20 years ago started my membership in AMA with AMA# of 237xxx. Today new first time members have #'s of 857xxx. Does this mean AMA has issued 620,000 + new #'s to first time members in 20 years? Since the current total membership of AMA is somewhere under 200,000 the assumed retention rate of members over 20 years is about 30%. Is that correct? How does that compare to other hobbies or recreational activities? Flying RC is a demanding hobby. Building, learning to fly, takes a person with patience and persistence, my wife says someone stubborn. Also, not inexpensive if one accumulates a fleet of planes over the years. New technology leads to new radios etc etc. I have seen alot of people come and go for alot of reasons over the years, $, commitment, lack of interest, lack of skills, character or lack of it, personal and family and employment reasons. Most who try it usually don't stay with it more than a few times at the field, or a few months, also after 1 year many move on. It is not an easy hobby and that is what makes it so much fun for many of us. Our society, instant satisfaction culture, throw away economy, may not instill the qualities that make for successful modelers as much as it once did. I am sure you are saying to yourself what is this raving manic trying to say! Just this, what more can RC fliers, clubs, officers, AMA leadership do to improve this retention rate? What more can we do to help those new comers be successful at it and stay with it and not leave in a short time? Or is this attrition natural and relative to the nature of the hobby and our society itself? Or is it we lifers are the kooks and everyone else is smarter?