Hi Dave - thanks for all the info and your willingness to investigate.. hope its not too much of a pain! I understand the optional part - bottom line is if the AMA still has to produce the magazine for those who want it it won't make much of an impact if you make it optional for some as the main cost in the magazing production is art, setup, presswork, etc It does not matter much if you make 100 copies or 100 thousand - the fixed costs remain. The paper, ink, etc is not the most expensive part of production. Postage, people and distribution (postage) is.

My proposal is to get rid of MA altogether and go with a yearly black and white newsletter and put everything else on the web. I would bet you would get a lot of support for that and save the AMA a lot of $$ as well.

The goal of a non-profit is to run efficiently with as little overhead as possible but also to deliver the maximum benefit to its members. Lobbying Washington, fighting legal issues for modelers, and providing some basic liability umbrella coverage are benefits. Selling us a magazine and/or being in the magazine publishing business is not a benefit - it's pure overhead.

My opnion anyway..
DP