To Bob1931

I can tell fevers are running warm over this, come on guys, it's just $29. I spend more than that filling my car up with gas.

As for how I think, if you read my post closely, I clearly stated that anyone who pulls off a major event deserves some form of compensation, I only mentioned money (such as free membership) but I'd personally be happy with a pat on the back knowing I helped fellow modelers enjoy their hobby.

My point about event size/scope versus payment is that there is no check/balances on the event. After your first two events, all you need is to CD one event a year to get free AMA... the event size/scope really dosen't matter... 5 pilots or 500 pilots. The way "I think" is that it is not worth $58 to the AMA for a CD host a small contest. My point about "The contest/event will go on" is that there will be little significant impact by not paying CDs.

The idea that workers MUST be compensated for offering time and services can come back and bite you when we are talking about donated time to a hobby. How about the people that attend the events/contests... If you extrapolate that thinking maybe they should be compensated too. I put on a show at a major fly in recently and I was interviewed by the press/media afterwords, so I did something that helped the hobby, gained public awareness, probably some kid right now pestering his parents to buy him a plane becase he saw me fly, etc. My costs are much higher than the CD's, $6000 plane, motel room, travel expenses, not to mention hundreds of hours of practice, fuel costs, etc. Shouldn't I get free AMA for all the work and money I had to invest to put on a show at the Fly-in? No? Slap in the face? Abuse? Come on. (I'm not serious here as I do NOT desire or expect payment of any kind, I fly for fun, just making a point.)