Jim, you are correct in that item. Back then aeromodeling was just that MODELING. "Modeling" is pretty much on its way out. Only we old timers do much of it, although the "Flying Aces" are still very active and their presence in AMA displays such. Their bi-monthly magazine has numerous full size plans each issue of rubber powered models and some HL Gliders, etc. IIRC, MA recently gave them some credit.

Way back when I was rather new on the contest life, I remember going to some events where on Sat. we had several CL events and Sunday we had RC (if it could really be "controlled" ) and FF from OHLG to rubber to powered FF.
I remember taking a youngster (Base Commander's Son, age 14) to a weekend such event. (mid-60's.) He won 2nd in JR/Sr. Stunt on Sat. He placed in a couple FF Events on Sunday. I could not even spell RC so that we never tried. I won CL Stunt on Sat. (I just have to brag - [8D] Don Still was 2nd that day in Stunt) and a place in OHLG on Sunday. Just an entry in 1/2A FF. [] GUESS What? Within a couple weeks Laredo AFB had a very nice asphalt CL circle, well fenced, with outside bleachers and enough "parade ground" room to fly RC as RC was in those days.

To me that kind of modeling beats "L" out of today's Pattern zzzz, RC FLy-Ins, 3D, [:'(], RC Scale, CL Stunt only, or whatever the treat for the weekend is supposed to be.
You see, that is just as Live Wire and You, JIM, allude to. To me modeling has really lost my idea of fun. Like everything it is simply too many things all crowded into one little space.
Now what can AMA do? Absolutely NOTHING since each member has like me a whole different thought on what is fun or NO FUN. Our entire world is crumbling about us and there is nothing that is going to change that. I attended two (2) different events this past weekend. One Sat and one on Sunday. Airplanes stayed in the truck. I still enjoy the SOCIAL life, but simply boreing holes in the sky is definitely easing away. I still enjoy it when I am the only one on the field. I like to instruct but so many show up with "electric toys" that I don't know stink about that I don't fit in.

Yes, our world is changing like when glow plugs replaced spark ignition, CL took over Free Flight only, RC took over most of everything. Heck I even have a couple 2.4 rigs but still a bunch of 72 mhz stuff. It will be here when I'm gone.

All this change falls on AMA and presents a big problem. The magazine department is overloaded while THOSE there do as they want, and ask for more help. Outside political problems cover everything, and like government, AMA needs MORE MONEY to sustain the bureaucracy. Look at MA! Under the purpose of informing modelers, AMA preaches about NEW items, yet they are simply sustaining the advertising. Look who gets voted into office. IMO it is those that know the right words such as, "Yes Sir!" Like the real world, most folks are too lazy to vote. Even if the vote was large and good, how do we know if the PUBLISHED count was like the actual count??? WE DON'T. BTDT [>:]

This recent survey did ask questions which, IMO, circled some wagons that AMA has not dwelled into before. Only the output of that circling will have any basis to see if AMA is really intrested in the overall model aviation scene, or is simply growing the bureaucracy the real plan. There are some real studies that display the thesis of gaining more employees below one's self is far better than doing good work.

Now those above thoughts are not even the icing on the cake. I have a lot more! [:-]