Hey everybody. I am not going to spend time reading all of these posts. I do want to tell everyone about an experience I had this past satuday. I am out of town for labor day and decided to visit the local flying field. When I showed up there was one person flying and six sitting in chairs talking under the sun shelter. I parked my car inline with everyone else and walked over the the six people sitting in the shade. It is safe to say that they were all over 50 years old. I stood there lisining to the conversation for about ten minutes. Did any of them say a word to me? Not one! Not even hello. The guy who was flying by this time landed ad walked over he is about mid 30's. He walked up and saw me and immeadiatly said hello. Introduced himself and kept the conversation going. Why didnt one of the six guys say a word? who knows. I could have been a prospective member, or someone needing help learning. If I was a potentioal member I sure wouldnt have joined after that. One other thing I have run into is with another club was the "flight instructor" had to observe me complete some manuvers before letting me fly unassisted at their field. It sounded reasonable to me so I complied. He commented about my flying the whole time "not maintaining altitude" "your loop looks more like an oval". I have been flying for nine years and used to fly IMAC intill I found thermal duration contests. And this guy is commenting like a pattern judge. Im sorry I didnt know this was a competition! I just joined that club and I felt berated and mocked. It was my only choice in flying sites to accomadate my 1/3 scale aircraft. So I talked with the club president about it. If I was new to the hobby and had to deal with that guy I would find another hobby. In general I have found the glider guys more approachable. Its the only crowd that a guy Im competing against in a contest will come over and help me ace my round even though it could possibly hurt his placing. We need to reach out to the younger generation. If its particapation in after school programs or community centers. Get these kids together, get a airplane and start teaching them about aircraft. From flying to the mechanics of the whole thing. These are not only future members of AMA but, future engineers, technicians, pilots, etc... I employ all of you find a youth and next year teach him to fly. Better yet if your in a club contact a local school and host a science day at your field where the kids can come out fly an airplane and use a simulator along with a little knoweledge presentation about aircraft. With simulators and park flyers you can go to the school to host it and fly the airplane at their soccor field or the gym even. Lets stop complaining about whats not being done and DO something about it. WE are the AMA and its ultimitly up to us to make the AMA great or turn it into crap. LETS MAKE IT GREAT PEOPLE!