.....if a New Organization was developed by Airplane Modelers that offered a better more simplified alternative to AMA, would you join this organization if they could offer Flying Site assistance and Insurance? Dues would have to be the same or lower. I know attempts have been made on a smaller scale, but is this something that needs tried again and again until it sticks? Lets also say that this organization only sends out Monthly newsletters instead of a Full Magazine. Lets also say that each Club elects a Club President who will work in conjuntion with other elected Club Presidents around the country to set policy for this new organization(This way every Club has an equal say) This idea works much on the same principle why each State has two senators. That way small States with small populations get as much reprensentation in the Senate as the larger highly populated States. What if this Organization was truly ran by the Clubs and for the Clubs? Would you join, or would you prefer to see the current organization we have fixed, if you indeed believe it is broke. If you think the current organization is just fine the way it is, then not much of this will interest you, and even the fact that a question like this is brought up may make you mad. I am not writting this because I have an opinion one way or the other. I am just curious to what Members would do if such an alternative existed.

gimmie a 10-15 year track history, and then we can talk about my joining.

Yeah, I'll join and suport it if the cost isn't too high. Not that I'll commit to active participatation up front. I never joined SFA and participated in that org, but I do well remember that AMA was a better organization from the member's perspective when there was some viable competition.

Abel

The same was true for UMA even if they were a lot more 'member friendly'. Too bad they went under financially. I always thought AMA having a bona fide competitor would make for a better AMA in the long run. Maybe one day we'll have another chance to find out.

If they had better policies in place than AMA and there were flying
sites where i could fly as a non AMA member yes i would join.

I think the largest holdback on other Organizations starting up is that
the AMA is monopoly you cant fly at 98% of the club sites in the U.S.
unless you are an AMA member.

The world of Model Airplanes, in the USA, is too small to divide among several organizations. We need a unitified front for us when we are represented to the Government entities, I.E. the FCC and FAA. We need one organization with large numbers versas multiple organizations with small numbers.

we cant get three people on here to have a civil discussion without name calling ect. AMA is doing the best it can. Faults are found at the club level when newbies are given the cold shoulder when they show up with there strykers.
Nevermind if treated well they would work up to more complex aircraft. There are idiots out there who are dangerous with a balsa glider! Its a very complex problem

I would suport both...Unless they started sending me DVD's..

Gary

I was a member of SFA and had no choice but to go AMA when they folded. I would like a choice, who would not? Either way someone's going to P--- and Moan. I still belive the problems were having with the AMA start at the top. -Mike

I was also a member of the SFA and would join a new org if they offered insurance (currently - I purchase my own umbrella liability policy. Yes it costs more but it also covers my whole family doing whatever. I won't join the AMA unless have to). Personally, I would prefer that they use electronic communications (email, websites, etc.) to the members - much cheaper that way.

If anyone ever starts this, they should be prepared for strong and continued legal action as well as direct and indirect attacks from the AMA. They don't like competition.

I've always felt AMA 'got better' when UMA was around.....

Jerry

I think the AMA should drop the magazine or make it optional. I feel the current dues are to high. I don't see any value in the AMA as my homeowners insurance will cover me. Besides, the AMA insurance doesn't kick in until your insurance has been used up. Like a lot of members, the only reason I joined is because my club requires it.
Sam

I wish the AMA would spin off or split the modeling aspect of the sport from the insurance aspect. Of course if they ever did that I could see AMA loosing a great deal of it's attraction and power it has now. Think the AMA could afford a Muncie style facility if they didn't collect for the insurance part of it?

Depending on how it is set up, I would likely support it....yum...beer...

However, I would continue to support the AMA also.

Can I vote again so I can voice my preference for free BEER????????????????

Jerry

Based on the first post, I read nothing to attract me to the new organization.

It was just a general idea, and there are many other things could have been added. Since you are an electric man, I should have added that this would be an all inclusive Club that would devote equal time, and dedication to all types of Flying, and Aircraft. This new Organization would have to treat everyone equal whether you are flying a turbine jet, or a GWS Pico Moth. A new organization should try to open up peoples minds to all types of Flying. Some that get overlooked today IMO are Free Flight/ Rubber Power, Control Line, and yes even the Parkflyer crowd get looked down upon by many IMO. An Organization devoted to the hobby should embrace all types and devote all its resources to equally promote all types, and not just a few.

Dan,
I agree.
Modelers need a unified front.
I would like to say that I joined AMA in the early '80s and then left the hobby for various non-AMA related reasons.
Now, nearly 20 years later it seems folks have the same complaints about AMA.
For the life of me I can't understand why.
I mean how do they harm the everyday modeler.
Sure, there are other organizations they could try to emulate...like EAA.
Check their facilities, activities, mags and dues structure sometime!
But, AMA is the only game in town.
People don't understand insurance liability issues so when they show someone "look, we have insurance coverage" that's as far as they look. Doesn't matter what the real value of the coverage is.
I enjoy the magazine and appreciate all those that have gone before to make the hobby what it is today.
JLK

