MikeL:"I'm with C_Watkins on this one. Frankly, I'm wondering what agenda some folks are really pushing here. It's time to disclose that.

There must be some agenda, because paid instruction certainly exists now. What is the point of this thread."

The point of this thread was to get some true Beginners to voice some thoughts of having paid Instruction available. As I said "WAS".

The original point in the Proposal submitted to AMA (AMA Forum) is to simply obtain AMA's consideration of restructuring the AMA Insurance program to allow for those Clubs that choose to do so to allow PAID FOR INSTRUCTION on that Club's facility, with the details of pay to be between the club and the individual instructor.

The AGENDA within that proposal is simply to motivate MORE individuals to make themselves available to assist Beginners in a better scheduled time-frame and to remove the load that a few individuals get far too over-burdened with. There is NO mention, plan, hidden agenda, etc of doing away with free instruction.

In 30+ years of RC, I have found that in any one club a very small minority of individuals -- like about 2% at most -- do all the instructing and it does get old. Examples:

1. Those that are newly soloed are not competent to instruct.

2. Those that are passing through this *COOL* sport are gone within a couple years or so and are far too into themselves to instruct and seldom obtain adequate experience to do so.

3. The Competition Fliers are far too into themselves preparing for the next contest, which is usually the next weekend or so and they are unavailable to instruct. (BTDT)

4. Those that simply like to bore holes in the sky with their latest GIANT toy have no interest in anything else and don't have time for anything outside their own small world.

5. A number of good people have to earn a living outside the 9-5 weekday time, therefore cannot plan to be available for the newbie at the newbie's choice.

6. Newbies also have time constraints and cannot therefore meet the casual instructor at the instructor's choice.

Therefore as mentioned in the original proposal, if AMA could restructure the insurance for the Club / paid instructor relationship, then perhaps those that don't now get involved in instructing could be motivated to find a better schedule to do so, like the hot RCer teen ager that works tin the grocery store just might prefer instructing all weekend, and same for retires, disabled etc. that need to supplement their income.

In addition the proposal contains provisions that would prevent any use of facilities not approved by the Club. IT'S ALL THE CHOICE OF THE CLUB. Of course that is like STATES RIGHTS, which is the most hated thing by the total control elitists. FREE CHOICE is difficult to swallow by those that are NOT used to doing the work that others do.

So there's your point!