ORIGINAL: theriddler33872
fliers1 : your another of the ones that trys to put it out there in a positive way i've seen your comments all over the forum .
as far as the fear thing and so on goes i thought most clubs had some kind of probational period correct me if i am wrong as i admit i am on the outside looking in and i mean no disrespect by asking that question .
your other point is very much true and i understand were that could be a issue as it would cause some to come away with a negitive expereance either way .
I've been in the hobby for over 40 years. Over that time, I've probably trained several hundred people, most from clubs from all over the US and Canada. For a few years, I ran an RC flight school and therefore received club information from members of hundreds of different clubs. That puts me an unique position of hearing accounts of what's really going on from a beginner's perspective, not that of those in charge, who are usually members who can fly on their own.
I was told of not so good things from those hundreds of clubs. You see how AMA or anyone will receive two different versions of how clubs are run. Who is in control of information coming out of clubs? Those in charge, i.e., the old hats, who are the instructors.
So, as far as AMA Is concerned, lack of fight instruction is not the cause of their declne in membership. In their minds, it must be things like, the instant gratification society, kids not interested in model aviaton, the poor economy, (9.6% are unemployed which means that 90.4% are employed). Anything but lack of quality and quatity RC flight instruction.
Now matter how logical this perspective is, I've presented this before and many times got flamed for it.
Fliers 1