ORIGINAL: J_R
Are your observations about park flyers based on some nationwide observations you have made, or are they your perception based on some limited number of observations in Southern California? How much factual data do you have to support your observations relative to park flyers nationally, or are they your perception?
I have not yet conducted an exhaustive cross country visit to all park flying sites in order to survey the participants.....maybe I will get to that next week.
My perception leading to my theory is more based on a different observation. I think many may think of park flyers as some sort of slow, trainer like, boring plane. The planes I have seen lately are fantastic, have super performance, great duration, etc. Just a very nice package. A complete hobby into itself. I am extrapolating that observation to other places as it seems this type of high performance "park flying" is going on everywhere.
ORIGINAL: J_R
Is there some data that you have access to that shows the AMA has or is losing money in recent years. Is there some factual data that leads you to believe that the rises and dips in AMA membership is anything not experienced before. If there some generally accepted accounting methods or forecasting methods you have applied to the data to project problems now or in the future, or is your post based on your perception?
No I did not do a GAAP analysis on the AMA business plan. Had to go to work today.
What I do know is that the AMA is loosing members, and I tend to agree with Dave Mathewson that we should not blame it on the dues increase forever. I think we need to do something BEFORE we start to actually loose money, I think I have been pretty clear on that in my recent posts.
I could make a standard disclaimer in the future about my posts if that would make you feel better...maybe:
"I am just a guy that blabs about the AMA on the internet and most of my posts are made while waiting for my coffee to kick in "