I wonder how many people out there who are complaining about the dues increase have no problem paying a ridiculous extra fee to join a SIG?

Blame me, I split this post off another thread.

My SIG's (NMPRA) dues is only 20 bucks a year,,, ash tray in the car change

BV

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I wonder how many people out there who are complaining about the dues increase have no problem paying a ridiculous extra fee to join a SIG?
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Actually, Not complaining for me personally about the dues increase, albeit I don't like my perceived destination of the funds, For many years I have supported a number of SIGs with membership $$ because I like what they do. However recent events have indicated that is a one way street and methinks some turn-arounds are in order.

SIGs that I will remain with are IMAA and maybe RCCA.

SIG memberships that I will let expire are: NASA, NMPRA, PAMPA, and SWRA. That will certainly provide adequate funds to override the increase in AMA dues.

BTW, as an active CD, I was billed for 1/2 my dues this year as per the new order. I sent those funds in. Then in the meantime the EC again crashed and rebuilt to defray that new order segment.
When I FINALLY received a card, NO mention of the excess dues was included. Being the benevolent monstor that I am, I emailed AMA to apply those funds along with the regular $100 donated to the Museum. They quickly replied to the effect of UH -Okay-duh.

So the question is: Did anyone that paid the 50% CD thing receive any info about a refund?

You could assist another SIG. could you not?

In addition, P-51B, (phd -- piled higher and deeper) the SIGs are not really all that ridiculous. They keep AMA dues down. From years back, my experiences indicate to me that the SIGs started due to the unweildy Contest Board programs, totally in -- IMO --obsolescence for years. When AMA lost sponsorship of the NATs, and relied on area clubs to assist hosting a NATs, it was obvious that if such was to be, someone close to the events had to do the legwork.
As time went by the SIGs simply became the AMA's NATs work force. Without the SIGs, I speculate AMA dues could well be twice the current and/or AMA would be in deep doo as far as hosting a NATs is concerned.
Yes, I believe in the NATs but one considerably different than currently. OOPS there I go again. I said all that a short time ago and 98% were definitely NOT interested. Back to the shop!!

Bill, are you just trying to get me in trouble??

Actually, I am surprised anything I commented on was considered worthy of getting it's own new thread.

Just so everyone knows, I have nothing against the SIGS, and am probably going to join one, my comment was related to another thread.

With that said, let's start the flame war by saying, shouldn't we get memberships to the one's we want for free, since they are part of AMA?

O.K....go ahead...I'll check back in a few weeks to see how many ashes there are.

P-51B, No trouble was ment and YES your comment is a good one

The SIG's are important and I have to agree with Hossfly,,, If it wasn t for the SIG's and the support they provide to the NATS,,,

One can only speculate what would to happen to AMA if the SIG's didn t exist,,, Sounds like a check and balance thing to me

BV

I think I'll just drop my IMAA membership....not a whole lot going on around here that is IMAA only...and yes, I'll re-up AMA

Jerry

Tailskid: There is a lot of Giant Scale flying going on In your area, All over the South East as a matter of fact. Granted the IMAA is not like it was in it's younger days, But I enjoy flying the larger planes and the older I get the better I can see them. Plus the High Flight magazine has some good info ,lets you see what others are doing. Iv'e been in this thing a long time almost 40 years, and my IMAA # is 329

Very True bearcat, however there is one problem that is hurting IMAA very much. That problem is that an 80" wingspan model is no longer a BIG thing.

Many Clubs are no longer using IMAA Sanctions for their Big Bird events. With an AMA "C" unrestrited entry, a club can draw more entries than if restricted to IMAA members. A Club can then entice some people with awards for Pilot's / People's choice and such. To the letter of the law, any compitition is a NO-NO at an IMAA sanctioned event.

