#1 - Not necessarily true, given volume of flights to the greater Los Angeles metro area. I just bought my son a ticket and the costs were quite low.

#2 is trivial to fix, hold the meeting on a day that's better attended.

Besides, it's really easy to cut costs by using GoToMeeting or other technology from the last century so that in person meetings aren't required at all, AND it allows MORE members to tune in!

The thread sure changed topics quickly, didn't it!

I agree with you guys regarding the AMA in general and the EC in particular, but the OP's issue should be in the forefront.

Respectfully.

Sorry. I agree that he should not have been greeted that way. I know AMA can't dictate that people be nice, but they sure have an interest in making sure this doesn't happen. Driving away potential members is something the AMA can ill afford.

That's what I don't get, they are hurting their own club when they act like that.

It can have a bigger impact than that. After my experience with the Fresno club, it was two years before I even visited another club. That kind of experience leaves a bad taste.

If AMA was awash in new members, the organization can tolerate that sort of behavior. But when you're losing members, it's intolerable.

I don’t know about making a judgment about this club without hearing the other side. Most times there are two sides with the truth somewhere in the middle.

My own experience both in Canada and the US has been nothing but good. Most times I am towing my toy box (12 ft enclosed trailer) and when I am not I always have one or two smaller planes in the back seat.

I look for the opportunity to stop at new fields and get a flight or two in.

I always park off to the side in the spectator area so I do not look like I expect to be granted flying privileges.

I don’t wait to be approached it may not happen. I wander over and introduce myself. If no conversation comes naturally I may ask if there is a club executive present that I could speak to.

When I introduce myself I always let them know I would like to watch and if possible my passion is to fly with permission at the different clubs I visit.

I produce my MAAC card, two club membership cards and if in the US a page with the Reciprocal Agreement that shows I have insurance coverage in the US and the AMA recognizes this as being ok to fly. The website is clearly visible on the page so anyone may check it out if they wish.

Only after being invited to fly will I ask where it would be suitable to park to unload and fly.

Once set up and before attempting to fly I make sure to ask about the field rules, no fly zones and ask if someone would spot for me. Not only is the spotter a good idea when flying at a new site for the first time but best of all most times the conversation started during the flight carries on well after you have landed and parked your plane. What a great way to break the ice.

I am 66 years old and have been flying/modeling off and on since I was 11. I have lost count of the clubs, fields and hobby shops I have visited. I can say I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen anyone receive less than a polite, respectful greeting at any club. In every case it would appear that this was brought on by the person’s attitude/actions both past and present.

First impressions are sometimes the only ones you get to make!!!!!

Sage advice. Thank you. Would you consider running the AMA?

No thanks I became involved in our organization (MAAC) which everyone including the president are none paid volunteers. The politics, private agenda's of but a few can screw it up for everyone involved. It’s a thankless job and like every job you cannot please everyone. The majorities who are generally OK with the way things are going are pretty quiet and all they seem to want to do is enjoy the hobby. The malcontents are very vocal and if they don’t get their way will go to great lengths to make anyone who disagrees with them, life hell if possible. One guy in MAAC who was a Zone Director carried it to an extreme that saw his directorship and membership revoked. They tossed him out and after 2 years let him back in provisionally.

I am a member of the Florida club this "Captinjohn' is complaining about. This gentleman has been hanging around the club site for two years now. He wanders around the flight line and in the pit area interjecting his "expert" opinions on members. Within the past few weeks he even brought a plane and without invitation, set it up on a flight stand on the flight line and began working on it. In December of this past year he showed up at our club's members only annual social luncheon and attempted to partake in the meal. He has been approached a number of times over the past two years about joining the club and his answer has always been, "I'm thinking about it", or " I may if I get a plane working."

Our club is is a very friendly and welcoming organization, but there are limits to what is considered a reasonable amount of visits before we rightfully require a person to join the club. This gentleman was not told he could not attend any fun fly or other formal event at which the public is invited as a visitor. However, we believe we have been very reasonable in requiring that he, or any other person, go through the membership application procedure within a reasonable amount of time rather just hang out and interject himself upon the membership uninvited.

Interesting......sounds legit.....but this is his first post.

There's two sides to every story. Hence the reason I would have showed up to see how I was treated before I raised hell with any club officers.

I am really sorry your experiences with fellow modellers, even snowbirds have been so dismal. In our club there are at least 10 who winter in the US and every one of them are proud members of at least one local club. Some are club instructors some help with field maintenance or events. Just about all I know participate in some way as well as fly. Yes you can join and enjoy being part of a club and fly without AMA membership.

