THE
NFFS EXPANSIONARY PLAN
--with
an Emphasis on Education
A report to the members.
The National Free Flight Society Board of Directors has declared the Organization to be expansionary with respect to its membership and national influence. The recent re-organization (Figure) is intended to reflect a vigorous management style aimed at revitalizing the Society and restoring the status of free flight in the United States. The extra energy for the expansionary effort comes from the addition of inspired volunteers who have filled out the ranks of the revised organization. These individuals are members in good standing of the Society and reflect the high caliber and character of the entire active membership. Additional volunteer assistance will be needed and will be sought from the same source.
The Expansionary Plan does not allow for any omission or loss of existing obligations for the Society. The main elements of the new organizational structure with assigned goals approved by the Directors will function as follows.
Planning and Operations Committee. With the direction and guidance of the NFFS President and the Board of Directors, the Planning & Operations Committee will strive to energize and coordinate the activities of the Society. The Committee will attend to day-to-day business as necessary but will focus on goals, projects and assignments of overriding importance. Care will be taken to monitor near and long-term goals and to assess progress as the phases of the Plan evolve.
Education Committee. It has become all too clear that unless the Free Flight community intercedes, a disturbing trend of shrinking participation may someday find the sport of Free Flight model aviation a faded memory. The beauty, accessibility and sophistication of a great hobby may thus become extinct to the detriment of the world’s scientific community.
The observed decline of free flight is not just a pessimistic vision of the future but a rational conclusion in view of the reduced numbers of individuals building and flying free flight model airplanes in competition. The National Free Flight Society (NFFS) has also experienced the loss of approximately 80 memberships per year, a problem compounded by the increasing age of members. In response, the NFFS has initiated an educational movement intended to revive the free flight hobby that has long served as an important and often unrecognized early training ground for youth destined to become highly capable and productive citizens.
NFFS is planning an ambitious program to encourage young persons to build and fly model airplanes, a pursuit that has always been a traditional precursor to the aviation industry and even today can still provide the needed inspiration for youths. There is nothing new to this concept except the recent neglect involved.
Model aviation is embodied with one of the easiest concepts to promote and sell – the inspiration and orientation of youths toward a career in the physical sciences. Aligning youths with the model aviation hobby has influenced untold thousands of individuals to achieve nationally recognized careers. In that regard, a major goal of the Expansionary Plan is to help restore the dwindling ranks of U.S. aeronautical engineers. A well run and exciting program will help generate young candidates for higher education that are already grounded in the aeronautical sciences. The Society can have a major influence on the higher education and careers of capable people who will be destined to guide the technical future of our nation.
NFFS plans to accomplish these goals through its free flight publications, through structured educational experiences and exposure to free flight competitions. Scholarships will be integral to the process along with an aggressive funding drive, public relations efforts and volunteer member contributions. The new educational endeavors of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, although noble, do not fulfill the specific purposes and scope for free flight envisioned by NFFS but may well serve to generate interested candidates. The two organizations can form a co-operative network aimed at the promulgation of the hobby.
The fundamental need and justification for the rewarding activity of building and flying model airplanes has not been replaced by the temptations of the electronic age, as suggested by some dispirited worriers. In fact, logic and experience argue to the contrary. And never before has the need been greater or the time more opportune for NFFS to step forward and set a new direction for free flight modeling.
To that end, NFFS members must renew our verve for the hobby that has given each of us valuable rewards and has provided benefits to the nation in science and technology. We also must believe it can be done.
Publications. The various NFFS publications offer valuable assets to members and non-members alike. Although each of the Publications sub-divisions has inherently different functions, there is considerable overlap in presentation and distribution of the materials involved. Consequently, the responsibility for integrating the activities and products of the Digest, the Symposia, the Web site, the Plans Service and Publications Service has been placed under the direction of the Publications Subcommittee Chairperson. This should result in consistent planning and improved sharing of materials in addition to enhanced accessibility and distribution of products to members. More effective use of the Digest and Web site for communication of NFFS business, project proposals, announcements and Program results will receive priority attention. A means for communication by members within the Publications will also be sought.
In particular, the various Publications will resolve to be a resource and a podium for all phases of free flight modeling, including NFFS Nostalgia, AMA, FAI, scale and other categories.
Public Relations. The elegant sport of free flight modeling is in desperate need of improved visibility to the public. Academic authorities know little about the basic contribution of aeromodeling to the self-esteem of the youths involved let alone the stimulus it provides to enter higher education. The superb accomplishments of our premier fliers who represent the U.S. in national or international venues receive virtually no notice in the U. S. media. We must find the means to obtain deserved attention since recognition and interest by the public almost always leads to greater support, new opportunities and expanded membership.
There is much to be done in Public Relations, most of it outside of our own circles. The initial focus will be on media awareness of educational efforts to benefit youths and on local competitions. Publicity will be sought for National competitions and for FAI Teams.
Funding. The United States is the wealthiest nation on earth. We are blessed with great talent and riches. With these enormous resources, there is support that is to be garnered for the laudable goal of education in free flight model aviation. We are identifying and soliciting the appropriate entities whether they are philanthropic, governmental, commercial or individual donors. Essential grant applications are being developed at the national level. These efforts are successful only because local spokespersons for NFFS skilled in fund raising and acquiring assets have volunteered. If you can be one of those persons, NFFS expects you to step forward.
Competitions Committee. Opportunities exist to broaden current competition Programs, such as developing a Rubber Category for Nostalgia and an Indoor Category for the National Cup. Such proposals involve initial consideration by the Subcommittees with fact finding, and assessment of member interest.
Maintenance and updating of NFFS Program Competition Rules for Nostalgia and the National Cup will be a prime function. But, gaining a greater voice to better represent NFFS members in the details of the AMA Competition Regulations will also be an important goal along with better support of the AMA/USOC NATS. Proposals for further improvement of the AMA International flying field for free flight functions will be developed.
Summary. The Expansionary Plan is already underway with successful recruitment of the new Digest Editor and Webmaster, and volunteers to fill important Committee and Subcommittee positions (Figure).
It should also be noted that the Plan is consistent with the new 501c-3 IRS Tax Code status of the NFFS that effectively requires the Society to function at least in part as an educational organization. Our most important efforts shall be directed towards that end with the institution of organized educational classes along with effective mentoring and exposures to field competitions, all promoted and underwritten by the NFFS. These activities shall reward the Society with an increased population of model airplane enthusiasts. This is not an experiment. We have learned from our past in model aviation that this is how it is done. It is a long overdue endeavor.
Each member of the Society is encouraged to join the mission of the Expansionary Plan.
