This is an interesting thread. It was started by a guy that has over 3,500 posts. Wow, that's a lot of posts. I don't have too many. Too busy flying planes and helis, and driving R/C cars. But I love RCU, and I certainly respect the guys on here that express themselves freely. I'm going to give some history of AMA as I remember it, in the interest of adding to the discussion.

First, I joined AMA in 1972. At that time the organization had a home office in Virginia. There was no internet except the one the CIA probably had up and running. Communication was through some magazines, particularly RCModeler, which was owned and operated by the late Don Dewey and Pat Crews, both west coast R/C enthusiasts. AMA had a small newsletter that was mailed to everyone. AMA announced they were going to pay to have the newsletter printed in American Aircraft Modeler, one of RCMs competitors. They allegedly were going to do this to have their own vehicle. Dewey offered to print it for free in his magazine, but was rebuffed. He also toyed with the idea of setting up a rival organization, but didn't follow through. This was a long time ago, so forgive me if I'm fuzzy on a few details. Believe me, the details aren't important. What is important is that Model Aviation evolved from that other magazine which was purchased with our money from the publisher, allegedly a friend of the AMA administrators. We were promised an option to have the magazine as part of our membership. If we opted out, the dues were reduced by $4. Yeah, that's right, $4. So we all subscribed for the lousy $4. The magazine matured, and now has a lot of advertising which hopefully will sustain it. The origins are the point.

AMA moved from Virginia out to the mid-west without much input from everyone else. The powers that be knew a deal when they saw one and they took it. We had to PAY to fly in Muncie in the first few years. It was their field, their building, and their organization. Most R/Cers joined AMA for the "insurance" then and now. There is no denying that. Most members don't care about competition, most don't want "power" within the organization, and most don't have any axe to grind. They just want to fly. But when they join a club, they have to have AMA, for INSURANCE purposes. I don't know anyone who doesn't have that as their #1 reason and I've met a lot of fliers over the 38 years I've been in the hobby.

Enter "SFA", Sport Fliers of America. SFA was a competing organization that offered assistance in finding flying sites, more insurance, a cool logo, pick you own number (mine was SFA13), and some other neat items like a remote needle valve tool. AMA feathers were ruffled and it got ugly on both sides. It ended up in court, and of course a "non-disclosure" agreement was signed so we AMA members never got the whole story. Since SFA went away eventually, it suspiciously seems like AMA may have paid them off. Or they paid AMA off? Allegedly. Anyway, SFA is gone. Someone may have all the details. I don't. I quit AMA for a while after that.

When I was forced to rejoin AMA in order to fly in my club I asked for my old number back. It was a five digit one, and was on about 10 of my planes. I was told I couldn't have it. No big deal, just hard to figure.

So AMA expanded, the fields are beautiful, the museum is nice, the people are friendly, and AMA survives comfortably. Even the magazine is coming along, even though most of us wish the print was bigger.

AMA is "non-profit". I had an argument over what that term really means with a past VP of AMA. My point was that I thought the staff and administration of AMA didn't consider their jobs "volunteers" and that they were in it for the money, like all of us who work. Non-profit is an accounting term, not a way of life in my America. Sure enough, a few years ago I was informed that AMA salaries, payroll taxes, and travel expenses totaled more than three million dollars in one year, almost 30% of total revenue. Seems like a big number to me. That puts total revenue at about 10 million dollars. Insurance, legal fees, and settlements came to $1.5 million. So salaries etc, were more than twice insurance expenses. I don't know what these numbers were for 2009, but since WE ARE THE ORGANIZATION, just asking someone should get the information if anyone is interested. Ask Mr. Cherry if he still is there. He is a great guy, very forthcoming.

Like many of you, I have homeowners insurance, an umbrella policy, and AMA insurance. I hope it's enough if I ever need any of it to pay off on my behalf. I'm glad I have it. I want AMA to be strong, honest, and loyal to the membership. My competition days are long gone, and my need for playing any kind of leadership role is over. I do need the insurance however, and that's why I'm a member.

I hope this short history summary is helpful to some, and I hope the future is bright for the organization, notwithstanding some of what I consider the gray laundry of the past.