ORIGINAL: mr_matt

Very well said, I could not agree more.

I used to be, until very recently, a vocal proponent of strategies designed to entice park fliers to join the AMA, for all of the good reasons Horrace mentions.

I must say that upon reflection, I realize that the AMA really offers virtually no benefit to the average park flier, therefore nothing short of zero cost will entice them to join. They are NOT flying park fliers as a prelude to big club type planes...they have a hobby that begins and ends in the park!

The insurance is the only tangible benefit AMA would bring them, but I think most park fliers just don't see the potential for harm or liability, so again the perceived benefit is very limited, and any funds spent chasing the park fliers will be wasted IMHO.

Over the long term, only the eventual regulation of park flying sites (ie local governments ban them) will cause any significant number of left over park fliers to come looking for a new home.

If this weren't bad enough, I do believe that at least SOME of the AMA membership is leaving to go to park fliers, and taking their dues with them. Also, we have a lot of social only members at our club (I bet less than half fly) and their numbers are dwindling as well.

To me, that only leaves the so called "belt tightening option". As I have said before, if I were king for day, I would start to develop business plans that would allow the maintanance of the insurance program even if the membership level plummets.