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140 Model Aviation JULY 2017 www.ModelAviation.com
Associate Vice Presidents: Bruce Baier, Oshkosh WI; (920) 233-1127; buzssr@gmail.com; Lee Frederickson, Ada MI; L1520@comcast.net; David George, Riverview MI; (734) 284-9017; indiancity5129@
yahoo.com, Randall Gibson, Lansing MI; (317) 698-4346; rgibson@mmrcha.org; Bud Gorman, Knife River MN; (218) 834-5797; bgorman@frontiernet.net; Don Held, Elmira MI; (231) 584-2662; edge540m@
gmail.com; Bob Johnson, Fond du Lac WI; (920) 922-6705; bobj54935@yahoo.com; Mark Robotti, Lindstrom MN; (651) 257-6792; mgrobotti@frontier.com; Marc “Doc” Shelstrom, Lancaster WI; (608) 732-
4077; shelstrm@uwplatt.edu; Peter G. Van Heusden, Bloomfield Hills MI; (248) 515-1071; petervh@malibutech.com; Kent Woods, Ames IA; (515) 232-8180; woods229@msn.com. Event Sanction Coordinators:
Wayne Yeager (RC Michigan), (517) 260-0132; yogi1931@comcast.net; Michael J. Haller (RC non-Michigan), Fond du Lac WI; (920) 979-9452; mike.haller60@gmail.com Frequency Coordinators: Al Schwartz,
Roseville MN; (651) 633-2286; alberts@comcast.net; Pete Waters, Northville MI; (248) 924-0223; petewaters@charter.net.
Tim Jesky
Vice President
District VII—Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin
timjesky@charter.net
2886 E. Country Ln., Monroe MI 48162
Tel.: (734) 384-6085;
www.amadistrict-vii.org
Let me start off this month by
congratulating the District VII clubs
that were awarded field improvement
grants for this year. We fared well with
grants awarded in both the amount of
money and the number of clubs named
as recipients.
For the clubs out there that are
not aware of AMA’s Flying Site
Improvement Grant Program, it’s an
opportunity to have to a portion of the
costs of your project paid for by AMA.
Improvements to your flying site that
qualify include runway installation,
lawn maintenance equipment, and
nearly anything else that helps make
your club a better place for your
members to fly.
Information about this program and
many other member benefits can be
found by visiting www.modelaircraft.
org. Again, congratulations to all of the
recipients on a job well done.
On matters regarding the FAA, the
interpretive rule, and any potential
effect on hobbyists, little information
has been coming out of Washington,
D.C. The FAA Reauthorization Bill is
again up for renewal this year.
Although I’m not good at reading
the tea leaves, my personal belief is
that, with all of the other legislation
that Congress is dealing with, I think
the bill is more likely to come up later
rather than sooner. In the meantime fly
safely, fly smart, and enjoy the hobby.
Be assured that preserving our right to
fly for hobby and recreational purposes
remains AMA’s top priority.
The following words and pictures come
from Denis Roy of the Des Moines
Modelaires in Des Moines, Iowa.
Thanks to everyone responsible for
this outstanding community outreach
event.
On April 25, 2017, the Des Moines
Modelaires hosted a large group of
homeschooled children and their
parents. There were approximately 21
kids and nine adults at the event, plus
a tremendous turnout of club members
who displayed countless gas, glow, and
electric-powered models of all shapes
and sizes. This event came about from
contacts made during a Modelaires
static display of warbirds last Veterans
Day at a local grocery store.
During the event, club members
gave a presentation about the club and
made some noise with a gas-powered
Yak 54. They discussed drones and
held flight demonstrations, taking
several children on FPV experiences
with a racing drone. More than 15
guests tried flying with the club trainer.
After watching us fly, and getting
to fly our club trainer, many of the
older children and adults became
so interested in our hobby that they
asked about learning to fly RC. This
gave us the opportunity to talk about
our weekly training night during the
summer. We fully expect to see some
of them again.
This day showed us that
participation in one event can lead to
great contacts and relationships within
the community, expose our hobby
to young people, and can bring new
members to our wonderful hobby.
We also found that the more club
members who get involved in these
types of community events, the more
they enjoy being a part of them. After
all, most of us love to talk about our
models and demonstrate them in
flight!
A big thank-you to everyone for
putting on a great show and sharing
our hobby with the community!
Take a kid flying.
