Well, thanks for the answers guys... I DO intend on joining the AMA and the local club. PArt of this was to get some different perspectives from other R/C enthusiast. THe other part was to kind of express the frustration of newcomers to this hobby. Now $$$ aren't really that tight but the 1/1 scale Cessna does have my priority when it comes to $$ issues. I tried to bring two guys with me into this hobby but the situations I described turned them away. As I have read in the AMA forum a big deterrent to the AMA and the hobby in general is the "Stodgy Old Timers" that really have no interpersonal skills in dealing with prospective members. Yes there are some "old Timers' that are genuinely thrilled to help a newbie or especially a youngster out but the grumpy old guys really overpower any positives from the helpful guy. I myself was helped into this hobby by two old timers that really showed an interest in getting me interested. One was my Dad and the other an old guy that introduced himself and took the time to explain evrything he could to me. He was just set up to fly but didn't fly at all that day because my dad and I arrived with an old Cox .049 foamie 2 channel Piece of garbage which he helped go over to ensure that it was flight worthy. HE spent about 4 hours with me that day and invited us to attend a club meeting. This man gave up his flying time that day to help a newcomer. Later on I joined the USAF and lost interest in R/C for things like girls and fast cars and eventually the real aircraft. When I started becomeing interested in this hobby again I got discouraged by some Old guys that were real jerks. I pressed on with it despite them because I remember "Ol Doc" the retired doctor that helped me 18 years prior. Not everyone has the benefit of meeting someone like"Ol Doc" and they get really discouraged by the overwhelmingly negative attitude of (what has been in MY experience) the majority of AMA members.