There seems to be a fundamental difference of opinion in this discussion about the role of the AMA vs. the role of the chartered club. The AMA is in the business of promoting model aviation, providing a sanctioning body for contests and events, and using the collective resources of its members to provide some common services (insurance, communication, etc).

The local clubs, in return for being chartered by the AMA, recieve the benefit of collective negotiation for insurance protection, as well as a common set of standards for safety.

Some seem to think that the AMA sets down a lot of rules for what can and can't be done, but if you read the rule book, its really not very restrictive.

The local clubs each have their own personality, and this is where the sport lives and dies. And this is where the younger generation can be encouraged to participate. There is no one size fits all, so the AMA shouldn't be blame if one club decides it doesn't want new members, doesn't want to upgrade the field, doesn't want to advertise. Likewise, the AMA shouldn't get the credit if a club is actively pursuing new members, involved in the community. The AMA doesn't determine who mows the field, who pays for it, or how. The local club does.

The AMA should continue to support all aspects of the hobby. Will some aspects be more popular than others? Absolutely. Could the AMA improve its magazine? Probably. But in the grand scheme of things, $58/year for an OK magazine and insurance coverage, in my book, is an acceptable value.

As for comparing golf courses to flying clubs - how much are dues at a private golf club? Probably far more than you pay for AMA and club membership. A round of golf takes about 4 hours to play. That's a lot of flying time. Most public golf courses probably charge $30-$50 a round. Add in the cost of equipment, and I think model aviation is actually cheaper than golf as a hobby.

Now let me propose a new paradigm. Why aren't there any commercial flying sites? I think this might be what wmac could be thinking. There aren't as many people willing to pay as much money to fly airplanes, as there are to play golf. When there are, thats when commercial flying sites will appear. My guess is it aint gonna happen.

Brad