On different visits I have flown as a guest at most of their clubs and some neighbouring clubs as well. I always ask permission, follow the rules and avoid the no fly zones. If they feel the need to inspect my models or have an instructor or someone check me out etc. why would I have a problem with that? When you’re a guest there is no place for attitude or a sense of entitlement.

Dennis

What is the rest of the story? What have you done in the past to make you not welcome?

Thank You dudley1943 for filling in the rest of the story . I have been in this hobby long enough to know a self important "because I've got the RIGHT to" rant when I see one and I kinda smelled that in the opening post , hence this sentence in my reply to him in post #3 ;

And to his credit cj rumley spotted & mentioned the same thing in post #5 ......

Two sides to every story.

Mike

Well that is Dudley twisted reply. Last winter I told them I hand hand surgery & did not ask to join the club. This current winter I was really thinking about joining but left my TX manual home & could not get the airplane & TX working right. I was looking for help there. Also needed glow fuel. The ex president of the club smartly said I will sell you a gallon for $30. I new darn well that was a way high price. He could have sold me about 5-10 ounces of fuel so I could check the engine to make sure it ran OK. Not there but at my winter home. I never put a airplane on a flight stand to start or fly. I set it on a table so a friend to help me with a new TX to airplane setup. Also I did not force my way into the club meal. I also paid my way into the club pylon races they used to have & just this year brought back. One would think a AMA person could at least go to events as long as I pay & others also. But I was told not to show up anymore. This does hurt because I did make some very nice guys there. But the 2 or 3 real bad apples spoil it for the rest. By the way I am friends of a National champ he sends me emails with a link to his events he wins. Jase The Ace. Check him out. Also was invited to a National Pylon race in Ohio. It was great !

So if your TX isn't working right your not gonna join the club ? So what would have happened if your TX WAS working right and you joined and then promptly crashed your plane , were you gonna quit and ask for a refund cause you had nothing to fly ?

AHHH I don't know if it smells like a fish??????barks like a dog??????? So many ways to get around not having a manual. One for instance is I could easily download and print a copy as most if not all have theirs on line. If you were a club member and not a looky lou another club member might take the time to help out. As far as the fuel you could have located the local hobby shop instead the guy who sold you the fuel made the trip for you.

All kinds of things just don't sit well with what your telling us and on top of that if you have had such a dismal interaction with the members of the club why not just find another club and be done with it. Sounds to me like you still expect to be welcomed there even with all your public complaining. I don't think its going to happen. I think you have cast the die and your going to have to live with the result.

Dennis

I should have said the TX was not programed right to work the receiver. I had just replaced the receiver in Mich, but did not have time to set it up before leaving. You got to be joking about crashing & trying to get my money back!!!!! I always helped & gave my time, tools, spare parts to folks if needed. I gave fuel if some person ran out to anyone at the field when needed it. I for several years took 2 airplanes ....one a Sig Kadet & a aerobatic airplane for me to fly. The Kadet I let anyone who wanted to learn to fly. I taught over 23 folks how to fly RC & tuned many engines for folks also. I spent more time helping most the time than flying. I even gave away engines. PS, I let a young person take the Sig Kadet with a set of floats. He put the floats on & we flew it off water at his Dad,s place on Fremont Lake.

Can I inquire how much it is to join your club??? If the fellow winters in Florida I don't think he's destitute by any stretch of the imagination. Every flyer I know that winters in Florida manages to join a local club and most fly once or twice a week at least.
Dennis

$30 for a gallon of fuel is actually about the normal price.

Yes , yes indeed I was sarcastically joking when I said that . Now , let's get to the bottom line here , shall we ? Dudley1943 presented a very well articulated position for why you aren't welcome there , for reasons up to and including ; "wandering around the pit area interjecting his expert opinions on the members" . You , on the other hand , have not presented your position well , you've selectively omitted facts that we've had to "read between the lines" to discern (like how this WASN'T your first experience with this club) , and you speak as though some past good deeds on your part to folks they don't even know are supposed to curry you some favor with this club ; "I gave fuel if some person ran out" So this means this club now should just automatically give you fuel ?

And so we come to the age old advice about holes ...... When you find yourself in an unwanted one , it's best to stop digging !

The only thing now I would like to know is if I can at least PAY to see the pylon race there. I did not ask for free fuel. Also I will not ask to join their club that would cost $75 as I only have about 3 weeks to fly there. I paid for all the other events & races there over the years. Best Regards, John

We have no problem with you attendance at events that are open to the public. You must remain within the shelters and not go out in the aircraft prep area or the flight line. We also don't exclude anyone from submitting an application for membership to be presented to the membership for approval. However there is a reasonable and common sense limitation to non-members hanging around in those areas. Members pay for and participate in the maintenance of our field and facilities and it is unfair to all of them for non-members to continue to benefit without contributing financially and personally.