What would you have the AMA advertise on TV? Manufacturers have a specific product that they can show visually. If you want to push the insurance aspect, how do you show that without demonstrating to the uneducated that model airplanes are too dangerous to fly? Auto, life, and property insurance companies can do this because people accept those risks willingly. AMA Plans Service ads? I think we all know that building from plans is a dying art. Its a good service to members, but hardly a growth industry. Local Clubs? Which ones would the AMA allow to advertise? I know that my club of between 40-60 members depending on the economy, doesn't have the resources to take out local ads. A local campaign on cable or radio can easily cost a few thousand dollars in order to reach the target market.

Encouraging the manufacturers to advertise is a whole different animal. Using the local hobby shops as a way to promote the local club, finding successful ways to grow the local clubs IMHO is the best way to grow the AMA. A couple things have been tried (PPP, TAG) but those haven't been effective.

The secret is marketing. Identify your target market, figure out what they want, and then find a way to communicate to them that you have what they want. For years, it seems we have tried to target youth. Problem is they don't make the spending decisions. We've talked in this forum about targeting seniors because they supposedly have the time to do it, but they're often limited on disposable income.

I say Target the Dads. 30-50 years old. Young kids that they want to teach, opportunity to sponsor a club in thier kids schools, opportunity to get out of the house. Replace golf as the leisure activiity of choice. Hopefully they're in their peak earning years and have the disposable income.

Brad