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AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/9/2002 11:11:46 AM   
Dave Bowles


 

Posts: 575
Joined: 1/7/2002
From: KS
Status: offline 		The question today, Is the Model Aviation Hobby better off with or without the AMA .


And perhaps it would be beneficial to include our reasons why ?

< Message edited by Dave Bowles -- Sep 9 2002 10:51AM >
       Post #: 1

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/9/2002 4:57:34 PM   
Roby


 

Posts: 974
Joined: 2/15/2002
From: AMESBURY, MA,
Status: offline 		I don't agree with much that the AMA has done over the years
starting with a national flying site. It's expensive and built to stay
that way. I'm sure it consumes a large amount of the annual dues .

There is however" strength in numbers "and we need a strong single focused voice to represent us.

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 2

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/9/2002 5:40:36 PM   
Joss Stick



Posts: 434
Joined: 2/28/2002
From: Southern, WV, USA
Status: offline 		Ok .. they got us frequencies. What have they done for us lately?

It's hard to say one way or the other if the hobby would be better or not if they didn't exist. Since there hasn't been anyother way, it's hard to say.

_____________________________

Mike in WV

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 3

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/9/2002 5:48:42 PM   
fliers1



Posts: 534
Joined: 11/30/2001
From: Lockport, NY, USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Roby
I don't agree with much that the AMA has done over the years
starting with a national flying site. It's expensive and built to stay
that way. I'm sure it consumes a large amount of the annual dues .

There is however" strength in numbers "and we need a strong single focused voice to represent us . [/QUOTE]

There then lies the rub. Meaning that if every AMA member managed to convince just one more adult to join up, that would mean that there would be 300,000 AMA members instead of the current 150,000 on the books. Imagine if everyone signed up 3 or more new members? That's what AMA had in mind when they created the Sign 3 - Fly Free membership ambassador program.
Apparently it didn't pan out like AMA wanted it to. Why?

Strength in numbers is one man's medicine and another man's poison.

Take care,
CCR
http://www.kites.org/rc_instructors

Argue for your limitations and sure enough, they are yours.

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 4

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/9/2002 6:02:13 PM   
DavidAgar



Posts: 2826
Joined: 12/5/2001
From: Battle Ground, WA, USA
Status: offline 		The AMA has been a valueable lobbing tool for us when it comes to dealing with the FCC and radio chanells. The one thing that I really think stinks is the National flying site issue in Muncie and the fact that the Nationals no longer move from area to area. Just my thoughts, but I think we still need tham. Thanks Dave.


_____________________________

If the screw ain't loose then things ain't normal.

Dave Agar
AMA#97144

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 5

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/9/2002 6:04:11 PM   
Taildrager


 

Posts: 921
Joined: 12/5/2001
From: Oregon, IL, USA
Status: offline 		When AMA will not allow other organizations to get organized and run as competition to AMA but destroy them by taking them to court there is something very rotten going on with AMA. When our hard earned dues is lost in the stock market by AMA something is very rotten with AMA. It is time for a new organization to emerge and take the place of the rotten to the core AMA.

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 6

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/9/2002 6:22:04 PM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		While no bureaucracy is good. It is better than anarchy. Anarchy is what we would have without the AMA.

_____________________________

Aircraft Proving Grounds
http://www.rcaircraft.net/
Information on the building and flying of Radio Control Aircraft.
Site for hobbyist in the R.C. Aircraft modeling world.

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 7

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/9/2002 9:12:20 PM   
ramcharger


 

Posts: 572
Joined: 1/25/2002
From: St Louis, MO, USA
Status: offline 		I believe the AMA is needed. It showcases the hobby well at Muncie. I can't say how much added revenue that site is responsible for and I doubt if it has paid for itself but I was impressed. It is an effective lobbying organization. I think they could become more proficient at handling the routine stuff like membership renewals and information request. Also, I think some of the staff has become complacent and somewhat aloft.

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 8

LIES! - 9/9/2002 10:06:56 PM   
EASYTIGER


 

Posts: 7676
Joined: 12/7/2001
From: nyc, NY, USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Taildrager
When AMA will not allow other organizations to get organized and run as competition to AMA but destroy them by taking them to court there is something very rotten going on with AMA. When our hard earned dues is lost in the stock market by AMA something is very rotten with AMA. It is time for a new organization to emerge and take the place of the rotten to the core AMA. [/QUOTE]

That is a LIE. It is FALSE.
1. AMA did not sue SFA out of business. Go check out the other thread for the real story. IT JUST DID NOT HAPPEN. IT IS A LIE.

2. AMA did NOT "lose your hard earned dues on the stock market". Another bald-faced LIE. They just did not EARN as much on the stock market as they hoped to this year. Like most of us who have investments.

So STOP spreading FALSE rumors, inuendoes, tripe, garbage, strewth, etcetera. It's the internet at it's ugliest.
And you call yourself a "moderator".

If you don't like the above, then I challenge you to PROVE your nasty, nasty allegations about the AMA above. PROVE IT. Or stop saying it.