My Club has had 4 annual IMAA Big Bird events. We lose to another Club, some 70 miles south, that sanctions on the same weekend with AMA only. More Clubs are doing that and it is difficult to tell club members why they have to belong to IMAA to fly at their own Club's FLY-In event. They don't seem all that much interested in getting their pictures in High Flight.

I have no answers. Do you?

Back in 1976, the STARS club in Olean, NY started the 1/4 scale movement with a squadron of six Bristol Scouts. These were powered by Roper industrial engines converted to glo. A year later, we were the first to get a Quadra engine, and with those installed in the Scouts, we became the most noted club in the USA. The magazines were full of our big planes and accomplishments. We started an "all scale" meet in 76, with "all scales welcome". It was a huge success. There were 95% small scale planes and 5% big ones. In 1980 (I think), I and several other STARS attended the inagural meeting of the IMAA in Toledo where the STARS obtained charter number 003. By then, there were many others getting into giant scale. Also, by then, our meet was probably a mix of 30% big scale, and 70% small, totaling about 150 planes. By 1985, or thereabouts, our meet had grown to 80% giant scale and 20% small - and that's when we clashed with the IMAA. The IMAA was now getting rather powerful, and started to flex its muscles and authority - by telling us that we could no longer fly "small scale" airplanes at our annual meet. WHAT? Why not? Because they aren't big enough - they say! Well - so what - we say! Our meet had been predicated on the fact that "all scales were welcome" since day one - and this was ten years later.

To make a long story short, the IMAA decided to kick us out of that organization because we would not comply to the new 1/4 scale or 80" wingspan rule. So - chapter 003, the biggest club in the USA flying and promoting giant scale was no longer a part of the IMAA.

The STARS just held their 25th. anniversary scale meet this past summer, and we opened the show by flying five of the original Bristol Scouts that made us famous 25 years ago. Three of the original pilots have passed on, but others flew their planes.

What have we learned here? The first thing is that the meet has continued to be very successful without any help from the IMAA for the past 15 years. We learned that we do not need the IMAA dictating to us what we can and cannot do. So who loses? Certainly not the STARS. Also- we have proved that small scalers and giant scalers do not need to be segregated to have a good time. Next year - the 26th annual event will once again be held with "all scales welcome" - and that's the way it should be!

After all - we are in this hobby to make friends and have fun. Although I only build giant scale planes - most of my local flying buddies only build small ones, and we have "fun" together, and we respect eachother. That's also the way it should be!

Hossfly: Good Point ,I dont have an answer for that. I know the ImAA wants to increase their membership, but is that the way to do it? It's a on going problem. I attended a all scale event this Fall and most were giant scale planes , but there were a lot of very small 25/40 size planes and were ARF's . It was a fun day and I got to fly all I wanted to, some only wanted to fly one time to qualify for an award right before the judging but thats another issue. ( I attended: dont you just loath that, our AMA disc V VP uses that all the time )

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Jim says, "After all - we are in this hobby to make friends and have fun. Although I only build giant scale planes - most of my local flying buddies only build small ones, and we have "fun" together, and we respect eachother. That's also the way it should be!"
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Jim, absolutely NO argument from here on that point. As a long time modeler that enjoys it all, I am glad to hear someone say such as your statements.

OTOH, I see a need for a group such as IMAA, and to that effect all the SIGs. Unfortunately, within this society in which we dwell, peer pressures dominate many individuals and one-uppance seems to carry over well into this sport. Just look at the IMAC crowd. From 25% to 30 %, 33%, 40% and even to 70% scale, just a constant "I'm bigger than you" thing. (;-))

However as for me, I recognize the problem, and as you I can lobby for change, yet nothing will steal my fun whether that fun is a FF ODHLG, 1/2a CL, RC SPAD, or my 101" Bipe, and in the works 120" C-123.
Lots of smaller stuff in between.

Enjoy!

OK, now for the dumb question. What is a SIG ??? I'm a newbie here and the acronyms are killing me..

SIG = Special Interest Group

Eric