Originally posted by MustangFan
As a member of AMA, I don't see how the organization helps me share my growth in the hobby.
I have it because if I don't, I can't fly at the field because I wouldn't have insurance.
I have not seen or heard anyone from the AMA except through the mag.. and most of the time I don't agree with them. How would I know if they are working in "my" best interest. Did "they" get us more frequencies ... would it have happened in the normal course of things because of technologies and the manufactures input ... can't answer !
If we were able to get insurance ourselves, how many members would still belong to the organization and for what reason(s). That may be the key question to determine how the people feel.
Anyone complete a poll ? Anyone at AMA want that answer ?
I understand "we" have a great looking AMA headquarters .... but how many of the 170,000 members will use it ? Will they schedule more events for the "average" modeler there ?
Not trying to be smart, but it's only been an insurance org. to me.
And for the price .... it's reasonable .... keep the mag ...
Thats just my opinion ... I could be wrong ! ( Dennis Miller )
Dennis,
The AMA does not help YOU with YOUR growth in the hobby, but it does assist you in showing off for others at other flying fields.
As for the frequency issue, my opinion is that you are wrong since the manufacturers had to spend new $ moving to the narrow band equipment. They hate having to invest more in their existing operations and the AMA used the FCC to force that issue.
The real question is not how often you have seen "someone from AMA", but have your (or your club's) needs been met in a timely manner. Can you easily communicate with your DVP or his assistants? That does not have to be a face to face communications, but the process does have to be free and open in both directions. In my district these days it does not appear to be so.
As for your poll, I don't think anyone wants to address that issue at all for the obvious reasons. I have heard (at several different locations) that if the AMA dropped the insurance portion of the "services" the clubs would leave in droves. Since there are limited definitions available for that word I used, services, that is not a surprise. WE need to change that and it will take the replacement of some currently serving DVP's.
Now when I got to your comments about the HQ building I agree that is a reasonably unimportant issue. However, YOU owe me a keyboard cleaning as I choked on a fresh cup of coffee when I saw your 'suggestion' about events for the "average modeler". It went everywhere! In the future, please be nice when you trundle comments like that one out there.
As far as stopping BPL, I really am not betting on it. My power company just (like 30 minutes ago) changed out the meter for one that sends the usage numbers in to HQ. Know what that means? That is one of many reasons I have been a strong proponent of spread spectrum. The writing has been on the wall for BPL for almost 15 years.