Originally Posted by
fliers1
If you want something done right, do it yourself.
Question is, what do we expect AMA to do that needs to be done? If AMA cannot or will not do what is needed that would turn things around and ASAP, wouldn't it be up to the 110k members to do what is necessary to help their own cause? After all, it's quite apparent that AMA HQ hasn't found a way to recruit and retain new blood. How do we drastically increase our numbers? That is something that is apparently out of AMA's hands. They tried Sign 3, Fly Free and other measures, that apparently didn't work. There are members who only see what's happening in their club only; few, if any are concerned about the big picture. Add desperation to that list. It looks like those at AMA HQ are fresh out of productive ideas.
Declining numbers isnt the problem, it's growth at any cost that has the hobby on the brink of extinction.
RCU Forums founder
Michael Kranitz has an open letter endorsing
Eric Williams for AMA president in 2016:
RCU / RC Flight Deck Founder AMA President Endorsement
Kranitz lists all the reason why AMA should enbrace drones and slams candidate Lawrence Tougas for his position that
AMA's focus needed to return to traditional model aircraft. Kranitz uses a flawed Netflix/Blockbuster analogy to argue AMA
will be relegated to the dustbin of history if it doesn't go after drones, and that some other organization would move in and
grab this huge market.
We all know how that turned out. Drones are great for RC forums with millions of enthusiasts, but not so much for a model
aircraft organization based on fixed fields. Where is this other organization that was going to snap up this huge market?
"Lawrence’s view of the AMA should concern every AMA member who expects the AMA to remain relevant in local, state
and national affairs over the next decade."
AMA has stayed relevant in national affairs all right, for all the wrong reasons. Drones are considered a menace by most of
the public, and more so as law enforcement steps up their use, like the controversy of police using drones donated by DJI
with loudspeakers to issue warnings to people breaking coronavirus stay at home rules. Drone are surveilance tools for
police and the military. Using them as toys is going to be heavily regulated.
Lawrence Tougas was right. Focus on protecting the hobby and let the numbers fall where they may.