Originally Posted by
bogbeagle
Whilst I'm in the mood for ranting, I'll address another criticism that I often see levelled.
People often write that "You have to belong to this organisation, because it protects you from legislators."
The story goes, "If some irresponsible modeller does a bad thing, then the legislators might punish all of us. So, we have to club together to protect ourselves from them."
Well, istm that the real problem is that you have legislators who seek to punish the people "who didn't do it".
What's worse is that they've got you all thinking like sheep ... you are accepting their authority to punish you for having done no harm. Where is the justice in that?
My reason for being in a club and the AMA is many faceted and all of the reasons make sense
to me!
1). I'm a member of the AMA because I like the organization and what it does for me: I like the magazine. I like a national organization working for the better and common good of model aviation. I like that it provides me with extra liability insurance and that it is actively promoting my hobby to youth
2). I'm a member of a local club, because it provides the closest place for me to fly. It's a place for me to see my friends and make new ones. I like that the work and costs necessary to keep a flying field in shape, is spread over many members.
Am I required to be a member of the AMA; or, a local club? For me, not at all, as I have property on which an AMA club did operate at one time. So, I could mow down the tall grass and make a flying field for myself, if I chose. I have flown a few times all by myself. I simply found flying by myself was not be much fun.
In a nut shell, I have described how I like this hobby, which after all is a hobby, something I do for fun. So, you guys who want to operate on your own, have at it!