AMA Host Experience

     Following is a letter from Michael P. Nemzek (Dublin, Georgia) that describes some of the things that happened when he, his wife, and his poodle volunteered for a monthlong stint as host, hostess, and host-dog at the Academy’s International Aeromodeling Center in Muncie, Indiana.

     “June 6, 2010, 2:00 a.m. Sunday. The air-raid siren, I mean the weather radio siren goes off. OMG! Welcome to Indiana. Tornado watch/warning, severe thunder storm watch/warning, flash flood warning. Take your pick, if not one, then the other.
     “After awhile we; Mike, Mary Jo and Andy the killer poodle, get the drill down. Pull the RV’s slides in and make an executive decision on whether to head for the storm shelter or not (AKA shower room). After awhile the routine is automatic though we don’t get blasé about it.
     “One night it rained so hard, it rained frogs. We know this because we found a green one hiding in the awning support. It’s bad when the frogs have to hide. Some places the teens go out cow tipping. Here the weather goes out and tips porta-potties. Our stay’s personal best was five in one night’s storm.
     “I am mainly a glow, Sunday sport-flyer type of person. One of the great things that I have learned is that our model airplane sport or hobby is much more than that. The precision or exactness of Free Flight is almost mind boggling.
     “Truly great to see pride and the ear-to-ear smile of a teenager from around Atlanta when he missed getting third place by only a point, and the next day getting first place in his category—and this against some of the old pros.
     “He and his family members will have fond memories of his accomplishments, plus memories of having to move their tent twice to avoid the weather. As a fellow Georgian, I’m proud of his accomplishments.
     “XFC: Holy cow! The flying was something out of this world. Looks to be a young man’s sport. My muscle memory doesn’t even have any memory of the muscle memory necessary to do the stuff we saw that weekend. Where else can you see helicopters doing stuff that makes them look like giant dragonflies on an overdose of crack?
     “Meeting two teams from Brazil and one team from Taiwan was a unique experience and a lot of fun. The fireworks on Saturday night after nature’s display was wonderful, the night flying that followed almost made me wonder if the Martians had landed.
     “NEFI: Was a lot of fun. Bought a Radian sailplane and competed. Never flew anything like that before. Way cool as the younger ones say. Can I help it if my model tried to attack the scorekeeper’s wife on the second day? These things have a mind of their own.
     “Got to meet Robert “Hoot” Gibson too, way-way super cool. In my personal opinion the word “hero” is bandied about so much so as to be just about meaningless. Heck, it seems that if you even just show up for work and don’t get the boss too mad at you, you’re a hero nowadays. Even though he gives the impression that his accomplishments are just routine to me, he just about meets anyone’s requirements for being a true hero.
     “I, for one, appreciate what he has done in the service of and for our country and for being an ambassador for the AMA. I salute you sir!
     “I cannot say how much we appreciate all the kindnesses that the staff of AMA HQ has shown us. Their patience with my many questions and getting the answers to them, to going out of their way when I requested help on different things.
     “Special mention goes to the chief of maintenance and his crew. Don’t know how they get done all that they do. John [Hawley], you have great customer service skills that I have observed more than once.
     “Special mention also goes to Jim Cherry. I don’t know how he does all that he does. Part of it is in the professionalism in the people that he oversees. Now can I get the OT for the extra patrols I did during NEFI? Seriously—you and your staff have made our stay a great and memorable one.
     “Anyone that passes up the chance to do hosting doesn’t know what they are missing; missing the chance to interact with the staff of AMA, meeting with our fellow members with their wide diversity of interests, and their passion for our hobby/sport. We had a great time and Andy said he did too, even if he did get rejected by a female boxer.”

     To learn more about the AMA Host/Hostess program, go to www.modelaircraft.org/news/seekinghost.aspx.  MA

—AMA HQ

AMA Thanks Its Lifetime Supporters!

    The Academy recently welcomed Life Members Kris A. Todd (Madison WI), Jeffrey Daulton (Centerville OH), James Chun (Santa Clara CA), Gary LeMaster (Woodland Hills CA), and Ryan Black (Yakima WA).
     For information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at (800) 435-9262. MA

—AMA Membership Department

Also in this month's In the Air section in Model Aviation:

• Students Incorporate Aeromodeling Into Projects

• So Long, Dad!

• History Preserved: The Collection of the National Model Aviation Museum

• RC Flying: a Family Affair

• A Lifetime Spent Promoting Aviation