Originally Posted by franklin_m

Did you know ...

Over period 2008-2018, while membership revenue has declined 14%, AMA headcount has remained flat (60 +/- 1) but salaries have increased 45%? Maybe this is why total spending has remained flat (dropped less than 2/10 of one percent). Also explains why they're selling liquid assets to cover costs.


Note: all in constant year 2018 dollars, from IRS 990s, statement of functional revenue and statement of functional expenses)

Originally Posted by R_Strowe

Ahhh, peace! The “Ignore List” is a wonderful thing.

What Mr.Mellot does not realize (and I believe AMA does) is that, due to changes in demographics, combined with advancements in technology, it DOES NOT MATTER what the AMA does, the hobby is declining. Get rid of the magazine. Sell off the Muncie facility. Reduce all salaries to $0.00. None of it matters ( which is what I referenced in an earlier post by ‘you cannot shrink to profitability’). All it will do is prolong the inevitable. When I was in high school there were several teachers who flew, and I helped teach several more how to fly as well. All the schools really do now is MR-type stuff. Little to no fixed wing, with the exception of Science Olympiad (they do Wright Flyer, which is rubber powered free flight). We now have a full generation that a: has poor job prospects and reduced income potential, b: has less Intellectual curiosity and interest in ‘flying things’, and c: technology advancements that allow the remaining few to fly anywhere, with no real assistance, hence no need for AMA.

I’ve thought about opening a hobby shop in retirement, but looking at the retail trends along with the move to purely internet sales, well a much better investment will be to fly for myself until I can’t. If I find newcomers that I can help I’ll gladly do so, but I’m no longer optimistic about the long term future of the hobby or AMA..

R_Strowe