Another reason the $58 X membership = $XXX doesn't work...not only are there the $1 youth members (and the youth members with magazine at ? $18 ? There's the CD's who have had free (now 1/2 cost) membership and the Life members who don't have to pay, and the senior citizen discount... (and a good portion of members are senior citizens.) That estimate of $10 milion in annual dues could be off by 50%. easilly. (Before looking it up. That information should be on the AMA website.) [:-]

Still think all that money is wasted?

Don't llike the cost of the "National Flying Site" with headquarters building? One reason they bought the place was to quit tossing money down a tube paying office rental. The leasing fee for equvelent office space would cost just as much as the mortgage payments on the building plus its land. (assuming a mortgage exists...) and you'd have NO equity to show for it. Many clubs OWN the land they use for thier flying sites.

Whats wrong with the AMA owning a site and saving vs cost of leasing an equivelent location for 6 weeks a year to hold the NATS? (which would cost almost what they are paying for the land. Again, we have equity to show instead of money down a dead hole.) When the US Navy quit sponsoring the NATs... the AMA suddenly had a problem with where to hold the contests. Can't blame the Navy for dropping it... it was a big security problem for the host base for a week in the 1960's. Want to essentially shut down an installation for 6 weeks? (not even considering the security issue of the searches that would be needed now [:'(] )

There is no problem with having a decent museum either. You may not see the purpose now... but if you still support the hobby in 30 years, you'll wish the museum was BIGGER.