about this award.

There are many other programs to celebrate our clubs, including the Award of Excellence, the National Model Aviation Museum History Project, the National Aeromodeling Heritage Program, Award of Merit, Award of Recognition, and Legion of Honor. To learn more, contact your district VP or visit www.modelaircraft.org/programs/clubs-recognition.

Thanks to all of our club volunteers and members. Please take the time to learn about these efforts to highlight and celebrate your importance to the hobby!