You shouldn't bash the paid flight instructor Scotty. No they shouldn't be ashamed. Just like the real time flight instructor or the paid tennis instructor, et al. These can be classified as hobbies as well. This is not the only end all hobby and for those that are willing to pay to get more, they will. It is there for them. Not to shame just to learn.
Your a pretty cool guy Scotty. I wonder what compelled you to pop that off? teaching anything (, not just r/c flying) is a bit challenging and when a guy like CCR that has been teaching for over 40 years takes a hit, you will see those that know him and all his efforts will rise to the call.
Over the last 40+ years CCR has done more for the AMA, this hobby and the local clubs than all of us members combined, in this area and a little financial compensation from the fruits of his efforts is well earned. He is not the only paid instructor in our area. There is another and I will go to bat for him too. Besides the other guy's teaching abilities are no where near CCR's but he can out fly all of us combined also. Compared to these folks we are the newbies and these folks can tell us what's wrong. They've been there in the trenches for many years and aren't clouded by club politics and AMA B.S., no pun intended.
Don't believe everything these club type's are saying. After all how many people do you see them teaching? How many new member's have they signed to the AMA this year? I haven't paid for AMA membership for about 4 years now due to the sign 3 fly free program. How many new member's have they signed to your club? Are your number's increasing or decreasing? Your a pretty intelligent guy Scotty, think about it and I'm just speaking for this area. In other areas it's different but here it is very lethargic.
How many new members have the AMA signed up to the park pilot program as opposed to how much of our money they have spend? Its all right there for all of us to see but some people need glasses. The AMA will still say there efforts are fruitful, but for who?
I would like to see the AMA start taking our money and start advertising in non related area's. Stop with the target market already. We know what's what. It's time to inform the people that don't know. How many people buy air hogs that don't have a clue about the AMA or flying r/c. that company is generating millions of dollars off the section of the public that want to, but no nothing because there is no information available as far as they know.
That's just my opinion. Not that I'm right or wrong. I'm more wrong than right anyway but I'm willing to put my neck on the chopping block to express what I may think is right, just like everyone else hear.