As you can see jnatale3 people on both sides of the fence, what is sad is some of the scare tactics some are using to get you to join the AMA and chartered clubs. I have done both the AMA and chartered club thing and non-AMA and honestly it just comes down to where you fly and what you fly. If you're happy with smaller electrics (which I am) the park is fine and guess what you WILL end up with other people to fly with, because people will see what you are doing and join you. But if you do get bigger or faster join a club since that does make is safer for everyone around, don't be like the AMA member I saw at a park hovering a 90 size heli with people 50 ft on every side of that thing.

I will throw in my own personal pet peeve with the AMA. The AMA is very club oriented if you join and are not in a club the support you get from the AMA is limited and that is not changing anytime soon.