Hi Mike,

That is one reason this discussion of the IRS regulations is very important.

Anyway, any time "dropping the magazine" is brought up for discussion, a certain counter arguement (one of many) is quickly brought up......namely that in order for the AMA to maintain it's IRS status as a charitable organization, we would need a newsletter (in the magazine's place) to be PHYSICALLY MAILED to every member. This newsletter is then cast to be as expensive as the magazine...."so why not keep the magazine"....not a bad arguement, IF the "physically mailed newsletter" requirement is real.

Just my crazy thoughts, but when many of these IRS regulations were written, there was no internet (at least as we know it today), so I have searched for this exact IRS regulation, in order to determine for myself whether the regulation is so clear that is forbids the use of an electronic version of a newsletter. In this age of tree hugging I cannot imagine that such a regulation exists, prohibiting an electronic newsletter....and I have yet to find it.

Of course, the newsletter requirement is then quickly lumped in with other "tests" that could also be used to qualify the AMA as a charitable organization, kind in a "3 card monte" style. Well I only want to get this newsletter thing figured out, cause this magazine costs the membership dearly, and if we are running out of memebers and money I think the (physical) magazine has to be looked at very critically...they could publish it on the web much cheaper....just gotta find this magic IRS regulation that forbids e-publishing (!?!)

BTW I also agree with part of what Harrace says about alienating the commercial modeling press. I rarely see any mention of the AMA in these rags, other than the ads that AMA places......meanwhile where woudl this industry be without the club fields that need the AMA like I need air to breathe....something is amiss......