ORIGINAL: P-51B
Why is it that in these threads bashing the AMA that keep popping up, people always say they are just waiting for a viable alternative (Pete 913, SDRhammer, MikeL, etc), but none of them go out and create the alternative? It seems that if the AMA is so unpopular this would be an easy business to get going.
To answer your question my background involves nothing that would provide support to start such an operation. Just as I believe a good restaurant would make a very good profit in my town. I know nothing about the restaurant business, so I have to leave that for somebody else.
I like the AMA and buy into what everybody says that the AMA does for modelers. However I don’t believe the powers to be are very budget conscious. When was the last time the AMA axed a currently running program because of budget constraints? To my “untrained” eye it appears that if the budget gets tight the dues goes up. There is no incentive in the way of competition keep operations streamlined within the AMA. If I want to join any club in my area the AMA has a monopoly there are no other alternatives for a R/C modeler. Dues goes up and you still want to be a member of your local club the only option is to open your wallet.
For those proclaiming to all pro AMA and believe $58 a year in dues is worth every penny. Do you feel that the AMA does everything within its powers to be as budget conscious as possible? Or do you feel the AMA could trim some excess?