RE: how do go about finding an instructor in my area?
Here is a list of Florida clubs, not complete I'm sure, but a good start.
Florida
Aeromodelers of Perrine (AMPS) - History of the club, calendar of events, aerial photograph, map of aerodrome, contact info and photos of recent contests, flyins and funfly events. Miami, FL.
Airmasters - Airmasters R/C club in Vero Beach, FL. AMA and IMAA chartered.
Bay City Flyers - Pasco/Hillsborough counties, FL. Helis and fixed wing.
Cape Coral R/Sea Hawks - Cape Coral, FL
Crestview Models Aviators - Located in Crestview, FL. One of the best grass fields in the panhandle of FL. All types aircraft flown off land or water.
Eglin Aero Modellers - Fort Walton Beach, FL
Five Points R/C Flyers - Port St. Joe, FL. This is a District V AMA chartered club #4174.
Flying High - R/C aircraft at Fort Lauderdale Florida's Markham Park flying field three clubs plus full scale aircraft at Sun-N-Fun air expo in Lakeland, FL.
Gateway R/C - AMA chartered club #206 located in Jacksonville, FL. Free instruction and help becoming a R/C pilot.
Golden Hawks Deland R/C Club - Deland, FL. Coverage of "Jets over Deland".
Gold Coast Radio Controllers - Boca Raton, FL
Indian River Kontrol Society - AMA gold-chartered flying club in Melbourne, FL. 180+ members, from beginners to very expert and still growing. Info, photos, local and area events.
Lake City R/C - Lake City, FL
Markham Park Pilot's Association - Aircraft and helicopter club located in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Martin County Modelers - Hobe Sound, FL
Nine West Aviation - Naples, FL
One Wing Low Squadron (OWLS) - Morriston, FL
The Orlando R/C Helicopter Society (TORCHES) - Started in 1988 to promote the sport of R/C helicopter building and flying. An open club with a membership ranging from beginners to experts.
Osceola Flyers - Kissimmee, FL (alternate site)
Propbusters R/C Club - R/C flying models of all types. Encouraging young flyers to participate in this great family hobby. Lakeland, FL.
R/C World Flyers - Orlando, FL
Remote Control Association of Central Florida - Orlando, FL
River City Aeromodelers - R/C club serving Palatka Florida and surrounding areas.
Sarasota R/C Squadron (SRQ) - Home of the Royal Palm and the King Orange Scale Masters Qualifiers, Giants of the Sky IMAA fly-in and the Annual War Bird fly-in. Sarasota, FL.
Seminole R/C Club (SRCC) - Non-profit, open membership AMA-chartered club (#216) located in Tallahassee, FL.
South Pinellas Aeronautical Radio Kontrol Society (SPARKS) - St. Petersburg, FL.
Sunset R/C Fliers - Club Field in St. Cloud, FL, near Disney World and other Orlando attractions.
Tampa Bay R/C Aircraft Club (TRAC) - Tampa, FL
Tri-County R/C - North-Central FL
West Pasco Model Pilots Association - Multi-faceted AMA club with sport, scale, glider, old-timer, helicopter, pattern, pylon and just about every known active form of R/C flying. The club is located in the Tampa Bay, FL area.
R/C Fliers of Venice - AMA and IMAA sanctioned, all types of model aircraft. Venice, FL.
Valkyries RC Flying Club - Established in 1971, 160 members