I have been out of the hobby for about 10 years. I have recently started again, and was looking to get a new AMA membership. Well, I have found that there is A LOT of dissatisfaction with the AMA as of late. I have read quite a few posts here and elsewhere concerning the AMA.

I have one question:

Why is the AMA such a controversial entity?



I'm simply looking for a short, objective explanation.

Thanks!

good, bad, or ugly, ifn yer the "only" game in town, folks will either love ya or hate ya, and the haters usually outnumber the lovers.
take it all with some salt, and do what ya feel is right.

People have to whine about something.

No way, it's the haters do most the whining. There is nothing wrong with the AMA, some people just depend much too hard on them to run the "socialistic government" of RC when it's not their job, only to set the guidelines. Also remember the AMA is a not for profit organiazation, not Microsoft, and they always seem to be in or close to the red each year and only can do so much with so little.

The AMA could prolly use some young entrepreneurial minds in their organization, but those minds don't come cheap and they use the best they can afford.

Hate is a pretty strong word. I wish we had a choice. I really have no use for them but since my club requires the card to fly I have no other option. I guess I just thing that the AMA is outta touch with the membership. I once email Sank Frank about my concerns and I felt like I got the brush off. He did mention that he was once at our field for some races once. Turns out he was at the field on the other side of town. I also feel the magazine should support itself instead of using our money to support it. I don't hate them but I do wish they would take a good hard look at themselves and how they do things. I guees it could be worst.

I'm sorry that you stumbled on this forum. What you may have interpreted as "hate" really isn't as much. The AMA is always mismanaging our dues and does stuff that we don't support. We all tend to vent our frustrations with the AMA here. I don't actually hate the AMA. In fact, I think that the AMA does more good than bad. If you look through this forum, you won't see how great the AMA is as people tend to use it to allert other members of how the AMA is screwing you, ask what the AMA should do(then turnin into a shootin match about something else) or, running for AMA office. The last one is a very valid as little of the AMA leadership cares about the membership.


50%

Because it's a bureaucracy that is frequently unresponsive to the needs of the members it is supposed to serve.

Its effective monopoly means that there is no competitor to stir the AMA to improve to the point where most of the current membership would actually WANT to join the AMA - instead the vast majority joined simply because they are told by their local club that they MUST join the AMA if they want to use the club facilities.

Gordon

The one point that seems to not get much coverage in discussions like these is that the
AMA must provide for a very broad constituancy. The membership ranges form mini indoor
fliers, through control line, combat, scale, pylon, old timers, RC, etc... We here just focus
on RC and it is natural that we would like the officers and their bureaucracy to focus just
on our area of the sport - but that can't happen. They have a responsibility to the entire
membership.

Given what they have to work with, and the lack of participation and involvement by the
bulk of the membership, I think they do a great job.

Simply said, many feel the AMA is very out of touch with Joe Blow modeler, the average sport pilot, which makes up most of their membership. Also, the AMA seems, like most large bureaucracies, to make policy decisions that affect the membership without first asking said membership. "Taxation without representation."

A prime example is the "NATS". The AMA pours countless man hours and dollars into this giant Fun-Fly in which about one tenth of one percent of the membership compete.

Dr.1

What a load of crap. When was the last time you saw a post that titled "the AMA would not cover the insurance they were supposed too" or "the AMA did not deliever my magazine on time". I mean what else do you expect from the AMA, you pay $60 for 2M limited liability. Heck just one small business I own I pay over $20k a year for the same insurance you get for $60. I mean they are not a governing body of our hobby, they are an insurance company, magazine publisher, guideline maker, and a liason to certain political organizations like the FAA. I mean you guys just depend way too much on them.

If you want to create your own SIG that has nothing to do with AMA, it's allowed.

The obvious response to those expressing a negative view of the current
AMA leadership as expressed here is " to get involved". The AMA is
a "club". The past and current officers are not making money at this. If you
don't like it, then participate. If you don't participate, then you get whatever
comes your way....

this type of computer forum is new. there have always been some who were dissatisfied with the AMA. this forum gives them a common place to exprees their feelings. so you see the posts here. this is a good thing- to see the open discussion here. but keep in mind how many posts you see compared to how many fly rc. perfection is hard to come by.

ed

Well i must represent the one tenth of one percent. Seeing as i have flown in the Nats. The AMA will do what you the voting public wants. if you don't like it when they send you the voting ballot. Yoy might try voting. And let's see Joe Blow the modeler. 60% of the club members of the two clubs i fly at don't fly at all. another 20% of the modelers could split a gallon of fuel between them. Which leaves the remaining 20% that fly. So your numbers may be correct. But the honest truth is Joe Blow the modeler does'nt fly he just belongs to clubs to make rules. Two it cost me 90.00 to enter the Nats. also i get to work a half day in addition to spending the 90.00. So maybe you should think before you type. Oh yea have a nice day.

