Originally Posted by aymodeler

You're missing my point. I understand all of that, but membership in the local club requires membership in the AMA. Is it all just a racket of some sort? Sure, but in order to gain access to the field it is worth it to me. I also know that I would need to buy some sort of insurance (either through the club or privately), so the fact that I am paying the AMA for that insurance also defrays the cost in my mind.