By Katie Perry, AMA Administrative Assistant | katiep@modelaircraft.org
IN THE EARLY 1960S, AMA began to embrace the growing number of model aviation clubs across the US, wanting to have them become a more formal part of the organization. AMA began chartering clubs at that time and hasn’t looked back. Since then, nearly 2,400 clubs have been created and chartered across the country.
Clubs are an integral part of keeping this hobby alive and well. If your club, or a club that you know of, is celebrating an upcoming anniversary, nominate it for a Club Anniversary Award! This award was made for clubs celebrating their 25th, 50th, 75th, or 100th anniversaries.
Nominating a club is as simple as gathering a bit of club history and filling out the online nomination form at www.modelaircraft.org/programs/clubs-anniversary.
After the form has been filled out and submitted, the respective district vice president (VP) will review it to verify which anniversary certificate the club is eligible for. After the district VP has approved the award, a PDF file is created and sent to the nominator. This PDF file allows the club to display the certificate anywhere they choose. Some clubs print the certificate and frame it, while others proudly display it on their website or on social media. The nominator will also receive an anniversary coin to display on any club materials that they have. That way, anyone and everyone can see just how long the club has been around and enjoying model aviation.
If you have any questions about the Club Anniversary Award, please reach out to Katie Perry at katiep@modelaircraft.org or (765) 287-1256, ext. 203.