A Heartfelt Thank-You to the Volunteers Who Power AMA

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By Tyler Dobbs, AMA Executive Director | tylerd@modelaircraft.org

As seen in the September 2025 issue of Model Aviation.

AT THE HEART OF AMA is a community of dedicated, passionate individuals who give their time, energy, and expertise, not for recognition or reward but for the love of model aviation. It is only fitting that I take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to every one of the volunteers who make everything we do possible.

From the AMA president and executive vice president to our district vice presidents, associate vice presidents, the National Aeronautic Association representative, and the chief financial officer, your leadership and vision provide the framework for our organization’s continued success. You represent our members across the country, advocate for their interests, and help shape the direction of model aviation on a national scale.

In addition to AMA’s Executive Council, the AMA Foundation Board deserves equal thanks and recognition. The hard work and dedication they contribute by setting the AMA Foundation’s direction, supporting fundraising efforts, and ensuring longterm sustainability, cannot be overlooked. Their commitment helps secure the future of model aviation by enabling critical programs, scholarships, and outreach initiatives that benefit our entire community.

AMA Leader Members deserve special recognition. As the highest level of AMA membership, Leader Members embody an above-average commitment to the organization and their clubs. These individuals are not only deeply invested in the hobby, they are also driven by a desire to help AMA achieve its mission and goals. Whether offering mentorship, promoting safety, supporting events, or guiding the next generation of aviators, Leader Members are essential to the growth and vitality of model aviation.

I extend my gratitude to our Special Interest Groups (SIGs) for their contributions to the model aviation community. As officially recognized organizations within the AMA, SIGs play a vital role in representing and advancing the unique disciplines and niches that make our hobby so diverse and dynamic. Through competitions, events, and educational initiatives, you foster engagement, preserve traditions, and inspire innovation across all areas of model aviation.

Your advocacy and dedication ensure that the voices and needs of your communities are heard and supported. Thank you for serving as essential partners in shaping the future of our hobby.

To our contest directors and event managers, thank you for being the face of AMA at local fields and national events. Your dedication ensures that competitions, fun-fly events, and special gatherings run smoothly, safely, and with the spirit of camaraderie that defines our hobby.

Our Large Model Aircraft Program inspectors and committee members also play a vital role behind the scenes. Your work in upholding technical standards, developing safety protocols, and supporting AMA programs keeps the organization strong and forward-looking.

I also extend appreciation to our club officers. Presidents, secretaries, treasurers, safety coordinators, instructors, and others are the glue that holds our local aeromodeling communities together. Whether you are organizing meetings, maintaining flying sites, resolving issues, or welcoming newcomers, your work is invaluable.

And, of course, thank you to our active members who step up to help wherever needed: setting up events, mentoring new pilots, volunteering at demonstrations, and spreading enthusiasm for the hobby. You are the spirit of AMA in action.

AMA events, programs, and day-to-day operations could not happen without you. What you do often goes unnoticed by the wider world, but within our community, your efforts are the foundation on which everything stands. You do not do it for accolades. You do it because you care about the hobby, the history, the people, and the future of model aviation.

On behalf of the entire AMA community, thank you! Your passion, service, and selflessness continue to inspire, and we are proud to call you a part of the AMA family.