As I mentioned in my previous column, AMA will be launching a new Membership Growth and Retention campaign in 2025. This program is aimed at growing membership from the grassroots level and retaining members who tend to leave after two years.
AMA has developed a value-proposition flyer for you and your clubs to use as handbills at events where you want to inform the public about the value of model aviation as a hobby/sport and STEAM education. Its intent is to inform the public of the existence of AMA by using QR codes for quick access to sign up for AMA membership and to find a local club. Please reach out to your district associate vice presidents, AMA Leader Members, and club officers for more information.
This month, I want to focus on District III clubs that have embraced youth activities as part of their social responsibility. The positive to this is the introduction of model aviation—beyond the box store purchase of an RC product—to teach skillsets useful in a professional career in aviation, aerospace, or the sciences.
The following was submitted by Dan Pantaleo from the Exeter R/C Eagles in Barto, Pennsylvania, which is located southwest of Allentown. This AMA charter club has roughly 35 members. Visit www.exeterrceagles.org.
Exeter R/C Eagles members Tony Rossetti and Dan Pantaleo were invited to bring an interactive workshop to the North Penn High School (NPHS) Student Model Aviation Club in December 2024. Dr. Mike Voicheck, the department chair and teacher for technology, engineering, and computer science education in the North Penn School District, is the faculty advisor and moderator for the club.
The Eagles members brought some of their own RC and Control Line (CL) models, photos, and videos to compare and contrast RC and CL construction, control systems, and the basics of CL Scale and precision flying.
The Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club (GCRCC) started a youth program called the JetStars, named by its members, and they also designed their logo! The group of youth members range in age from 11 to 16. The organizer, GCRCC member Tom Lipinski’s, focus was to get individual youth involved in building and flying model aircraft through mentorship with seasoned members and to foster an esprit de corps with the group as a whole and within the GCRCC membership. The club has partnered with Old School Model Works (OSMW; www.oldschoolmodels.com).
