i think you said you were 44 i'm 42 see your the type that would make me want to join the AMA so i could call you up and ask "hey you going to the field today" ...................
were i'm at all the club members in this local club are 50's on up to almost done, the good'ol boy thing is real strong so i am the outsider but being that this is the only club in a 60 mile radius(i believe) if someone new was to come along this is the first impression there going to get of not only the club life but the AMA, so it's a total loss to the hobby sad but true...

i hear people say alot about "oh my kid ain't into it" my dad wasn't into it, when i was 10 i used to ride my bike across town (small town in the 70's) and i'd watch for hours these guys flying there rc planes it was oneday when a guy came and said "hey kid you wanna try" i was scared to death but i got in there and did it i will never forget that day, now show me (besides a very few) where those guys are at today .
to me it's another feather in the cap of whats wrong and why the AMA is probably on borrowed time and those "oldhats" got that treatment when they started most have forgotin' where they got that start .

even without the AMA there will still be people flying RC planes and heli's .

i don't charge anyone to learn from me but i've got to see that your really into it before i'll stop you from crashing for the hundredth time and most get it fast i teach them how to land first kinda like ********* school just without the couple hundred dollar a day price tag.