The Benefits of Having a District Outreach Team

District News

By Andy Argenio - AMA District I Vice President | [email protected]

As seen in the September 2023 issue of Model Aviation.

Although the District I vice president (VP) and associate vice presidents (AVPs) have been engaged in outreach initiatives for years, a decision was made last year to create an AMA District I Outreach Team (ADOT). It now includes a list of 46 AMA member volunteers from throughout New England. Outreach efforts mainly involve introducing people and institutions outside of AMA’s community to AMA and aeromodeling, not only as an exciting recreational, fun sport for all ages but as a gateway for many youngsters to future careers in aviation and other areas that require STEM education and experience.

The District I Outreach Team at the Concord Airport’s Wings & Wheels Event buddy-boxed cadets who attended the event.

The photos show ADOT members participating in some of the district’s outreach events that involved activities to entertain, educate, and engage the public attendees at airport air shows, district and club flying events, STEM expos, K-12 and college UAS/aviation school programs, FAA UAS events, and more.

Typical roles of team members involve answering questions about AMA, aeromodeling, aeronautics, static models on display, and instructing spectators on RC simulator flying. At events where ADOT is part of the air show, capable RC pilots will be asked to perform demonstration flights of their model aircraft either alone or with others. Model aircraft flown include airplanes, helicopters, and turbine jets in a range of sizes and are powered by electric motors and glow- or gas-fueled engines.

Factory representatives or professional pilots might perform their demonstration flights alone. Others might volunteer to do buddy-box flying of district-owned trainer aircraft or their own with spectators in attendance, as time allows.

If you love to share the hobby with others in a variety of ways, we need at least another 50 volunteers so that on any weekend during the flying season, we can choose volunteers who can help with an event when others have commitments or an event is too far away. We have had as few as six and as many as 15 participate in events, depending on the attendance.

When we are asked to participate in an event, we will usually look to clubs with outreach volunteers who live within 25 to 50 miles of the event. If it’s a multiday event, some might volunteer for one day or more. If we are part of an airport air show event, volunteers might have the opportunity to display their aircraft and flying skills off airport runways to crowds of spectators.

The District I Outreach Team of AVPs Daren Hudson, John Yassemedis, Steve Brehm, Steve Goler, Joel Rosenzweig, VP Andy Argenio, and eight club volunteers introduced the public to aeromodeling at the Plum Island Airport RC Flyer’s Outreach Day event.

Please email Andy Argenio or Daren Hudson if you are interested in being an ADOT member. Visit the Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/1118091485580131.