The question today, Is the Model Aviation Hobby better off with or without the AMA .


And perhaps it would be beneficial to include our reasons why ?

I don't agree with much that the AMA has done over the years
starting with a national flying site. It's expensive and built to stay
that way. I'm sure it consumes a large amount of the annual dues .

There is however" strength in numbers "and we need a strong single focused voice to represent us.

Ok .. they got us frequencies. What have they done for us lately?

It's hard to say one way or the other if the hobby would be better or not if they didn't exist. Since there hasn't been anyother way, it's hard to say.

There then lies the rub. Meaning that if every AMA member managed to convince just one more adult to join up, that would mean that there would be 300,000 AMA members instead of the current 150,000 on the books. Imagine if everyone signed up 3 or more new members? That's what AMA had in mind when they created the Sign 3 - Fly Free membership ambassador program.
Apparently it didn't pan out like AMA wanted it to. Why?

Strength in numbers is one man's medicine and another man's poison.

Take care,
CCR
http://www.kites.org/rc_instructors

Argue for your limitations and sure enough, they are yours.

The AMA has been a valueable lobbing tool for us when it comes to dealing with the FCC and radio chanells. The one thing that I really think stinks is the National flying site issue in Muncie and the fact that the Nationals no longer move from area to area. Just my thoughts, but I think we still need tham. Thanks Dave.

When AMA will not allow other organizations to get organized and run as competition to AMA but destroy them by taking them to court there is something very rotten going on with AMA. When our hard earned dues is lost in the stock market by AMA something is very rotten with AMA. It is time for a new organization to emerge and take the place of the rotten to the core AMA.

While no bureaucracy is good. It is better than anarchy. Anarchy is what we would have without the AMA.

I believe the AMA is needed. It showcases the hobby well at Muncie. I can't say how much added revenue that site is responsible for and I doubt if it has paid for itself but I was impressed. It is an effective lobbying organization. I think they could become more proficient at handling the routine stuff like membership renewals and information request. Also, I think some of the staff has become complacent and somewhat aloft.

That is a LIE. It is FALSE.
1. AMA did not sue SFA out of business. Go check out the other thread for the real story. IT JUST DID NOT HAPPEN. IT IS A LIE.

2. AMA did NOT "lose your hard earned dues on the stock market". Another bald-faced LIE. They just did not EARN as much on the stock market as they hoped to this year. Like most of us who have investments.

So STOP spreading FALSE rumors, inuendoes, tripe, garbage, strewth, etcetera. It's the internet at it's ugliest.
And you call yourself a "moderator".

If you don't like the above, then I challenge you to PROVE your nasty, nasty allegations about the AMA above. PROVE IT. Or stop saying it.

IMHO AMA is a very good and almost necessary part of our hobby. Just try to go out and buy adequate insurance on your own, I doubt that many of you could afford it. The magazine is also a very good thing, it does serve to keep all abreast of what is going on if you take the time to read all of it. As to the central spot for the organization at Muncie; I say great. With modern day transportation and comunication, it would be unwise to try to schedule activities throughout the country. A central organization is much less expensive and better maintained. I tend to agree with Easytiger above, check your facts before lambasting the AMA.

It is my understanding that the AMA did not lose money but merely made less this past year...

I will not argue with you Easytiger about the Rotten to the core AMA, your mind is made up and no amount of facts will change our opinions about the worthless AMA.

where would our hobby be without AMA?

But ... can we get more bang for our buck ... I would think so ...

Instead of a national flying site ... why not help local clubs buy a plot of land so that we can fly at a site without fear of losing the field to environmentals ... flying site are harder to locate and establish and the fields that do exist are always indanger it seems ... some clubs are more expensive than others to join ...

the hobbie is too expensive for most younger newcomers ... and thus new growth into the hobbie is minimal ...

it is important to get more kids into the hobbie and even more inportant to locate and maintain places to fly ... especially in the California Bay Area!

we have probably the most people with the least places to fly at ...

it makes me think that slow park fling electrics is all that will be left in the future until some liberal left wing wacko finds a lawyer to condemn those too, saying they provide a danger to some mesquito ... stating the frequnecy of the electric motor causes stress to the reproduction of the species and will cause it to go exstict ... meaning that the arabs will have to find a new way to deliver the west nile virus ....

Stranger things have happened ....

"Instead of a national flying site ... why not help local clubs buy a plot of land so that we can fly at a site without fear of losing the field to environmentals ... flying site are harder to locate and establish and the fields that do exist are always indanger it seems ... some clubs are more expensive than others to join ... "

Excellent idea! It's already in place! The Flying Site Assitance program is there on the website, and will cosign on loans for clubs that meet the right criteria.
There has been talk bandied about for some years about getting some more National flying sites, but I would guess that what with the current economic and insurance environment, those kind of ambitious ideas must have been put on the back burner for the moment...
Ever been to Muncie? It's great, worth the trip. It's nice to know that if the worst-case scenarios come to pass, we will always have at least ONE place to fly!

