Yard Dart you mention that there are much better R/C magazines on the market. I don't believe that MA was ever supposed to be a RC magazine, rather it would seem it should be something that has something for all aspects of the hobby. I personally have been in the hobby for over 53 years now (started young) and I learn something everytime I read a freeflight or control line speed article. I am addicted to RC, yes, but not blind to the other aspects of the hobby. AMA has a rule book that covers a heck of a lot of contest types, I believe that MA is supposed to cover all of them in some fashion or another. That pretty well eliminates an all RC magazine.

Hoss you said, "Therefore the question is not really the cost or the content of MA, but the inherent damage done to the overall sport/hobby/recreation by the forced entry of a market competitor that has a considerable advantage and will not compete on equal terms, but use their advantages against those that were at one times supporters of the same goals as MA is SUPPOSED to be. "

I would be interested in knowing what "inheret damage" MA has done. I honestly can't see by looking at the hobby shop (Mark Twain Hobby in St. Charles, MO is a great place - They had to expand at least 50% last year and still are crowded) or at the flying field that damage is being done. There are several new magazines on the stand and that I have started to take that cover Backyard Flying, 3-D Flying, etc.

Where should I be looking to see the "inheret damage"?

I hadn't thought about this for a long time (time is relative I guess) and I had sworn that I would never visit this forum again but there was a email note that it had been added to. And it just popped in my head as I was reading JR's comments (along with the head cold I now have so no doubt my thought processes are messed up by the cold medicine) -- it must really get to Horrace badly that he isn't a part of the decision making process in Muncie and that they aren't asking his opinions on various matters. It just wouldn't matter who was doing what to whom at headquarters, he wouldn't like it unless he was actively involved in the doing. It could be the exact same thing but if he were doing it - well then it is probably OK. Maybe I am wrong on this, I am on the cold medicine.

All organizations need active thinking members who hold the leaders feet to the fire and believe the leaders should be responsible - that is as it should be. But Horrace, when you do it so much, all the time and apparently never like anything that is being done, it tends to activate the mental "filters" that we all have and you get tuned out. That you have given a lot of thought to what you say is evident, that you care about the organization is evident and that you want a change is really evident, but you should consider if there isn't a "smoother" more effective approach to getting your ideas across.

I keep remembering the old saying, "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." There was another about a boy who cried wolf too much and they ignored him when ..........


The above comments are the opinion of Ben Lanterman and in no way represent the opinions of the AMA, Dave Brown, Model Aviation, the EC, my distric VP or the Boeing RC Club or it's members.