I joined the AMA for one reason. No not for insurance I could care less about that. No not to be part of a group, we have our own here and we know how to have fun. Not for any other reason but to go to the "club " fields here in Northern Nevada, and they can't run me off like it or not. It's too funny to watch them get all peeved because you aren't "one of them" and you put your AMA card up on the board and go have fun. Here's the problem with the Oragnization we have, or any new one to come along. There are certain...( attention to those of you who read what you want to read)....NOT ALL CLUBS, but a growing number of them, that have no intentions of fixing, bringing in new people, growing the hobby, etc, they are the main factor in many of the problems. Who wants to go to a field with a 4 to 6 hundred dollar investment just to have Joe Bob holding the switch down while he's talking to Jim Bob not even paying attention to the person learning while their airplane eats dirt? It's all too common. I've seen it. I'm talking about "certified instructors". How does that grow the AMA? I thought clubs were to help bring people in and provide a safe place to fly. Not the case in most cases now days. ( refer to above if yer gettin upset.....SOME NOT ALL) Politics has taken hold of the AMA and numerous clubs worldwide. Since when was R/C not a hobby to enjoy and have fun. Those clubs who are like the ones described need to remember this is a hobby, and not eveyone does it. It's not a coffee break/ morning social while someone new is trying to learn and get involved. Want to learn to fly around here? Better find the field that isn't involved with any one of the clubs. Now that is sad. So, what difference does it make what organization it is if the same problems will continue with all the same type of people?

The AMA is good enough.

It just needs to realize that land is becoming very expensive around this country. And the AMA needs to lobby for our sport's fair share of park money before the land is all gone. Laws have been written that actually prohibit single use sites for park money. And we all know we can't share our fileds with picnic'ers and kids playing softball. Look at how much land has been set aside for other activities. Oh, sure we get to fly on EPA super fund sites. Gee thanks. But some of us would like to have kids some day. Kids with two eyes and two ears, a nose, and NO FLIPPERS.

Ama has to big of a hold... Another Org will never be able to compete!!!!! I think that a little choice/competition would be good for the hobby and hopefully keep some of the costs/dues and where the money is spent in check!!! As it is now, the Ama knows that in order to fly at a majority of fields and/or compete in events you have to have their insurance or the clubs will be in danger of loosing their charter. That gives them a big advantange and puts them into the position of being able to tell you what they are going to do, less accountablility for where they spend the money, raise dues whenever etc... What other choice do you have if you want to fly?

What was that about the free beer?!?!?

AMA is ok, but seriously needs some work to make it better. Competition would (hopefully) add a little pressure to improve what we have, and it's always nice to have a choice. Realistically, that's what we got for now, why not chip in and help make it better?


Ah, but it is! That's where my friends are! No way I would let a student plow a perfectly good airplane into the dirt because I'm chatting... I hope(and usually believe) others understand that sometimes(like while flying) is not the right time to B.S..... that can be before or after flight(s), especially instruction flights. When someone new shows up at the field, they are by default included in whatever chatter is going on, we're generally very friendly and not exclusive at all.

What is the matter with the AMA that you felt you had to post this? It is not up to the AMA to increase interest in the hobby. It's up to you and me. I am the Field Marshal at our club, and one of the flight instructors and one of the greeters when a new face shows up and one of the raffle guys at the meeting, and one the other board members know they can turn to when volunteers are needed to represent the club at mall shows, appearances, or any function when the club needs a face in the community.

Who here can raise their hand and say honestly that they take an active hand in making this hobby better everytime the call goes out for volunteers? Or, are you one of the ones who complain that you're not made to feel welcomed (here's a tissue), or you're too busy, or you can't give up a flying day? A club is more than a flying field. It is a group of hobbyists who enjoy the same activity and band together to create a place to practice the hobby of flying radio controlled models.

At meetings, we, like all others have members who speak up that "the club" should do this, or "the club" should do that. Of course, if you ask them to spearhead their idea, they're too busy, can't, won't, don't know how. They are also the first ones to complain that the people who run the club don't care about them, or are a bunch of old farts living in the past. Usually, the people who are in power are in power because no one else will volunteer to help out!

What are YOU doing to bring in new members? Have YOU helped anyone get started? What is the AMA doing? What is the Club doing? What are YOU doing?

Same old thing. Blah, blah blah. Talk is cheap. Put your money where your mouth is. Me, me, me. Want to make the AMA better? How about you start by making your club better and then work your way up to the AMA. /rant.

Daren

What is the matter with Standard Oil that you felt you had to fill up at the UnoCal station instead?
The poster that raised the question clearly did not suggest any interest in an alternative to model aviation, but rather asked about support for an alternative to AMA. Your rant is entirely about support or lack thereof for for model aviation, not AMA. His is a legitimate question. AMA's prime directive is to promote model aviation, yet AMA is not growing, nor does it appear the organized club segment of the hobby which they have the most influence over is prospering. At the same time model aviation as a whole is growing. It's hard to ignore the fact that where it is growing is outside the sphere of influence of AMA.

Your personal efforts to promote model aviation are laudable, but what does that have to do with AMA, or another organization or no organization at all?

Abel

Whichever gas station I use makes no difference to me. I am not posting here saying we should search out other venues to serve our fossil fuel needs because the present one isn't selling my brand.

My point was that the AMA, like a club are the people who make up the organization. To say it is the AMA's responsibility to promote modeling is a convienent way of saying, "It's not my job." The AMA stands for Association of Modeling Aeronautics. An association, by definition is a group of like minded individuals.

I suggest rather than say it's not my job, we personalize the modeling growth and take responsiblity for bringing one new person each to the joys of modeling. If each member of said association did that, then the membership would double, would it not?

Were you introduced to modeling by the AMA or a friend?

Daren