I received a response from Dave Brown a bit ago in response to an e-mail I sent him. It surprised me for several reasons. 1) I finally got a response. 2) The answer he provided to a tough question was amazing. 3) Dave answered much more than I asked - I think he was frustrated and was somewhat venting to me about the crap in general he has to put up with.

After years of not really being sure of the intentions of our elected officials, Dave Brown in particular, I now say that I believe that the guy is trying to do the right thing. I used to be a club president, so I know how difficult is it to please every member in the club - consider how Dave feels trying to please 150,000+ members. No matter what you do, someone is sure to criticize you.

The problem as I see it that DB has to contend with is that AMA does lots of good stuff for the hobby and the membership in general. But, why go out of your way to make it public knowledge so to speak - you will get hammered by those that don't agree. 149,999 members might like what you did, but that 1 remaining SOB can make your life miserable.

It is real easy to criticize and tell someone how they should do such and such - it is another thing to actually have all the facts available and try to make the right decision, in spite of all the criticism you will surely get.

I do beleive that AMA needs to communicate the success stories that they have achieved - like frequencies as mentioned above.

Dan

Outstanding, Dan. Great post. I have met DB several times, and he is a very bright guy, very hard-working, and a lifetime modeller. Knows his modelling stuff inside out. Great pilot, too.
Like you, I had my doubts about AMA, until I took a trip out to Muncie and saw it all for myself. Went to an EC Meeting, met the entire staff and all the Veeps, and I was convinced that they are on the right track, and mean nothing but good for all of us. Really. And nobody is getting rich working for the AMA, that's for sure.

While I have flown at the AMA HQ, visited the old and new building, and joined AMA in the 70's when they were in DC following a trip and talk concerning RC modeling, I think that an organization that expands and educates the public in a positive light is needed. I just wish that I had remained in the hobby when I first joined. Because I could not find someone to take the time to teach me, I became disenchanted and quit.

RCPilot100
Man, you hit the nail hard with a big hammer!!
Most of us look for the worst in things that happen in our world and over look all of the good things, which outnumber the bad by a vast margin.
If we did not have the AMA we would also not be on the field flying. Fields and equipment would not exist. They grew because of the AMA and it's representation. As a result the demand for better equipment and help with obtaining flying fields when possible
GEF

Wow -
I for one do not believe the AMA is "rotten to the core".
We need the AMA. PERIOD. Until someone else figures out a totally better mouse trap, fly right and try to improve the one we got.

Couple good points above...

AMA is needed.

YOu cannot make everyone happy. I know this one right here from RCU...14,000+ members and every decision I make never makes them all happy.

Dave Brown who I've met seems like a very nice guy. My gut feeling is he's trying to run things as best as he can.

With all that said I still only have the small issues of full disclosure of their books for those who want to see them. Option of not receiving the magazine and getting it online to cut annual fee to those who wish to do so (it used to be this way remember and it was done away with). Last there are some things coming that I wholeheartedly do not agree with the AMA engaging in but cannot discuss at this time.

Easytiger - just curious and please don't take this the wrong way but do you know what the breakout of insurance premiums and magazine printing/mailing cost is as a part of the $58 premium? You seem to claim to know more of the facts on the AMA than the guys here so that is why I'm asking you.

I would like to hear about this as well.


Doug

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RCadmin
[B]Couple good points above...

AMA is needed.

You cannot make everyone happy. I know this one right here from RCU...14,000+ members and every decision I make never makes them all happy.


Marc,

I think you are doing a great job here- and if there is anyone that does not like it here-they can ALWAYS go somewere else.....


Jackjet

Thanks

First let me state that I am a Member of the AMA. Why, it is the only game in town. I also use Bill Gates windows in my computer and for the same reason it is the only game in town that will work on my PC.
And now, about the AMA magazine. The AMA bylaws state that a report must be made to the members, it does not state how often to make this report or that the report has to be in the form of a magazine. The bylaws also state that the magazine can be put out monthly by order of the EC .

One poster wanted to know if the AMA helps with the cost of going to the Worlds. I can only say that when I when to help some friends that the AMA did not help. Now this was back in the 60s so I do not know if this has changed.

SDY

I can understand the AMA because of the insurance but what the heck is the IMAA card for? I like the AMA mag but from what I hear the IMAA mag is black and white and only 4 per year.............John