I can't find the information on the AMA web site or in the AMA Member's Manual on how one gets to be a member of this AMA "Board Of Directors" to which you keep referring. Would you be so kind as to furnish that information ?
You won't see it on their website because it's in their articles of corporation. Have you ever seen what articles of corporation look like? The law states that a non for profit corporation MUST have 1-3 board of directors. In most states the law is minimum of 3. The board of directors can be named to a person(s) in trust which give no guidance other then to only act upon the "bylaws" of the corporation and/or their board of directors could be Dave Brown and 1 or 2 other persons and whomever these people are have full LEGAL right to make any decision they want about the company for any reason whatsoever, within the law, with or without the "demands" of it's members.
In fact their is a provision for submitting an action request (complaint or safety isssue) to the EC under Article 11 Section 6, but its BY FAR a "demand" you may submit. It gets put on the bottom of the pile unless of course the matter is urgent. Otherwise it goes through a lot of red tape until they decide whether or whether not your EC action request deserves an answer.
I don't mean to smear the AMA with misguided facts, I'm just trying to shed some light on some of you guys who think you own the company and you're voice is "demanded". You're voice will be heard, but "demanding" to be heard, try again. Personally and after reading nearly 100% of their PDF's is an AMAZING company that has done an AMAZING acts of goodness for all of us. It would be very hard for anyone to come in and put together what they have already laid out. I am in agreement with many people that the AMA could use some fresh blood and a lot of cleaning up, but then again what company couldn't use that. It's just that young, fresh minds don't come cheap in a world where the economy is good and jobs are endless.
And, much as I don't care for the analogy, my AMA membership card actually does equate to a "stock certificate".
Sorry but it does not. In fact that is illegal for an NFP to be setup as being publically held. You're AMA card is proof of insurance and member benefit services, get over it.
'm beginning to think that not only do you not know how AMA works, you don't know very much about your favorite comparision example AAA, either.
You know it's funny because I used the analogy of AAA because I used to be a consultant for them. In fact where the heck are you doing your fact finding? What are you qualifications for your statements?
Here is a list of benefits for being a AAA member:
http://ww2.aaa.com/AAA_Travel/site_map.htm
Here is a list of benefits for being a AMA member:
http://www.modelaircraft.org/overview.asp
Nothing at all alike? Where do you see on the list of benefits it mentioning anything about ownership by it's MEMBERS? Do you think the AMA needs that much liability under their belt? Read Article 3 of the AMA Bylaws, clearly states that you are a member, not an owner.
The AMA is in fact a membership organization, not owned by it's members. There is a difference between owned by it's members and run by it's members. You are talking about the AMA and what is stands for; "the company belongs to it's members". How many companies have you worked for or been part of where the boss has told you this? All of them? It's called a mission statement, but from a legal and reality ascpect, it's nothing more then fluff to get you to be part of their organization.