Transcribed, edited, and formatted by JS (11/2007)
Presently (up to 2007)
- 2001-present: State of Florida Events Coordinator, AMA
- 2001-present: Administrative Leader Member, AMA
- 1998-present: Chairperson, Advertisement and Promotion Committee, Ocala Flying Model Club, Ocala, FL
- Honorary Member, Ocala Flying Model Club, Ocala, FL (222 members as of December 2002)
I guess you could say I have been involved with Radio Control for 33 years. I learned how to fly back in the 1970s, right after my husband and I married. We lived in Fremont California at the time. I joined the AMA in the 1970s when my husband first taught me how to fly and build airplanes. Back then, you did not see too many women flying Radio Control airplanes. I had two AFFs (plastic airplanes) that were given to me by a friend who was moving away. My first airplane that I learned to fly was an Ugly Stick that my husband built. The first airplane that I built was also an Ugly Stick. I made it red, white, and blue for the 1976 bicentennial. The Ugly Stick was the best airplane to learn to fly with in the 1970s. My husband must have built fifty of these for other club members.
We have always had an airplane hanger in our house. First, it was in the dining room, then both the dining room and the bedroom, then the second bedroom when we moved into a larger house. Finally, the 2 1/2 –car garage became the hanger, along with a small trailer used for storage. Needless to say, you knew where the cars were parked…outside!
I was not a member all those years. I joined the AMA for the first time when we lived in California, but I have been involved with Radio Control for 33 years. My husband flew and built airplanes most of his life; as his wife I was always helping somewhere. From being a club reporter to getting new members to join, working on the newsletter, taking photographs and scheduling luncheons for the ladies, I helped wherever it was needed. Harry was usually a club officer, Contest Director, or instructor (sometimes all three), so I was always involved in modeling. I tried to get the whole family involved in the sport by scheduling picnics and luncheons, etc. We have a group of ladies in our club called the Fly Girls. We meet when the guys meet once a month to help our with the club events. We presently have 226 members in the Ocala Flying Model Club in Ocala, Florida.
This is our second year at our new flying field. We lost our original field two years ago. The members have worked very hard to make the new field one of the nicest flying fields in the state of Florida. In August, at our Summers End event, we had 103 pilots and 176 airplanes, with around 5,000 people attending the meet. The large event that we hold helps to bring in money for the club so we can improve our new flying field. The ladies help at the Refueling Station (food concessions) and donate baked goods. It takes a lot of teamwork from all the different chairpersons in the club and the members helping out: parking cars, cutting grass (keeping the field nice), painting, trimming and edging grass, excellent wood work (trophy boxes), cleaning up, purchasing food, scheduling events, advertising (newspapers, magazines, radio and TV announcements), making invitations, getting plaques made, and acquiring pilot gifts and donations from different manufacturers…it goes on and on. Last, but not least, we receive extra donations from club members for such items as grass trimmers, barbecue grills, and airplanes with radios. Our club is very fortunate to have members who care so much.
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