it’s not just the organization. Traditional R/C has been on the decline for years. This is a topic that comes up at every club meeting I’ve attended for nearly 2 decades. It’s only logical that AMA membership numbers would also decline. Add onto that people’s declining amount of discretionary income, and something has got to give.

Technology has now made models that practically fly themselves out of the box, eliminating the need for instructors, and therefore the club. This doesn’t help. AMA tried to adapt, with the Park Flyer program. How successful has that been?

There was a point in our hobby’s history where the AMA was needed, was a great organization and did tremendous good for the hobby. They are still the USA’s modeling representitive to the FAI. And they actually have tried to adapt (and yes, have made mistakes along the way). They do have problems. I’ve never denied that. That has never been my issue. But I’m sorry, I was raised to believe that if you are going to complain about something, you also had better have a good way of fixing it. I have yet to see that here, outside of changing the magazine to digital, which will not be enough.

What would help is if modelers would see that membership is about more than just insurance for one’s self. It is about something bigger. It is also about the fact that it’s easier to fix a problem from the inside, especially if it is done respectfully.

R_Strowe