It does not take a few weeks to get signed up with the AMA and a club. You can sign up for AMA on line, get a print out of your Email registration (usually the next day). Most clubs will accept this while waiting for your membership card. Give your money and your club application to the club treasurer and you are good to go. Also most GOOD clubs will let you fly with an instructor on a buddy box while all of the above is taking place. If the local hobby shop owner is an "AMA cerified instructor" then he knows that the AMA does not allow you to charge for flight instruction. Find a different hobby shop and locate your local club. You wont have to wait to fly

Terry