Let’s talk about volunteers.
As you know, AMA has a presence at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, every summer. In 1996, Control Line (CL) modelers from around the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area were invited to set up at Pioneer Airport, and every year since then, they have given thousands of kids CL flights. Throughout those 30 years, we’ve been able to add more.
This year, there was an RC electric flightline every night at Pioneer Airport, with hundreds of new and experienced fliers attending. AMA also manned a simulator booth, did RC flying demonstrations, and guided more than a dozen teams through the finals for UAS4STEM.
We do all of that with volunteers—hundreds of them from clubs in the area and from all over the country. Nobody gets paid, nobody makes money, and even the AMA staff who attend work from early in the morning to late each night with no extra pay.
This is just one example. Think about how many of our members give their time to put on events at their local fields, regional events, and the Nats. Unlike other groups, we don’t do this for money. For 100 years, we’ve been doing this in the spirit of sharing this great aviation experience with as many people as we can. Keep that in mind the next time you are asked to help.