Dennis

If it was this easy to communicate 10 years ago, I'll bet you would have seen just as much dissatisfaction & controversy. Just consider the AMA membership part of your annual dues if you want to fly where it is required. If you don't have liability protection on something such as a Homeowners insurance policy, join the AMA regardless of where you fly. You don't want to pay to defend a liability claim.

AMA is not now, nor has it ever been, controversial.

What you've been reading are posts made by people who wish to provoke controversy, nothing more.

As a foreigner and a long time member (my AMA # is 6808) I can see a lot of good things in having an organization like the AMA.
Of course we could always improve the way it is managed and run, but, for this we need member's participation.

For what I saw in the last elections, most of the membership doesn't care much for what is going on.
For the last couple of year, most of the discussion here was about the District V. Since the new VP was elected and is doing a great job, as expect, weeks pass without any real important matter being discussed.

Interesting. :/

Amen!
RVM; Keep in mind that this forum is a magnet for cronic malcontents who delight in AMA bashing.

d_bodary,

I'm glad you participate in the NATS, really I am. However, I take exception to your assumption that I don't vote. I assure you, I do. That is, I vote when I'm informed of an issue before the membership-at-large or the EC. The EC has a reputation of enacting motions before the DVPs ask their constituents how they feel.

I also take your figures of who flies and how much to task. I believe most average modelers fly much more than you assume (again) they do. The 5 clubs I've belonged to in my R/C lifespan (25+ years) have all had active memberships. Two of the clubs buy fuel in 55 gallon drums to resell to club members. You can't make money on that venture unless the members fly a lot. And remember, the R/Cer who doesn't fly much (or even not at all) is just as much a member as those who do. They may be support personnel for a flying member, or may just enjoy the camaraderie that R/C provides. The bottom line is, they pay dues and have a voice, just like you do.

I admit many do not vote in the announced elections. Perhaps they don't care, or perhaps they feel their vote will not really make a difference, based on past results.

Troublemaker? No, just a R/Cer who believes that a squeaking wheel does eventually get greased.

Dr.1

By simply discounting all controversial posts one can claim there is no controversy?
The classic 'One Party Political System' will alway have unanimous elections, nice way to apply that here to posts.

Attitudes like that add to people not loving the AMA. People shouldn't think that just because they don't love the ama they can be summarily discounted to maintain a 100% Happiness level. Or does my post not exist in the Everyone Loves AMA world?

RVM-
May not be short or objective, but just an example of why there is a Pro & Con situation regarding AMA

WHAT IS AMA ?

Got a "C" in Reading Comprehension 101, didja ?

I said AMA is not controversial.

I did NOT say there are no controversial POSTS.

The difference is not unfathomable.

If you have a recommendation for improving the way AMA goes about promoting and perserving model aviation, make it. You never know whether some AMA gomer might be lurking around.

The only reason we have unanimous elections is because no one wants to try and unseat the incumbent, and too few members comprehend "Write In".

Your golden opportunity to have AMA the way you want it will arrive this Fall because your District Vice President is retiring from his long years of service to AMA.

Get off yer duff, get on the ballot, win the election, and go tell the good ol' boys in Muncie how things are gonna be done.

I'd wish you good luck except that I'm betting you just keep bleating from the middle of the flock where it's safe and comfy.

What makes the AMA cotroversial is the fact they have to much control over the
hobby. you have to join the AMA to fly at 98% of the flying sites in the U.S.
yet your insurance if you have any will be primary if you a accdent that involves
your model. I would say 75% of the members pay there dues and go fly and
really dont care about the inner workings of the AMA.

You lose your bet.
Not in with the flock, I'm the howl at the moon guy over yonder flying without paying. Oddly enough, I still find some of ya'll AMAers not very hospitable. I know the C in Reading comment and sheep label were a fancy way to invite me to join you & your club, but yet I opt not to at this juncture. Of course, AMA types are always welcome to StreetFly with us Outlaws, we don't hold it against ya if you're in a club. More the merrier, pilot brethren, right?

As RVM said, "Well, I have found that there is A LOT of dissatisfaction with the AMA as of late." Yup, I'm so dissatisfied I'm not joining. Just doesn't look like fun from where I am, with all the brooha about declining membership, the sheep-labeling folks, and whatnot.

So, lacking a membership card you really have no say in AMA affairs at all, which makes you one of the folks making controversial posts for their own sake.

Bye now . . .