Did you know:


AMA has been in touch with the TSA in an effort to make transporting your plane on commercial flights easier and safer for your plane?

AMA has been in touch with the FAA in an effort to keep the FAA from exerting it's power to include models?

AMA is currently trying to secure a few more frequencies from the FCC?

Your AMA insurance is secondary IF you have homeowners or renter's insurance. It is primary for many others. Maybe the guy next to you?

AMA insurance is Primary for AMA clubs and their landlords?

AMA insurance costs a club between $85 and $105 per year for two $2,500,000 policies to cover the club and the landlord, and that your AMA dues subsidizes those costs?

AMA leader's are elected UNPAID volunteers?

That if your club field should come under attack you should immediately call AMA BEFORE you respond?

AMA has a field improvement program that may cover up to 10% of the costs of improvements?

AMA has substantial reserves that are invested in stocks, bonds and real estate?

Model Aviation Magazine accounts for approximately $7 of your dues?

The Safety Code is a list of exclusions to AMA insurance, and that under the Safety Code, club Safety Rules are also exclusions?

The AMA does not exclude non-AMA members from flying at your club site? That the club and/or landlord determine who shall fly at the site?

Many modeling manufacturer's will not donate to a club without an AMA sanction for an event?

The AMA owns the IMS show in Pasadena, CA, and that it makes a small profit?

The NATS is a break even operation?

The IRS status of the AMA is that of a non-profit educational organization?

The web address for the AMA is http://www.modelaircraft.org ?

Telephone Numbers and e-mail addresses are on the AMA web site for leaders and headquarters staff?

The most recent Financial Statement is on the AMA web site in the Member's Only Section?

There are a large number of .pdf files on the AMA web site that answer many questions you may have about the AMA services and provides forms you or your club may need?

Many of the AMA districts have web sites, some have discussion groups, the links are on the AMA web site?

You can find the location of most AMA chartered clubs with the locater on the AMA web site?

Competition regulations are on the AMA web site?

You or your club can verify current AMA membership on the AMA web site?

Model Aviation is achieved on the AMA web site in the Member's Only Section?

The promotion of competition is one of the purposes of the AMA set forth in it's bylaws?

The AMA is the official aeromodeling representative of the United States to the FAI (the world organization for all aircraft activity)?

Good info...!!

So what...... people just want a flat place to fly and a little insurance because they were told they need it.

Oh yeah, and they want to SAY they belong to the real AMA......An organization like the one mentioned above. But on the other hand, they don't want to pay for an organization like the real AMA. They just want their local officials to think they belong to something that significant so that they can get permission to fly on public land.....and they want it cheaper than real AMA too.

Obviously the above was said with much sarcasm, but it's just about what some people sound like when they describe their vision of the "New AMA".

The existing AMA needs some work, so let’s do that together and stop trying to tear it apart. Didn't you guys learn anything from the IMAA debacle?

Wiz

J_R,

Excellent this was the kind of info I was trying to generate in my ealier Facts & Myths thread.

Maybe Marc can "stick" it to the top of this forum.

Kent

IMHO, the main problem people have with the AMA is that it is so very difficult to get a response from headquarters. It would seem just out of common courtesy, they would reply to emails.

Then again, I can understand that they must receive tons of email everyday and perhaps most are complaints from members who will never be satisfied with any solution coming from anyone in the AMA.

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

I read in one of the MA article that many times an EMAIL is sent to several people at AMA and in SOME cases it is assumed one of the other people believed to be more qualified would answer it even though it wasn't specifically addressed to them. In which case it does not get answered. I know of several work places that the director is Emailed along with other supervisors , and in most cases the person most directly involved is EXPECTED to take care of it, but sometimes even then there are conflicts as to who is most involved and you may get several responses or none and a follow up needed. No matter if it is Assumed or Expected is is not a good way to do things but not uncommon. And it may also depend on the volume of mail , things sometimes get lost, I know I have accidental deleted Email or forgotten to respond, I have no question there have been email disregarded because of the tone of the content, I have deleted Email without responding to what I will call RUDE , messages. I would agree the AMA and counsel should do a better job of responding even if it is just a note saying they got it. , I to have had questions by Email not answered or responded to.

Make a FAQ out of it! Make it required reading before anyone can post here! Make it an insert that is sent with every AMA membership card!

Good piece, JR!

Bill

Thanks Bill

If you, or Marc, or anyoneone else wants to take this as your own and use it, that's fine with me. Getting the information to new members, heck... to existing members.... is what is important.

Does anyone have an additions to make?

It sure would be nice to hear something other than "all I get for my dues is secondary insurance".

JR