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 9

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/10/2002 1:25:18 AM   
Rodney



Posts: 4779
Joined: 12/8/2001
From: FL
Status: offline 		IMHO AMA is a very good and almost necessary part of our hobby. Just try to go out and buy adequate insurance on your own, I doubt that many of you could afford it. The magazine is also a very good thing, it does serve to keep all abreast of what is going on if you take the time to read all of it. As to the central spot for the organization at Muncie; I say great. With modern day transportation and comunication, it would be unwise to try to schedule activities throughout the country. A central organization is much less expensive and better maintained. I tend to agree with Easytiger above, check your facts before lambasting the AMA.

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 10

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/10/2002 2:04:47 AM   
RCadmin



Posts: 13193
Joined: 11/28/2001
From: Belle Mead, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		It is my understanding that the AMA did not lose money but merely made less this past year...

_____________________________

Marc
RCU Site Admin
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Visit RCU''s New Banner Free E-flight Only Website: www.WattFlyer.com

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 11

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/10/2002 3:31:14 AM   
Taildrager


 

Posts: 921
Joined: 12/5/2001
From: Oregon, IL, USA
Status: offline 		I will not argue with you Easytiger about the Rotten to the core AMA, your mind is made up and no amount of facts will change our opinions about the worthless AMA.

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 12

It is a necessary evil - 9/10/2002 3:51:55 AM   
D_Dawg



Posts: 237
Joined: 6/4/2002
From: Stockton, CA, USA
Status: offline 		where would our hobby be without AMA?

But ... can we get more bang for our buck ... I would think so ...

Instead of a national flying site ... why not help local clubs buy a plot of land so that we can fly at a site without fear of losing the field to environmentals ... flying site are harder to locate and establish and the fields that do exist are always indanger it seems ... some clubs are more expensive than others to join ...

the hobbie is too expensive for most younger newcomers ... and thus new growth into the hobbie is minimal ...

it is important to get more kids into the hobbie and even more inportant to locate and maintain places to fly ... especially in the California Bay Area!

we have probably the most people with the least places to fly at ...

it makes me think that slow park fling electrics is all that will be left in the future until some liberal left wing wacko finds a lawyer to condemn those too, saying they provide a danger to some mesquito ... stating the frequnecy of the electric motor causes stress to the reproduction of the species and will cause it to go exstict ... meaning that the arabs will have to find a new way to deliver the west nile virus ....

Stranger things have happened .... :


_____________________________

Flying is the 2nd greatest accomplishment known to man ... Landing is the GREATEST thrill of all.

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 13

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/10/2002 4:03:49 AM   
EASYTIGER


 

Posts: 7676
Joined: 12/7/2001
From: nyc, NY, USA
Status: offline 		"Instead of a national flying site ... why not help local clubs buy a plot of land so that we can fly at a site without fear of losing the field to environmentals ... flying site are harder to locate and establish and the fields that do exist are always indanger it seems ... some clubs are more expensive than others to join ... "

Excellent idea! It's already in place! The Flying Site Assitance program is there on the website, and will cosign on loans for clubs that meet the right criteria.
There has been talk bandied about for some years about getting some more National flying sites, but I would guess that what with the current economic and insurance environment, those kind of ambitious ideas must have been put on the back burner for the moment...
Ever been to Muncie? It's great, worth the trip. It's nice to know that if the worst-case scenarios come to pass, we will always have at least ONE place to fly!

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 14

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/10/2002 4:37:44 AM   
RCPilot100



Posts: 582
Joined: 1/12/2002
From: Chelsea, MI, USA
Status: offline 		I received a response from Dave Brown a bit ago in response to an e-mail I sent him. It surprised me for several reasons. 1) I finally got a response. 2) The answer he provided to a tough question was amazing. 3) Dave answered much more than I asked - I think he was frustrated and was somewhat venting to me about the crap in general he has to put up with.

After years of not really being sure of the intentions of our elected officials, Dave Brown in particular, I now say that I believe that the guy is trying to do the right thing. I used to be a club president, so I know how difficult is it to please every member in the club - consider how Dave feels trying to please 150,000+ members. No matter what you do, someone is sure to criticize you.

The problem as I see it that DB has to contend with is that AMA does lots of good stuff for the hobby and the membership in general. But, why go out of your way to make it public knowledge so to speak - you will get hammered by those that don't agree. 149,999 members might like what you did, but that 1 remaining SOB can make your life miserable.

It is real easy to criticize and tell someone how they should do such and such - it is another thing to actually have all the facts available and try to make the right decision, in spite of all the criticism you will surely get.

I do beleive that AMA needs to communicate the success stories that they have achieved - like frequencies as mentioned above.

Dan

(in reply to Dave Bowles)
       Post #: 15

AMA , To BE Or Not To BE - 9/10/2002 5:00:03 AM   
EASYTIGER


 

Posts: 7676
Joined: 12/7/2001
From: nyc, NY, USA
Status: offline