Actually it was YOU who made that division when you made the "your hobby" vs "my hobby" comment, Bill. You indicated that you didn't want your dues to "front" PPP activities........an activity that you CAN participate in if you choose to, but choose not to.

All I've been doing is pointing out that your dues also "front" any other part of the overall AMA scope of activities in which YOU CHOOSE not to participate. It's a valid comparison. It's not a matter of what you can or cannot participate in, it's what you choose to participate in, and you are the one who says you don't want to subsidize the activity in which you choose to NOT participate.

So....why are you not up in arms about "fronting" other AMA activities in which you CHOOSE not to participate?

Let me tell you what I think is going on here....beyond your valid concern about a non-voting membership tier. I believe that you, and more than a few others, don't want these "Joe Parkee Flyers" (to use a phrase coined by another regular here) to be a part of AMA, and don't really recognize them as "real" aeromodlers. THAT is the key reason behind your "your hobby/my hobby" comment and is one of the reasons you get your shorts in such a wadd whenever you talk about PPP. Heck, Bill...you've made your disdain of ARF/RTF's and those who fly them pretty obvious in your comments, and this is just an extension of that.

The fact of the matter is that the hobby IS changing and that the focus/growth is going to be quite differrent over the next 25 years that it has been over the past 25 years. The growth of RC flying in particular is rather obviously changing from kit or scratch built fuel planes to ARF's/RTF's and to smaller, lighter electric planes not necessarily being flown at purpose built fields, and I think that PPP is an attempt by AMA leadership to recognize that and reach out to those that are participating in that change and growth. (Whether it's the RIGHT way to reach out is obviously up for debate and my comment should not be taken to be an endorsement of the method itself). However, they are absolutely right to recognize that is where the growth is happening, and in changing AMA to be a part of that growth. If that doesn't happen AMA will indeed become a dinosaur.....and we know what happened to them. What you see as "your hobby" isn't part of that growth and I suspect that 25 years down the road (or perhaps much less) there will be a growing number of "Joe Parkee Flyers" who may be wondering why part of their dues is being used by AMA to support "your" hobby.

THAT is the reason that this whole "your hobby/my hobby" thing is so counter productive. It's also the reason that my opinion has been changing over the past few months as to whether the PPP as it has been set up is right or wrong. In the long run a two tier setup is just going to foster that "my hobby/your hobby" mindset and will NOT be in the best interests of AMA. (KE, do you hear me? I know you've got to be smiling at THAT comment)

I'm sure that loud groan I hear in the background is several of you saying "what took you so long".

So, bottom line here....I agree with your comments about voting/non-voting two tier membership. Long run it's not a good thing. OTOH, I think your comments about "fronting" parts of the hobby are a smokescreen to cover that you really don't think that "Joe Parkee" belongs in AMA to begin with. Long run that's not a good thing either.

But hey...I guess I have your "my hobby/your hobby" comments to thank for helping me to gel my thoughts on the two tier system. There....doesn't that make you feel better?