ORIGINAL: rw Guinn
Actually, It depends on your age at renewal. My son turned 19 last August, but his membership for 2004 was Senior, not Open. If your 16th Birthday falls after Jan 1, you are a Junior.
Not that it matters a whole lot--the membership cost is the same for Jr or Sr...$1.00 witout, $15.00 with magazine...
True, a mute point in the total operation, however IMO, when a newbie asks a sincere question, information provided should be true or not given at all.
The AMA Jr./Sr'Open age determination date is JULY 01 of the membership year. Wes says he is 16 NOW. He just applied for AMA Mbershp. and his post is dated 01/11/05 therefore his application is for 2005. He is an AMA SENIOR. He will not make it to 19 by 07/01/05 (If he does, AMA class is a much smaller concern [X(]) so he is now a Senior.
Your son was an AMA Junior in 2004 due to being 19 in Aug. which comes after the month of July in any given calendar year. [X(]
He should be an Open member in 2005. Guess that depends on how you report the birth date.
All the info. is on the membership application, web and in MA. In addition the subject is well discussed in the AMA Membership Manual.