Appowner

As opposed to those members who seem quite happy letting the AMA fiscally spiral into the toilet?

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Appowner

Please explain how your actions are convincing the EC that changes in the budget and spending need to be enacted?

You can join all the clubs you want and compete in all the contests there are. That won't do a thing to change the decades old patterns shown in Franks charts.

franklin_m

Speedy, nobody is saying you cannot do that. You're perfectly free to keep handing the AMA money, directly or indirectly. You're perfectly free to keep doing all of what you described and more. But so too are others free to not do those things. If AMA can survive on folks like you, great. More power to them. But many of us believe they cannot, certainly not at their current spending levels.

And we appear to be in good company, as the CFO and Brady Ware is giving them the same warnings. Yet they continue spending as if there's no problem.

Appowner

And something else to think about. Club money is NOT AMA money. Who funds those contests you go to? I'll bet very little if any came from Muncie except for the NATs. You have entry fees and maybe some other costs going to the local club but by and large I'll wager it's the sponsoring club that funds the contest. NOT Muncie!

So what are you going to do when your dues is doubled and the NATs cancelled or cut way back due to lack of funds? Join another club?

Propworn

My Feedback: (3)

Ding Ding Ding we have a winner here!!!!!!!!!

And your constant sniveling helps how?????????

scottrc

I do the same thing, belong to clubs, pay my $75, support LHS, take kids flying, participate in mall shows and parades, and what do correspondence do I get from the AMA, a few years ago a letter stating that I failed them at the Grass Roots level of their "Membership Drive".
I didn't even really know it was going on other than some three page article in MA.
I never got email
And what mail I get from AMA is in the form of sales promos for car insurance, vacations, and coins.
I used to write and even call my VP, anymore, its like writing or calling my Congressman, I get a "Note taken, thanks for your concern and call, don't worry, we are taking care it, have a nice day and be sure to support our Foundation so we can show what a great job we are doing in promoting model aviation by sending some kid to college".


Nope, if I was to make a real difference, then I would be getting letters, emails, and even phone calls from my VP and HQ asking for my input and help.

Hydro Junkie

Ding Ding Ding we have a winner here!!!!!!!!!
And your constant sniveling helps how?????????

Okay, first off, I'm going to say Speed is definitely helping the hobby AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, no arguments there. As someone else said, his participation at the 10 events and in the three clubs is helping keep them going. But, as also stated, unless the events are actually being run by the AMA home office, all the fees he pays to attend the 10 events go to the club or district that's putting it on, not the AMA. How do I know this? Every year, there is a NAMBA Nationals, a race put on by one of the districts that any and all R/C boat racers are invited to attend. The costs are covered, up front, by the district while the entry fees reimburse that district for said expenses. The NAMBA home office gets nothing for sanctioning the event. Therefore, I don't know how his actions make Speed an AMA winner, other than paying his membership dues.
As far as Appowner sniveling, I don't see how asking a question is sniveling. I could ask you the same questions, Propworm.
1) Do you "give" the AMA money every year, for them to waste on things that don't benefit you or any other member, such as the planned indoor flying facility?
2) Do you like getting a magazine that is giving information and such that is as much as six months out of date with nothing current and costing millions of dollars a year to produce?
3) Do you routinely fly at the flying field in Muncie, using the facilities that you pay property taxes on as well as the costs to keep the facilities maintained by a full time grounds crew?
4) Do you write to, email or call the AMA's office to ask how and why they are spending money on things that make no fiscal or common sense?
If you answered YES to the first and NO to the last three questions, the AMA is playing you for a fool, taking your money and telling you what a great value you're getting when, in actuality, all you're really getting is overpriced secondary insurance that may or may not pay, depending on the claim and an out of date magazine that isn't worth the paper it's printed on

Propworn

My Feedback: (3)

Lets see I join a shooting club $200 plus a year it gives me the use of the facilities I have no say in how its run or what is being offered. No vote. Once paid the money is no longer mine to direct in any fashion. I pay a membership in NHRA again it allows me to attend and compete at NHRA events but again I have no say in what is done once my membership money is paid. Take any organization i belong to and once you pay your fees for belonging its no longer your money. Its the cost of belonging you don't get to decide where your money is to be used. You receive what ever benefits are due and that's all you are really entitled to. Obviously the majority of the AMA are satisfied with the status quo as the few of you can be easily ignored by the powers to be. I don't see your numbers growing its the same half dozen or so egged on by guys like Franklin who get your knickers in a bunch and watch to see the antics you provide for his entertainment. When things get slow he tosses you guys another bone and like a pack of hounds off you go baying at the moon again. Don't you guys ever get out and just fly for fun????

Propworn

My Feedback: (3)

He is not an AMA member as such has no right to even ask questions of an organization he has no stake in. Sniveling is the only way to describe it. No different than a nosy neighbor who thinks he has the right to interject in your family affairs.

