RE: AMA costs
To the OP- $58 isn't that much to pay for what you get. A subscription to any RC magazine is going to cost around 1/2 that, so there's half you dues already. Add to that the fact that AMA helps get fields built and to stay open, provide a central connection for vendors and product developers, and do some lobbying to make sure RC flight isn't regulated beyond what is necessary, it's a good value.