If so, where is it? If not, why?

About 6 months one person made a passing reference to being invited to an exclusive "invite only" type of organization that was ostensibly an alternative to the AMA. When asked for further details, he would give none. In retrospect, it was probably a hoax all along. Not a word about it since then, even after being asked.

After much discussion in the numerous AMA threads it's clear some folks aren't happy with the AMA. I tend to think it's actually a small, even minute amount of people in the AMA and even a small amount percentage wise of the membership here, but that's my opinion. The general consensus among those so unhappy with the AMA focuses around drones of course, and branches off from there. They abandoned traditional members, they are in collusion with the FAA, they are in this just for the money, and finally they are in secret cahoots with the drone manufacturers. I have yet to see any demonstrable evidence of any of that, but let's put that issue aside.

The other often repeated assertion is that the AMA is really only about insurance. That is the main function of the AMA. Insurance in case something happens. Again, that is a complete and total myth, it's so much more than that, but clearly folks can disagree on the value proposition of belonging to the AMA.

Which brings me to my question. Why is there no alternative to the AMA? It's a serious question, and one I hope will be responded to in a serious manner, absent the vitriol and personal attacks so present in many of these threads. I know some of the responses will be opinion based, ie (AMA is a monopoly that crushes any competition). As a general opinion, there is nothing to argue there. As evidence, it's lacking and nothing in the past seems to corroborates that, and I would hope the myths and outright lies might be challenged. NOT the posters, but the myths, lies, or partial truths. I would presume the SFA will come up in conversation and there are some pretty good threads here to go over what happened to that organization, some of which are documented by people who were involved in that organization. The fact that it's no longer around shouldn't obscure that fact that it was able to be formed and operated in the first place.

So that was 20 years ago. Why hasn't anything changed since then? If the premise that insurance is the only value proposition for the AMA, how is it possible nobody has been able to put together a national program based solely on that? For those fields owned by towns/cities etc, that is clearly a driving force for allowing clubs to operate. I doubt a town would care about some of the other AMA programs as long as they had the liability coverage afforded to them via a policy.

Of the 180,000 members, even say 150,000, and the capitalism and profit incentive involved, how has this not happened yet? Strip away everything else the AMA provides via membership, and focus just on the insurance piece alone, how is it possible that a person or group of people aren't able to make this happen? Insurance companies are hungry for business, especially for commercial accounts. This would be a nice one no?

I'll throw my general thoughts out there on why since I would immediately be asked for it if it wasn't there.

Simply put, there is no need for an alternative. Although competition almost always favors the consumer, in this case it's doubtful without seeing the choice. While not perfect, they are the best at what they do, bar none. Yes, there are no other entities out there like them in the US, but nothing appears to be keeping any entrepreneurial person or persons from giving it a try and coming up with their own alternative. The AMA isn't perfect, why not take those things that aren't perfect, or acceptable to "most" of the members, and improve upon it.

Could it be that there really isn't all that much wrong with the AMA, and all they have to offer? Are folks willing to accept what they feel are some missteps or other issues because it's more cost effective? Is it just too daunting a task to think about or try to come up with a viable alternative? Will they just wait for someone else to do it, and then consider joining? Some have predicted the membership numbers in the AMA will drop in the next year "time will tell" they say, more or less predicting a drop. Wouldn't that be the time to go after those disaffected members and try to get them to join a new and better alternative?

Would love to get an update on the secretive members only invite program if anyone has any intel on it.