all this is great information but thats IF it's applied ...........
i'm 42 and simi-retired (not bragging) and with 25+ years under my belt in limited 3d skills and more combat skills to mention i would be at the flying field probably 4 to 5 times a week plus i have no problems mowing the grass, picking up trash and even cleaning toilets i love to teach because to me it's just as fun as flying and it gets me so excited to see someone solo for the first time it reminds me of those days when that guy in my small town in (this is for you 103) keene, NH. yelled at me "keep it up boy your doin it" and that feeling of wow i'm flying !

and when i talk about doing the club myself it's because of the short falls of some of the members of the AMA the same people that in my opinion (remember opinions are like butts everyone got one) should be pushin the hobby not chasing people off .
i'd love to get into a club but 1. you need to feel like your accepted 2. the cost, as it has been explained to me should be no more the $60 a year.
this club where i'm at and maybe it's a isolated incedent (lets all hope) but that attitude didn't help there cause, then with no one i've seen in my generation even, they want $100 a year membership that would be strike 2, what this club should do is on there web site just say closed no new members wanted it would keep the people away and not tarnish the AMA.
i understand that different areas could cost more here and there but to be $25 to 40 dollars higher then everyone else your sending a message.
and it sends a negitive message but hey those members are all from 50 and up when they see the decline in membership it means yet another AMA'er has gone to that big flying field in the sky lose enough and you've lost your club it could be avoided but those "oldhats" don't care thats the biggest problem in the AMA and it shows with the decline in memberships nation wide .

you could be in a very open and freindly club it only takes one person to screw it up and maybe that person you'd be better off without ...........