Guys,

Been a modeler as long as I can remember and a AMA member for almost as long.

To bring the young into the fold requires us to go and get them. In the real world kids today have so many opportunities for other hobbies that include doing all the good and bad that is out there.

This means we, and that means you the ones that have more money than they know what to do with along with the people that are in the sport barely need to go out and meet the youngsters and let them know what the sport is about. It is up to us to go and extend the hand of friendship to anyone that show the slightest interest.

Here is my example.....I grew up with a father that was not very good at showing love or being there when his son needed to know he meant something. I was told from a very young age that I would amount to nothing and did not have the brains to be more than a shoeshine boy.

My Mother, God rest her sole, believed in me and when I saw people flying controline models at one of the oldest clubs in central NJ, it was clear that I was excited and wnated to join the ranks. Because of her and a group of friendly young and old men, at the flying field, I experienced the beauty and developed a love of all things related to aviation.

My entire week during this time was constructed to be at the field on most saturdays and sundays flying the models that I built while I grew up. I spent time with men that helped shape me into the man I am today and I was able to resist drugs, drinking and criminal activity because they believed in me.

I still have, at 55, relationships with many of the guys from that time in my life and I cherish my memories of the flying, the contests, the excitement, the agony of defeat, the strength to carry on in the face of terrible odds and all the learning about aviation over the years.

It was said at the time that I knew more about aviation and could recall specifics of aircraft and the people that flew better than what I was learning in school at the time. But you know what.....it helped me to not be afraid to learn and get my education. Because I knew people believed in me and that I was loved.

Today I have a family and I am a devoted husband and father. I am now teaching my 12 year old daughter about aviation because one of the great things of being in the sport of model aviation is at 17 I became a general aviation pilot with an instrument and commercial rating awarded a few year later.

Again the reason I have the certificates is because of the sport of model aviation, people I met and my dear Mother. I was able to overcome a father that did not believe in me because they did!

If we want to grow we have to believe....

Nubbs AMA 12207