ORIGINAL: Jim Thomerson
Some club flying sites require AMA membership because the owner of the flying site says so. If this is the case allowing a nonAMA member to fly could lose the flying site. some clubs have all the members they want and are therefore exclusionary. Other clubs want new members and don't care who flies. It is really a local situation and should be seen as such. And, yes, you can fly on non-club sites until someone stops you. Which may never happen.
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AMA Bylaws, ARTICLE III, MEMBERSHIP: (
Emphasis Added)
//snip//
Section 2. The Chartered Club is the local division of the AMA. It is the
vehicle for recognition of any geographic grouping of AMA members.
(a) The Charter provides the local organized group with added
insurance protection for the club, the club officers, and flying site
owners. Other services such as assistance in acquisition and retention
of flying sites, materials for public relations, and legal counsel, when
necessary are available to the Charter Club.
(
b) All members of the Chartered Club, including officers, must be
members of the AMA (except Associate members who are not officers,
defined as a wife, husband, child, or parent of an active club member
who does not operate models as part of the club activity); such member
must be listed on the Charter as an associate.
Section 3. The Executive Council’s determination on eligibility or class
of membership shall be conclusive.
Upon acceptance for membership,
each individual shall agree to accept the Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws of the AMA and to pay such dues as may from time to time be
determined by the Executive Council. No member shall have any right,
title, or interest in or to AMA property.
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Therefore an AMA CHARTERED CLUB has to REQUIRE AMA membership for ALL club-members. If the club has a flying site which the Club controls, or even doesn't control, all CLUB MEMBERS will be AMA members. How a club defines the use of a flying site WHICH IT CONTROLS is
up to the Club.
In my learned opinion, if an AMA Chartered Club has a flying site which it controls, where all club members ARE AMA, and the Club allows non-AMA members to fly there, then they are placing the Club's own members in jeopardy subject to fliers that may well have no insurance to cover whatever they -- the non AMA -- fliers may do relative to damage to person or property. Again my opinion, however to allow such is an example of stupidity at its highest level. The Charter is basically worthless. Five members could hold a Charter for the land-owner's insurance and no one else need be AMA. Use the money saved for improving the site and a few Friday Night Beer-Busts.
So for those that think an AMA Chartered Club should allow non-AMA fliers on the Club's flying site then think again. Either join the club along with AMA or go find your own spot. The Club fronts the money and performs the labor of getting, keeping and maintaining that facility and doesn't owe those seeking a free ride one DA_N thing and for a couple out there, when a Club incorporates, borrows monies to have a site, builds that site and maintains that site and pays the bills including real taxes, then that club is doing 1000% of their share for promoting the hobby. Free-loaders can either head on down the road or stop and lend a hand -- their choice -- and no longer be a free-loader, again their choice.