Gentlemen, and I mean Gentlemen.
I stumbled across this forum as I'm am one of the ones outside a group like the AMA and yours. I was looking for answers as to why I should join such a group. I must say this is the most civil forum I've read, most of the others start bashing one another within a few posts and the subject gets lost. It's quite refreshing to see adults behaving like adults, not little children. Granted I'm in Pennsylvania, and you are in Canada for the most part, so I'm guessing your group wouldn't work for me here.
If you allow me a little leeway, may I give you the other side of the flight crowd's going ons?
The ones who don't belong to groups like yours, or to clubs.
From what I see, and from the fellows I fly with, the hobby is evolving, way faster then anyone thought ,from as little as 5 years ago. The newest generation of flyers is part of the gotta have it now, want immediate satisfaction for their dollar. The days when everyone built from balsa and tissue and such, is dieing off. No it will never go away. But the times are changing, the "newbies" as we call them are heading off in different directions. The old guard is starting to fade, heck we are all getting older. The new blood is heading in another direction from how we old timers have done it. So what do you the old timers do(and no insult meant).
From my experience, the old timers are not acknowledging the newbies, other then to blame them for every hit their bird takes. I've tried 2 join 2 separate clubs, I could join but I was looked down on because I fly toys. Some of my toys have over a thousand dollars in them, so maybe I don't consider it a toy. They do. If it's not gas and hand built over plans it's a toy.
I've been down that road, I just for now find it easier for me to not spend a year putting a bird together, when I could be out flying. Granted my flight skills may have something to do with that also. But back to my point, here I've never been approached by a club to come over and take a look , maybe you'd like to join. I had to seek out the 2 clubs I found, and I fly my park flyers with a group off the main highway between the 2 groups (aprox 10 miles each way) They have to pass us to get to their field. Since the attitiude I/we've gotten from them, it's obvious they don't want to play. So be it. I would rather be with an entergetic bunch of newbies, then deal with the old dinosaurs. Sorry I was running on. Bottom line, your new breed of flyers are not going to go away, the groups and clubs need to realize this and embrace the newbies. Soon they will be the ones in the majority, and where will the groups and clubs be. These kids are our future, accept them and teach them, because if you don't they will go on with out you. Show them the way.
p.s. just so you know I'm one of those dinosaurs, but being with the kids has changed my whole attitude.
Thanks for taking the time to hear me out.
Brad