I could ask you the same questions, Propworm.
1) Do you "give" the AMA money every year, for them to waste on things that don't benefit you or any other member, such as the planned indoor flying facility?
Nope I belong to MAAC smaller with the same problems with things like declining enrollment etc. but I do benefit greatly from my association with the AMA.
2) Do you like getting a magazine that is giving information and such that is as much as six months out of date with nothing current and costing millions of dollars a year to produce?
I do purchase the magazine when I notice it on the shelf at the local US hobby shop I go to. Our magazine is also a few months behind the times as it takes time to edit and put the magazine together. Especially when you are dependent on so many different people who must submit the articles. Many times an editor must chase down whoever is supposed to submit. The magazine is the legal communication of the organization. There are certain things such as your annual general meeting, district meeting etc that must reach each and every member and not everyone has or wants email. Your magazine is most likely the only legal way to accomplish this.
3) Do you routinely fly at the flying field in Muncie, using the facilities that you pay property taxes on as well as the costs to keep the facilities maintained by a full time grounds crew?
Not as of yet though now I just about have my truck, truck camper and trailer/toy box finalized and with a pending retirement fully intend on making Muncie for your NATS as a participant. In the mean time I have been traveling about your wonderful country flying at as many different fields as I can find.
4) Do you write to, email or call the AMA's office to ask how and why they are spending money on things that make no fiscal or common sense?
Nope but I have often emailed for information and each time have received a timely, polite reply.
If you answered YES to the first and NO to the last three questions, they AMA is playing you for a fool, taking your money and telling you what a great value you're getting when, in actuality, all you're really getting is overpriced secondary insurance that may or may not pay, depending on the claim and an out of date magazine that isn't worth the paper it's printed on

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

Drop the magazine already ! This has been said by many for the last several years and with the new info of how much money it has been loosing , cutting it should be top priority.
Another money looser is the "trade show" coming up this weekend in NY. Trade shows are nice if the company has the money to spend(waste) on them but the AMA doesn't. Again, this isn't the 60's,70's or 80's when these shows were THE way to get a company and its new products noticed.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Hydro Junkie

Okay then, we don't need to debate the issue. Some of us, here in the US, have major issues with the AMA, as you already know. The questions I asked are directly related to the failings of the AMA as seen by many of us. Unfortunately, a majority of the members don't really care about what's happening or how funds get spent since they are only members so they can fly at clubs that require an AMA membership. Those of us that do care, whether members or not, are ignored by many that are members or, worse yet, organizational officers that have their own agendas. Some have tried to contact the AMA office, only to be ignored or told the office didn't have time to assist them. I guess members are not as important as guests from north of the border in the eyes of the home office.

Hydro Junkie

Franklin's charts kind of say it all.
That said, all having more members is going to do is keep feeding the machine with funds to be wasted. The only thing that is going to change the organization is a total reorganization. As long as the structure only allows a specific group to be elected into office and that group is who accepts or rejects applications to join that group, nothing is going to change. Eliminate the leader member requirement and let anyone that wants be allowed to run for election. To take it one step further, INSTEAD of putting information about each candidate in the magazine, where they can be bashed by the editor and other incumbent officers, have anyone that wants to run for office fill out a standardized form and have all candidates forms emailed to all members so the members can see that form for themselves without any "editorial input".

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Hydro Junkie

I belong to a camping club. It has an initial fee and a $200 per year fee for campground maintenance. Since the sites are owned by the company, we get no say in what goes on or any of the decisions.
I belong to a square dance club. It's $50 per year for membership which includes insurance coverage. With that, being a non profit organization, I get a say in what goes on and what the treasury gets spent on
I belong to a scale hydroplane racing club. It's $15 per year per boat and that lets me race at any and all events that club holds as well as a say in what happens in the club. It's also non profit
I belong to NAMBA. It's $90 per year for the wife and I and that covers our insurance at the boat races and gives me a say in what's going on. Again, it's a non profit organization

Now, the question is what makes the first one different than the other three? The other three are all NON PROFIT. The camping club owns the campgrounds and, due to that ownership, they get to call the shots. In addition, the camping club IS NOT NON PROFIT, so all of their decisions are business based, not membership based.
Now, let's take another look at your memberships you listed in your post:
Your NHRA dues are paid to a FOR PROFIT organization since they want to make money and expand the sport
Your shooting club dues are paid to a privately owned For Profit company, just like my camping club
As I said in a previous post, most AMA members are only members so they can fly at clubs that require AMA membership. As far as everything else, they don't care since it doesn't directly affect them

astrohog

My Feedback: (1)

And more of a positive impact than the entire paid AMA staff...………...

Propworn

My Feedback: (3)

I only count about six or so of ya doesn't come anywhere near what any sane person would call many. Franklin at the head of a few baying sheep.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Appowner

Ah! Like when Canadians stick their noses into US business!

Actually I have every right since the actions of the AMA impact all who fly RC.

astrohog

My Feedback: (1)

Yep. About the same percentage of AMA members who vote in the AMA elections!!!

Astro

franklin_m

Meanwhile, the AMA membership revenue, total revenue, and net assets continue to decline. And despite that, the EC and "Dear Leader" continue doing what they've always done ... that's proven not to work.

Our ideas have the advantage of not being tried yet.

Appowner

The really sad thing? As a non-member I demonstrate more concern for the AMA than most members here. Or anywhere for that matter. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves.

fliers1

Those lyrics from a Joanie Mitchell song: Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
'Till it's gone They pave paradise (flying field in this case) and put up a parking lot.

fliers1

To whom it may concern: