Originally posted by xp8103
This brings up an issue that I think the AMA has not (at least publicly) addressed. And it's an issue that many if not most local clubs have to deal with on a daily basis. And it's not specifically an AMA issue. It's part of the social change in the hobby that has taken place. It's the "All I want to do is fly on Sunday morning, I don't care about other clubs or events or contests" member. Unless it effects me directly, I don't care about it and it's a waste of time/money/effort/etc...
We have the premier scale event in the northeast here in Maine. The CD is well known and attracts some of the best scale modelers in the hobby - Charlie Nelson, John Chevalier, Tom Kosewski, Roy Valliancourt, Jack Buckley, Bill Killam; Nicky Zrioli and Bill Steffes have attended. For the past two years we have been EXTRA fortunate to have the likes of David and Jason Shulman attend and fly both in the contest and demos during the event. One would think, if you're into R/C and live in the area, THIS would be the place to be. The CD asks area clubs for a donation to help defray the cost. We as a club have given in the past. $100. For our treasury, no big deal. But lo and behold, there are always atleast a few who neither attend the event that our club supports with money, contestants, and man power but complain to no end about spending that money because it doesn't directly benefit them.
That attitude carries over into other R/C activities. I don't know what the AMA answer should be. Or even if there is one.
Pray tell how much personal modeling budget you think each modeler in the area should give away to others so they can attract big name players? <VBG> Sorry, I find that idea simply incomprehensible as it does not benefit very many MODELERS but does gold plate the name guys. There is another word for that, but someone told me to be nice.
However I agree, this is a fairly widespread problem. A great many people have absolutely no interest in funding the fun of others, especially when it means giving up their rights to having fun. That is what happens when we close the field to the general membership for a big bird fly in (I fly IMAC) or for a SMALL event (I fly there too). The solution seems to be a local issues of motivation, reward, recognition, and cooperation. At least my club seems to have taken that approach and made it work.
I know at my club we have 2 or 3 SANCTIONED events each year and rarely have any problems with members who only wish to fly. In fact, most of the folks who will not fly in our sanctioned events, help run them.