Granted, one may well be puzzled concerning the worth of the promise if said promise could be evidenced to be no better than that one's grammatical composition.

See Liberator, what Horace was so slyly pointing out is the improper use of your/you're.

"Horace your a jackass" is incorrect. "Horace you're a jackass" is acceptable and I am sure we can all agree.

Thanks BB. I don't need a wheel chair. Just a waitress from Vegas. Can you work that out? I'll take car of Red if he dares to show up.

Sorry, BB-

"Horace you're a jackass" is not acceptable. "Horrace you're a jackass" is.

Abel

Mr. Brown responded much more politely without name calling. If this is the proposed change to an organization I am a proud member of that you offer sir, name calling and secret codes, I pass[sm=thumbdown.gif]. Consider this high road taken, point vicman, poor form person from that big state.

Abel,
I stand corrected. From now on it's "Horrace you're a jackass".

Is it acceptable to use HorseAss?

Naw, I just wanted to make sure your ballot for AMA EVP didn't get DSQ'd because of the technicality that you didn't correctly ID the candidate you were voting for.

Abel

That was MY vote not Richard's! I encourage the rest of those visiting this thread to second my vote with a similar demonstration against this paronoid inadividual who thinks he will sway the AMA's influence to a negative minded, name calling, conspirancy oriented person who belives it is HIS personal right as a feild owner and loudmouth to persuade others to his personal opinions.

One more pic of a ballot is all it will take to visualise the person from that big state's defeat and a blow against a highly vocal minority vs, a strong, quiet minority.

Follow-up you quiet guys! Quiet the big mouths now![>:]

I've been an AMA member long enough to recall Mr. Cain's previous attempts at imposing his "talents" on the organization. I can only say that it doesn't sound like he has been able to improve dealings with his demons.

As my old West Virginia buddy used to say, "thank God my wife quit smoking smoking cigars" (that was a joke). Is it possible that Mr. Cain smokes something else (that would not be a joke)?

Well, you know the old saying, "everything is bigger in Texas"... in Hoss' case it seems be ego's and mouth's.

This thread is going better than I expected. While I thought there may be a few with the ability to discuss the topic questions, I gather they are doing their thinking on their own, don't give a small rodent's posterior, and/or too timid to enter the fray.

Still, I like the numbers. Some 700 views, with only 11 individuals posting some 30 dissents, which amounts to less than a half of one percent vocal opposition. Right now good ol' Bush would love those odds.

While RCU's "hits" do not measure the actual individuals viewing a thread, the numbers do represent that the dissenting posters are definitely a minority group. Hey, you minority people, you just might qualify for some kind of government handout.

Too bad there are so few of you. Your numbers don't suggest any immediate stock-rise in the crying-towel industry.

One of the minority here.
I just read through the 2 pages of posts. Now this is my opinion, and yes I understand, just like noses, everyone has one. But please bare with me.
If this is the the type of people who want to be the leadership of the AMA, I'm to say the least, a little concerned. I've read many of the other AMA forums, and maybe it's just me, but, they all seem to be the same. Starts out with a question or statement, then around 5 posts later it goes into the same old name calling and insulting that this one has gone to. Do you gentlemen realize what this looks like to someone on the outside looking in. Granted I believe many of you know each other, so some of it is in jest. But step back and take a look at this forum. Look at it through the eyes of someone who's thinking about joining the AMA. Is this the type of representation you want to show to the potential members who are investigating joining the AMA.

As I said, I'm one of the minority, I have yet to join. And quite honestly I can't see why I would want to, if this is how the rest of the AMA is.

I would really like to hear back from all of you. I'm not trying to provoke anyone, I'm just looking for honest answers to my questions.
Is this how the rest of the AMA operates?
Why should I belong to the AMA?
Thank you
Brad

Ok Horsefly,
I squinted at your post and tried to see what you see and all that popped up was your signature. It looked like "Anal at 93". Is that about right?

Glacier Girl. You about summed up what I think is a valid question. Although I did join I did let my limited membership lapse. I found no value in the AMA. Some/most would have you believe that the AMA lobbies for you. It is absolutely, positively illegal for a 501 (C) (3) group that the AMA is to lobby anyone at any time anywhere. It is also said that the AMA secures flying fields. I would like to know what field that the AMA went out, found and secured all on their own excluding their personal flying field in Muncie. And, even if the AMA could lobby, a group of well under 200,000 has no real power anyway.
Brad. Right on target. Thanks for your post.
Lou

Well Brad, you may have no reason to join the AMA unless of course you have an interest in model aircraft in which case there are many reasons.

