Mike, I know the feeling. In my 23 years on active duty, I made several PCS moves across country. Florida pan handle to Whidbey. Whidbey to Pax River, Pax River to Whidbey, Whidbey to Newport, and Virginia to California. In those five moves, I never once considered stopping at Muncie. Why? Two reasons: I don't eat live and breathe model aviation. It's a hobby, but one of several. I could either delay a day or two in Muncie, or I could delay a day or two somewhere else, say to scuba dive or see battlefields or other major historic sites. Which brings me to my second reason. I'm the only one in the family that enjoys aviation, let alone model aviation. In Muncie, there's nothing much for the family to do. Contrast that with Seattle, San Diego, any number of historical sites in Virginia and mid-Atlantic, etc. Heck, we stopped at Indy, but didn't even consider stopping in Muncie. Plenty for the family to do in those places.

I'm convinced that AMA really doesn't want the general population to have knowledge of what happens at EC meetings. That's why they insist on face to face in Muncie, despite no AMA bylaws or tax law reason to do face to face. It's also why Rich proposed not even having one at Expo West. He said something about getting more done in Muncie. Yeah, it was really to avoid transparency. Same reason they'll never do GoToMeeting or similar technology. That would give the unwashed masses too much insight into what they do, and they (EC) don't want that oversight.

Now I'm sure the acolytes will argue the opposite. To which I say, if everything is on the up and up, and the EC is doing such a great job, then one would think they'd jump at the chance to show members how great they are by allowing them to dial in via GoToMeeting etc. But they won't. And that speaks volumes about the EC.