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AMA Foundation accepts donation from the family of Wayne Nyberg

Tony and I are becoming pros when it comes to accepting model airplane collections. As I am sure a large percentage of AMA members know, the models can really add up, and before you know it an entire U-Haul is filled. Our trip to Lee’s Summit was no exception. In fact, this ended up being the largest collection we have ever received. In total, we accepted 98 model airplanes. Months ago Craig Brown contacted the AMA Foundation with information about Wayne Nyberg’s collection. Wayne was a friend and club member who had recently passed.

 

Tony and I are becoming pros when it comes to accepting model airplane collections. As I am sure a large percentage of AMA members know, the models can really add up, and before you know it an entire U-Haul is filled. Our trip to Lee’s Summit was no exception. In fact, this ended up being the largest collection we have ever received. In total, we accepted 98 model airplanes. Months ago Craig Brown contacted the AMA Foundation with information about Wayne Nyberg’s collection. Wayne was a friend and club member who had recently passed. He told me that the collection was massive and that he was sure we would be interested. Thankfully, Randy Cameron, District VI VP was willing to view the collection and take pictures. He also thought it was a collection that we should accept. [caption id="attachment_3022" align="alignright" width="169"]Tony and I love BBQ! Tony and I love BBQ![/caption] Fast-forward to October, and there we were, again on our way to pick up a collection. We drove all the way to Missouri, reaching our final destination, and stopping by a local BBQ restaurant for dinner. The next morning Craig, Randy, and Randy’s wife Fina were all there to help us out. They were so helpful, and because of everyone’s hard work we finished going through the airplanes and loading them in less than 10 hours. [caption id="attachment_3023" align="alignleft" width="300"]Randy Cameron, District VI VP Randy Cameron, District VI VP[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3024" align="alignleft" width="225"] Our 27 ft U-Haul was packed![/caption]         I want to thank Craig, and of course Wayne's wife, Betty, for reaching out to the AMA Foundation about the collection. The proceeds will benefit the AMA Foundation Education Fund, which funds several AMA programs. We had a great time, and I got to learn about some model airplanes I had never seen before. Wayne had a great collection, and we are very excited to offer them for sale in the near future! Below is a sneak peak of some of the airplanes we selected. Thank you to the Madison County R/C Flyers for inviting the AMA Foundation to be part of its 18th annual swap meet. We will be selling some of the airplanes at the show. This year’s event will be held in Elwood, IN on November 26 from 9 am to 1 pm. Admission is only $4.00. You won’t want to miss out on some great deals.   [gallery link="file" ids="3039,3038,3037,3036,3035,3034,3033,3032,3031"] If you are interested in donating your model airplane collection please contact us via email, donations@modelaircraft.org. Mandee Mikulski Director of Development AMA Foundation   About Wayne Wayne H. Nyberg was known for his sense of humor and fun loving nature. His curiosity, inventiveness, and love of science began at an early age. He learned how things worked and how to fix thwayne_nybergem from his father who was a mechanic. Wayne graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in chemistry and worked as a research chemist contributing to medical, food, and plastics research. Wayne carried his inventiveness and ability to fix things into his hobbies; sailing and radio-controlled airplanes. He taught himself how to make and repair sails for a variety of sailboats and also built and flew radio-controlled airplanes. Wayne and his friends at the 95th Street Flying Group and KCRC Flying Club at Lake Jacomo enjoyed many great flights together. He was known there for his sense of humor and fun-loving nature. Wayne is greatly missed by all who knew him.

Warrior Day at AMA

Last year I shared the experience Ben Flesher and I had when we attended Wounded Warrior Project’s VIPS Day at their headquarters in Jacksonville, FL. This was still one of the best adventures I have had at AMA. We got to learn so much and we both left knowing that our clubs had made a huge difference for veterans. While we were in one of the training sessions, we learned about WWP’s alumni programs. These are the activities they provide to veterans signed up for services the organization provides.

 

Last year I shared the experience Ben Flesher and I had when we attended Wounded Warrior Project’s VIPS Day at their headquarters in Jacksonville, FL. This was still one of the best adventures I have had at AMA. We got to learn so much and we both left knowing that our clubs had made a huge difference for veterans. While we were in one of the training sessions, we learned about WWP’s alumni programs. These are the activities they provide to veterans signed up for services the organization provides. They talked about how the veterans were given opportunities to learn new things, meet new friends, set new goals, etc. When we heard about it, I knew model flying would be the perfect activity for the veterans to learn about.Warrior Day program It took some time, but eventually we were put in contact with Emily Gray, who helped us from start to finish to host our first Warrior Day at AMA. Our team welcomed a total of 35 people out to the International Aeromodeling Center to learn as much about model flying as possible in one day. The day started with introductions, including a welcome from Dennis Tyler, the mayor of Muncie, Dave Mathewson, AMA’s executive director, and Tim Jesky, AMA district VII vice president. We split the group up into three smaller groups and assigned a group leader for each. The groups then visited the following stations:Warrior Day1 1: Flight simulator and buddy boxing 2: National Model Aviation Museum and hands-on activities 3: FPV racing/demonstrations with Ready Made RC. Most of the success for the day should be accredited to the great folks with the Blacksheep RC Squadron in Danville, Indiana. They came to Muncie for the entire day and really impressed our staff and each person that attended the event. With their help we put on a model airshow and everyone got to try to fly. I would like to personally thank each person that volunteered, and give special credit to Rege Hall for supporting our team by finding the volunteers and the airshow pilots. Another person who deserves a lot of credit is Deven Schei. I met Deven for the first time at the VIPS event last year. Since then, he has attended other AMA events on behalf of WWP. He’s a great speaker, a great friend to AMA, and was a great influence in introducing AMA to the decision makers at WWP. We would also like to recognize the following individuals and companies for their support: Mayor Dennis Tyler, Muncie Fire Department, Lifestream Services Inc., The Haven, Museum of the Soldier, Papa Johns, Pepsi Beverages Co., Readymade RC, Pilots Greg Alderman, Bill Gentry, Parker Hall, Rege E. Hall, Spencer Stevens, Steven Woods, and all volunteers that helped us with buddy boxing. And thank you again to the great Platinum Sponsors of this year’s National Model Aviation Day celebration who assisted us with this partnership: Ready Made RC, Hobbico, Horizon Hobby, and Hobby King Thank you to everyone that participated in this day of giving back to those who served our country!   [caption id="attachment_2998" align="alignnone" width="225"]AMA Foundation staff, Mandee Mikulski & Chrystal Pearson AMA Foundation staff, Mandee Mikulski & Chrystal Pearson[/caption] Mandee Mikulski Director of Development, AMA Foundation

