First let me introduce myself, my name is on the thread because I have nothing to hide. I have been flying for around 17 years ago and have had the wonderful opportunity to start a club around 12 years ago. I found when I started flying that no one would help me fly and found it to be a very hard hobby to get into the loop. I also found most people were rude and not worth the title they had, I also today find it to be the same way. I started a club for one reason, to invite anyone who wanted to fly and go by the rules a healthy welcome into the hobby, and that was the sole reason for it. I now find myself kinda like the ones who I used to avoid and it bothers me and I try not to let it happen. ( we used to call them pith helmet old farts) I guess it's because of my age and lack of respect that allot of people have for the hobby.
Is the AMA needed? Is the old farts like me needed? DO you want a flying field? Do you want your field mowed? Do you want a place to fly besides the park? Most important do you want to look like the bums hanging out on the street that feel they can break any rule or thing the want? You answer it yourself! I know my answer and I know how I feel when I take my family downtown where everyone lingers in the night.
I'm not saying we are a bunch of bums, but we sure have enough trouble in this world with our hobby and really don't need to be a bunch of renegades doing our own thing! Yea cost has went up and we pay a whopping $100 a year in dues (you might pay more) so what! I pay $1000 a year to play golf and I don't like the rules there either, but I love it and will abide by them and know they are necessary. Do we need a AMA center? YEP sure do! Did your cost of insurance go up this year? Mine did, all the way around and this morning I found out my house insurance doubled this year.
Do we need new blood in the AMA? Yep probably, do you have time or the energy? I woulds love to be more involved but I bet it's a thankless job to the people who do it. Just think, how many gripes can you come up with? Come on guys were adults flying planes and enjoying life and most people hate us for it and we need a national organization weather we like it or not. If you don't like it I bet there is any one of them that would like to step down and let you have it. The only problem with that is they can't they love it to much to let it be destroyed. You think I'm nuts by saying destroyed, look at your own club. How many clubs would there be if the 3 or 4 workers (yes 2 or 4 do all the work no matter how big it is) just left and quit flying? I can probably tell you by my own past years.
New ideals, yes we need them! I was at Osh Gosh and I really was appalled at our AMA display, no new planes, nothing that really stood out and said we are great. Then after a few days I really understood why, at least I hope I understand it. How many of us would have taken the week off to be there and how many would of dropped our plane off and picked them up later. I don't want to know, but I'm sure it's easier to use what you got than going thru the trouble of imposing on someone. You know they say your as Strong as the people that support you, makes you think don't it?
AMA you go! I may not like the rules and regulations you put upon me and we may but heads but as long as I fly I will support you no matter how little it is at times. When it's time to say enough is enough thats when I'll hang up the airplanes and go play golf or fish.

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this is why I fly

I AGREE WITH MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY. OUR CLUB IS MUCH THE SAME AS ARE OTHER AREA CLUBS REGARDLESS OF THIER NATURE, R/C FLYING, MOTORCYCLE, CHURCH, CLASSIC CAR, FOR SOME REASON WE START NEW GROUPS BECAUSE WE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, OR UNWELCOME IN THE EXISTING ONES THEN SOON WE BECOME WHAT WE HAD ONCE DETESTED IN THE OTHERS. MUST BE HUMAN NATURE NOT TO WELCOME NEWCOMERS TO ESTABLISHED GROUPS.

I TOO BELIEVE WE NEED THE AMA TO SUPPORT THE HOBBY AND REGULATE AND GUIDE US. WE CAN BE INDEPENDANT TO SOME DEGREE BUT STILL NEED A PARENTING FIGURE AT THE TOP JUST AS WE NEED GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL LAWS AND LEADERS.

NEW BLOOD IS OFTEN NEEDED BUT MORE OFTEN WE NEED A LESS SELF CENTERED ATTITUDE. CONFLICT IS ALWAYS THERE NO MATTER WHO IS IN CHARGE.

I'M WITH YOU. LET'S RELAX AND ENJOY THE HOBBY WHILE WE CAN.

I believe that AMA has tried to do something proactively productive with their membership ambassador program. In essense, they are offering the membership a financial incentive to sign up new members. Last year, Dave Brown projected that there would be over 200,000 members as a result of this program. Apparently, it didn't pan out like he thought it would, as there are still only about 170,000 on the books...why?

For those who complain about the dues increase, they could've taken advantage of this program. I have signed up over 10 members this year alone, therefore, I won't have to worry about any dues increase for as long as AMA has the program. I was surprised of just how many members weren't even aware of this program, even though it on the front page of AMA's website:

http://modelaircraft.org/templates/a...C04897CE91BCB6

Tell me and I will forget.
Show me and I will remember.
Involve me and I will understand.

- Confucius

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

Its a bummer that you have had a bad experience getting help. I find most of the clubs I have been to and most of the people to be very pleasant. There are the few that think they are too good for the rest of us, but they are pretty lonely in their elite group. I have found most RCers that I have met anywhere to be great people. Hope it remains that way.

I agree with most of the coments. Our club is AMA and I think we would be in big trouble with out it. If all you joined the AMA for insurance you are not a true model supporter. They support our hobby-sport in maney ways . Insurance goes up my supplument went up $4.00 IN3 Month try to keep up with expences and make ends meet. The older men not always are the ones that take care of the field because we have more time to dedacate to this. We enjoy flying and usually fly more than others. Most of us have been AMA members as long as we have been modeling.
FLY SAFE LIVE LONG

YEAH NICK,
Your go guy, lets shut the heck up, pay up and fly.