This thread is about one individual who wants to be in the leadership of AMA and the rest of us are pointing out why he shouldn't be (with a lot of help from him btw). He also seems to think that some negatives and a lot of no responses equal a favorable overall view of himself, rather delusional I'd say.

So someone looking in to this forum or any other should have their B.S. filter turned way up high and take it for what it is. People just doing what people do on the Internet, not some official AMA website with any responsibility to represent the AMA. The few that post here don't even represent the membership as a whole since most don't even care about the goings on at AMA and just want to fly.

Good on BB

Lou,
As for the AMA securing fields you are only partly correct. While they may not be the ones who start the process without flying site insurance coverage there would be far fewer places to fly. Even a public field such as the Basin is only available for sanctioned events because of AMA insurance held by the local clubs.

While they may not be a lobby group they have in the past helped work out frequency sharing policy with the FCC and have been active in recent issues.

Basin,
I know. I was baiting. Me thinketh I should apoligize for starting something that should have been left alone.

The squinting part stands as it was fer real man.

....and people wonder why only a small # of ballots are actually returned.

BasinBum,
Thank you for the response.
Ok I do fly, granted not multi thousand dollar jets , but my toys do have in excess of a thousand dollars in some of them.
Yes I am a part time park flyer, and yes I have my own private field for the bigger stuff.
I own aprox 225 acres of ground in the middle of nowhere.
Tell me.......why do I need the AMA? And I mean this in a good way, I honestly don't know what the AMA would do for me. Help me out here. Why did you join? Is it worth what you pay?

And again I ask, even though you and Lou answered part of it. The gentleman,Horrace, I believe is his name, is running for office. Is this the type of person who rules at the AMA?
Maybe I'm wrong, and it won't be the first time, but isn't a leader supposed to lead, not abuse the members of his group? Granted, he was not alone in the verbal abuse going on, but shouldn't someone who want's to lead, be able to take the abuse, and diplomaticly answer?
I don't know as I've never been a member, maybe it's always been this way.
Again It's just the way I see it looking in from the outside.
Thanks again for taking the time to read this.

Brad,
There is probably no tangible easily explained reason for you to join AMA. I enter events that require me to be a member as well as belong to a club that requires membership in AMA but, I like to think that my membership supports a hobby that I have been involved in for a long time and plan on continued involvement.

Most people would say to join because of the insurance. I have come to find that from a personal standpoint the insurance isn't so great. If you fly on your own property, have homeowners and a decent health plan than AMA insurance is no big deal to you.

Some say to join for the magazine. If you don't participate in competition there are better magazines out there. These days magazines are not even as good as RCU so there goes that reason.

There isn't a reason I can give, that will mean a definate advantage if you join. It would be great if AMA members got 10% off at Tower, that would be a concrete reason to join that people could relate to. The sad fact is there are only intangable reasons to join, they are the only group out there that has my best interestsas a modeler as thier agenda.

As for Horace.....
I like to give him a hard time because he is such an old blowhard. He doesn't represent the leadership of AMA in any way shape or form, they are all to smart to get into pissing contests on RCU. They are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but there are a bunch of people willing to do the work that I'm not interested in and if $58 a year keeps them in business than count me in.

Usually I'm not so hard on him but after he attacked me for my "holy grail" comment I just opened up and let fire. Say what you want about me but leave the dog out of it. Turns out it made his week because he certainly seems to enjoy all the attention whether it's good or bad. Of the people who post on here so far I think the dog has more votes anyway.

It's a shame that you young guys can't see the good in AMA. I have been a member of both this organization and my home club now for 64 consecutive years. All of the good things that happened to me in my lifetime regarding model airplanes, and all of the opportunities that I have had building and flying them, was only made possible as an AMA member.

Sometime ago, in another thread on this same subject, I listed all the reasons why AMA is near and dear to me. You won't find me bashing the AMA in any fashion You won't find me bashing the AMA at any time.

To answer the question of AMA directors, I know a few of them, and they are all good people. Don't let one or two sour apples in this forum spoil your views of the AMA. They have done a lot of good over the course of my lifetime, and I hope it continues so that you "younguns" can review your thinking 50/60 years from now.

