Brad,
There is probably no tangible easily explained reason for you to join AMA. I enter events that require me to be a member as well as belong to a club that requires membership in AMA but, I like to think that my membership supports a hobby that I have been involved in for a long time and plan on continued involvement.

Most people would say to join because of the insurance. I have come to find that from a personal standpoint the insurance isn't so great. If you fly on your own property, have homeowners and a decent health plan than AMA insurance is no big deal to you.

Some say to join for the magazine. If you don't participate in competition there are better magazines out there. These days magazines are not even as good as RCU so there goes that reason.

There isn't a reason I can give, that will mean a definate advantage if you join. It would be great if AMA members got 10% off at Tower, that would be a concrete reason to join that people could relate to. The sad fact is there are only intangable reasons to join, they are the only group out there that has my best interestsas a modeler as thier agenda.

As for Horace.....
I like to give him a hard time because he is such an old blowhard. He doesn't represent the leadership of AMA in any way shape or form, they are all to smart to get into pissing contests on RCU. They are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but there are a bunch of people willing to do the work that I'm not interested in and if $58 a year keeps them in business than count me in.

Usually I'm not so hard on him but after he attacked me for my "holy grail" comment I just opened up and let fire. Say what you want about me but leave the dog out of it. Turns out it made his week because he certainly seems to enjoy all the attention whether it's good or bad. Of the people who post on here so far I think the dog has more votes anyway.