Wow, what a month. Flying weather is here, and it is hard to believe that in only 15 days, we will hit the summer solstice and the days will start getting shorter.
I was able to attend the annual AMA membership meeting held during Joe Nall Week. There was a good turnout for the meeting, with discussions that continued through dinner.
One of those discussions was about flying site grants, and why we only give 10% to any project, and a maximum of $3,000 per grant. This year we had just more than $31,000 dollars to award. That amount is composed of 25¢ of each paid member’s dues. This year was not a typical year. We were able to fund all 24 of the grant requests, which totaled $30,224.34.
What normally happens is that we have more requests than we have funds. Each grant request goes to a committee composed of one member from each district. The grants are then graded/ranked independently by each committee member. The scores are averaged.
The highest scores get funded, and if there is insufficient funding, as is usually the case, money is awarded until it runs out.
If you submitted a grant request in the past and did not receive funding, it was likely because of how it fell in the rankings. I feel that this is a fair process, but I am open to suggestions. If you have questions about flying site grants, I suggest that you contact me or your district vice president.
I thoroughly enjoyed the barbecue at Joe Nall. Associate Vice President Gary Himes and I volunteered to help serve. It was great getting to see and briefly chat with many of the 1,400 people who passed through the food line.
Gary and Randy volunteered to serve at the barbecue.
I was privileged to be a part of the River City Radio Controllers in Kentucky’s fundraising event called Wings for Kids. Last year the club raised $30,000, and it expects to have done better this year. Proceeds go to the Norton Children’s Hospital.
This event has been going on for many years, and it is my understanding that the club has donated nearly $300,000. I don’t know of any other clubs that can match these numbers.
Max A Million, the hospital mascot, is enjoying some simulator time in the AMA education trailer.
For the last several years, my wife and I have gone to Muncie, Indiana, picked up the AMA education truck and trailer, and have driven it to Louisville for the event. My thanks to the River City Radio Controllers club for its commitment to Norton Children’s Hospital and for the club’s hospitality, as well as the pilots who came to help make this air show something the Louisville community can support and enjoy.
Randy Cameron Vice President District VI
Academy of Model Aeronautics