Muncy Flyers support model flying from the beginning until the end

In the past the Muncy Indoor Flyers of Muncy, PA were well-known for their large indoor flying site. After the dome they used to fly collapsed, the club needed a new place to call home. Lee Eisele, a lifelong farmer and avid modeler, and his wife, Kitty, opened up their field and on-site hobby shop to the club and they became the Muncy Flyers. AMA President, Bob Brown and his wife, JoAnne, visited the club on many occasions over the years. During one of their visits, Bob suggested that the club begin holding events. The club was in agreeance and they began hosting great fun-fly events.

 

In the past the Muncy Indoor Flyers of Muncy, PA were well-known for their large indoor flying site. After the dome they used to fly collapsed, the club needed a new place to call home. Lee Eisele, a lifelong farmer and avid modeler, and his wife, Kitty, opened up their field and on-site hobby shop to the club and they became the Muncy Flyers. AMA President, Bob Brown and his wife, JoAnne, visited the club on many occasions over the years. During one of their visits, Bob suggested that the club begin holding events. The club was in agreeance and they began hosting great fun-fly events. As a result of the events, the club started making money and was able to install a fabric runway.Brick The club continued to fly at the field, eventually named The Lee Eisele Memorial R/C Park, until both Lee and Kitty passed away. Although the club wanted to continue to operate, a lack of a flying site led the members to find other sites and clubs. Collectively the members of the Muncy Flyers wanted to give back to AMA for its help throughout the years and honor Lee and Kitty. It was decided to give some to nearby clubs to help them keep flying, and to support the AMA Foundation. They purchased a brick along the Walk of Fame in memory of Lee and Kitty and donated the remaining money to the Foundation. Tony Minnella, who was the latest president of the club said: “The AMA always supported our club. Because of that, we wanted to help support them.”Muncy Flyers We appreciate this gesture and want to wish each member of the club good luck and happy flying in the future.

Marshalltown R/C Flyers Awarded with Club Recognition and Reward Grant

The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently awarded the Marshalltown R/C Flyers with a $100 Club Recognition and Reward grant. The club was featured in the Times-Republican on August 10th, 2016. The Marshalltown R/C Flyers hosted their 2016 Fun Fly August 13-14. The Fun Fly had free admission and offered all in attendance the opportunity to see some world-class flying. To learn more about the Marshalltown R/C Flyers, visit their website.

 

The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently awarded the Marshalltown R/C Flyers with a $100 Club Recognition and Reward grant. The club was featured in the Times-Republican on August 10th, 2016. The Marshalltown R/C Flyers hosted their 2016 Fun Fly August 13-14. The Fun Fly had free admission and offered all in attendance the opportunity to see some world-class flying. To learn more about the Marshalltown R/C Flyers, visit their website. The AMA Club Recognition and Reward Program was established to encourage clubs to promote model aviation. The AMA offers clubs cash incentives for positive local media coverage for a public event, public service, club announcement, or other coverage. Click here to learn more about this program.

Fort Wayne Flying Circuits Awarded with Club Recognition and Reward Grant

The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently awarded the Fort Wayne Flying Circuits with a $150 Club Recognition and Reward grant. The club was featured in KPC News and The Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette for two separate events they recently held. The KPC News featured an article about the club's participation in the community's seventh annual Balloons Aloft event on July 5, 2016. The event included many different activities including dancing, classic cars, face painting,  a 1-mile family walk, and of course, R/C aircraft.

 

The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently awarded the Fort Wayne Flying Circuits with a $150 Club Recognition and Reward grant. The club was featured in KPC News and The Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette for two separate events they recently held. The KPC News featured an article about the club's participation in the community's seventh annual Balloons Aloft event on July 5, 2016. The event included many different activities including dancing, classic cars, face painting,  a 1-mile family walk, and of course, R/C aircraft. The club was participating for the first time in the event and members were excited to put on a good show for the community. To read the full article, visit KPC News. [caption id="attachment_2924" align="alignright" width="300"]Flying Circuits President, Tom Hayes, with his giant model airplane. Flying Circuits President, Tom Hayes, with his giant model airplane.[/caption] The Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette featured the club's 35th annual Monster Mash and Swap Meet. This year's event was in celebration of National Model Aviation Day. The club president, Tom Hayes, said the purpose of the event was to bring pilots together, but also to share the hobby with the public. Hayes' hope was that spectators at the event would develop an interest in model flying. Visit the Journal Gazette to read more about the event. The AMA Club Recognition and Reward Program was established to encourage clubs to promote model aviation. The AMA offers clubs cash incentives for positive local media coverage for a public event, public service, club announcement, or other coverage. Click here to learn more about this program.

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