HISTORY
In November 1969 the San Antonio Modeler’s Society (SAMS), published its inaugural newsletter, called "The Modelist". With it, this organization formalized its entity and structure. However, by 1974, due to internal frictions and a poorly executed modeling contest, SAMS was dissolved by its members, after having been an impressive club populated by dedicated modelers and knowledgeable leaders.
By 1977 however, a handful of former SAMS members, and other modelers outside of the SAMS experience, began discussing the possibility of organizing a new and different modeling club. The groundwork was laid with the goal of establishing a modeling organization, and on November 11, 1977, the meeting which gave birth to this new organization was held. This new club was to be laid out following the guidelines of IPMS-USA. It became an IPMS chapter and has continued to enjoy the benefits of IPMS affiliation ever since. The name Alamo Squadron was adopted at some point before 1979, though credit for suggesting the title cannot be granted to any specific person.
In 1981, the club members were attempting to organize a model contest along the lines of other modeling clubs in the Central and South Texas area. Aided by "Aircraft In Miniature", a modeling magazine produced by the club, and an enthusiastic membership, this model contest was realized in 1982 with the name MODELFIESTA and has been held yearly ever since (except in 2021 due to the COVID19 pandemic).
Eventually in the mid to late 1980's, the club membership began to diversify its modeling interests away from exclusively aircraft, and despite some friction, this was a turning point for the club. As the years rolled by, Alamo Squadron evolved into a social organization that not only accepted all modeling genres of interest, but is also encouraged by the club and its membership.
The club grew and solidified during the 1990's, and Modelfiesta established itself as one of the larger events in a five-state region. By the 2000's, the club better defined and organized itself. It's constitution, structure, official positions, term duration, and activities to be held, all received amendments, upgrades, or adjustments. This culminated in 2014, when the club adjusted its finances and registered with the United States Internal Revenue Service as a 501c7 organization. This growth and stability were recognized by other modeling communities, when a number of other IPMS Region 6 clubs joined Alamo Squadron members in a bid for the IPMS NATIONAL CONVENTION, which was awarded in 2018 for the 2020 event (later pushed back to 2023 due to the COVID19 pandemic).
Today, Alamo Squadron is a social organization in which all modelers are accepted and invited to join in the fun. The club has members who have interests in all genres of modeling, with no genre being excluded and all being accepted. The club depends upon the membership to volunteer to serve in some capacity, and it continues to thrive because members do, indeed volunteer, and participate as Members of IPMS Alamo Squadron.
For more detail on the history of our club, read the HISTORY OF THE ALAMO SQUADRON, a 12 chapter memoir by Dick Montgomery