Our home club was organized in 1935 - the AMA was organized in 1936. For 70 years, we have always been a club, and I now believe that we are the oldest club in the USA. No way to prove that, but if anyone knows of an older club, please identify.

BasinBum & Jim Messer,
To both of you, I appreciate your honesty. And taking the time to answer me.
Ok so no 100% solid reason for joining, you've explained about the insurance and such, which was one of my questions. Same with the Mag. I think we all over load on the Mags. And yes I see the need of it for flying in AMA sponsored events. But if I understand correctly, being a member does not actually qualify you as a flyer. Am I correct in understanding that just by being a member, I could go to almost any AMA event and fly, no matter what my experience?
Hopefully there is some marshaling of the the folks who sign up to fly. Or is this something that is handled by the Club putting on the event? Is there no qualifying of a flyer to become a member? Not a give us your money and bang your in, is it?
Sorry but the more answers I get the more questions I seem to come up with.

Jim, God bless you for being in the hobby so long.
Me I've only been flying for roughly 30 yrs., and I still consider myself a mediocre flyer.
Since you've been around so long, I'd like to ask you something.
From my view point this hobby has really changed is say the last 5 years. 5 years ago there really were no park flyers, foamies, and electrics for that matter. This segment of the hobby has exploded. It seems to me this is the new generation of flyers. From what I've gotten off of reading a lot of forums, is that the gas crowd and builders seem to really look down on this part of the hobby. I would think the AMA and clubs should be jumping all over the latest generation of flyers, getting them involved, teaching them safety( which from my experience is very much lacking in the new generation) And so my question(s).
Why are the new generation of flyers beeing bashed instead of imbraced ?
Is it fear on the part of the older flyers? It's something new so it can't be any good?
Did you run into the same when the first gas then glow made the scene?
To me it seems these kids, so to say, are the future, and if the AMA and such don't try and include them, they will go on and the AMA will eventually die or become swallowed by the kids.
Thanks again for considering this, and I do appreciate your responses.
Brad

p.s. and to the other's I'd love to hear form you too. And I apologize for going off the forum subject.

Jim,
I am an infant in the AMA compared to you. However like you I am a proud, card carrying, sticker sticking, dues paying, and magazine reading member. I have gotten way more from this AMA than I did from the motorcycle one. I get more from AMA than I did all my SCCA or NASCAR memberships. Therefore I am also of the same mind as my freind from the left coast "if $58 keeps them on the job" then thats ok by me. Shoot I drink that in a good week of building[>:].
GG, Sadly I may feel the same as you if I were in the same sitch, but the support of everyone involved in this hobby keeps some semblance of order and unity. The person from the big state is NOT an example of what the people I have come in contact with at AMA. My district VP is also a clubmate whose ear I have anytime I need. My questions directly to the top in AMA have yeilded concise and polite answers even when I may have come across in a confrontational tone. My experience with AMA has been 100% positive and professional. Very different to what the guy from the big state has demonstrated, hence my ballot.
BB, Tower discounts[X(]? Right on MAN! I knew there was a reason I didn't shop there too much anymore the LHS has helped me the last few years in the sign three fly free program.

I use it for my 6yr old son.

Jim Messer,
Something else I just thought of. You are the history of this hobby. What we call a "been there,done that" kinda guy.
Not including the new group of flyers means they don't get the chance to learn from the experienced flyers like you. They have no idea what goes into a stick and tissue bird, hand building off a plan, with a pile of balsa. They only know what comes in a box.
Where is this going to leave the hobby, when guys like you are gone?
They don't understand the joys of building, they for the most part don't understand why a bird flies. They're given a plane that some Co. built and they learn to fly it. And that's it, until the next box bird comes along. Hand one of them a set of Nick Ziroli plans and see what happens.
You and folks just like you are a treasure that could be lost. The "Newbies" don't understand it so why should they imbrace it. I guess it's kinda like the AMA not imbracing the new generation of flyers. Both of them are going to loose.

Of the 7 birds I have ready to fly only one is an arf (again the one my 6yr old son flies) and 3 of them are built from plans while the other 3 are kits I put togeather. I have only been in this hobby for 6 years, no coincidence with the boy, yet I feel like I have embraced as many facets as possible. We are event thinking about a little CL next summer. Maybe I am just a curve breaker but judging by age, location, etc is always a bad policy.

Back to the issue at hand the paranoind, code seeking, negative minded and boistrous ones are those AMA could do without. We aren't trying to change the world, were just people who like fly small planes.[sm=confused.gif]