I work as an airline pilot and I love airplanes. I am 35. I built my first rc when I was 12 and have been flying then on and off since. I don't see any value in AMA. I currently have 17 airplanes, 3 helis, two boats, and three cars in my 'hanger'. (My wife things I'm crazy, the neighborhood kids think I'm cool.) My AMA membership has been spotty , when I was asked for the $60 this year, I declined.

The only two things I see AMA do is:

1. Magazine. I like magazines, but $60 a year is a lot for a subscription. There are better ones out there for the money.

2. Insurance. Don't need it. I lock my car, I've never had anything stolen out of it. I try to fly safely and the chance of me hurting someone is so remote that there are a lot of other things I would insure first.

I felt better about my AMA membership until I got run off of a field by the "Safety Officer" telling me I had to fly somewhere else if I wanted to teach my kids. Sure made the money I spent on dues a waste. I checked with the local police there is nothing -nothing- they can do to get you off of a field. So why have AMA, I just don't need it. I get a little tired of people asking where my AMA card is, and sometimes I lie and say I have it. I guess that would be the biggest reason I would sign up, just so I wouldn't get bothered about it. Not a good way to get customers.

What I think AMA can do to improve it's image:

Tell us what you do! A little transparency, how many insurance claims did you process? Tell me a story about the victum, prove I don't want to be that guy. I doubt that would be enough, but it would help. As it is I don't think they actually DO anything.

I don't care about the mag, and $60 is too much for me. I would sign up without hesitation for $20. Yup, twenty bucks. I would proably still sign up for $30. I don't need the mag or the 'my plane got stolen' insurance. I don't even care about the liability insurance, I would only be paying the twenty to get Bob to leave me alone. More than anything lately I go to the park and fly my foamies. I even bring a trainer box for my kids friends to fly them too. No one bothers me and I save my money. I can get a pretty decent foamie for $60!

This is the perspective of someone the AMA needs to figure out a way to get 'back into the fold'. I am the reason they are losing members. Me and thousands like me.