Hossfly

There is no doubt that AMA is much like Government. It takes YOUR money, and displays no product in the market place. When I think that some form of government gets over 50% of my money in taxes, fuel, income, property, sales, excise, and a number of others, I feel much less inclined to support the government than many here seem to feel about not supporting AMA.
Until now AMA has had only ONE item to sell and that is the Insurance program. The Chartered Clubs have been AMA's only sales force. Like government which produces NOTHING, the inside administrative force can only justify itself through administrative bureaucracy.

Therefore when one asks such a question as above, the first thing that comes to my mind, rather than answers, is how does the person asking such a question perceive the differences between impalpable and tangible products?

As a model airplane person since first grade, 41 years of professional aviation, an ardent contest modeler for a number of years and one that still likes building as much as flying, likes promotion of the sport, at times likes helping others to learn the sport, recognizes the need for strong leadership within a strong central organization for the sport, and other such factors, then it may well be difficult for the lesser passionate modeler, especially the one more into just flying, to fully appreciate whatever my list of benefits might be. As an example, the socialist's attitudes of government's responsibility to the people differ greatly
from my beliefs in where the individual is much more responsible for himself, and government is there basically only for the protection of the nation.

The AMA provides: (Not copying the AMA web list of benefits)

A system of organized modeling: 1. Competition rules. 2. Structure. 3. Events happening. 4.A go-between the modeling community and governmental agencies. 5. International Recognition. 6. Potential National Recognition. 7. Overall education about what is going on around the country reference aeromodeling. 8. The potential of strong assistance for Clubs in their Flying Site acquisition. 9. Something to complain about

Without AMA you would not be flying on the frequencies you have. Without the competition, there would have been basically NO development of radios, engines and all the equipment that goes with these items and the hobby would have commercially died long ago. Back in the '70s, whatever won the NATs was a hot selling item for at least the next year and then usually for a couple years after. Resulted in several hot items and increase in sale products. Back then RCM, MAN, & FM, all told everyone what the winners flew at the AMA NATs.
With no interest, there is no structure, with no structure, there are no entrepreneurs, without entrepreneurs there are no products, without products there are no customers, without customers there is no interest -- FULL CIRCLE![>:] Works well in reverse -- i.e. "park fliers".

Here in this area, the first few Events this year are reporting large turn-outs, well more so that the hosts planned for. Without the sanctioning procedures of AMA, where would the information have been found? Definitely not here in the RCU Events forum!
Unfortunately, the potential loss of 900 AMA Chartered Clubs is NOT a good sign. Here as so many do think, AMA has, IMO, become far too much into insurance at the expense of the other member benefits. Insurance has brought rules to the point that many newer modelers/fliers are ready for a little Tea Party. OTOH, maybe it will be a wake-up call, and some of you people will recognize the real need in AMA Leadership that the membership constantly rejects.

Again I know that many of you dislike my straight forward talk, yet if I didn't believe in a true need for dramatic changes at AMA, then I would not be willing to spend so many of my last few years on this earth trying to initiate those changes.

I really don't have a 1-2-3 list for you. Everything overlaps. All the factors depend on each other and it all depends on YOU and your assumption of your responsibilities.