rons_29445

Last Monday I completed the AMA's online membership application.
At the end I was told to wait a few days for a response.
I have yet to receive a response.

? 1. How long does it take to get a response? or at least an aknowlegement so I can fly at a AMA field?

? 2. Other than the liability insurance, and as a requirement to fly at most r/c fields.
What does the AMA do for me as a member?

TIA
Ron

J_R

If you are in a hurry, you can call Headquarters and have them fax a copy of your membership so that you may fly. The actual time to process depends on how busy HQ is. Normally you will receive your card in a couple of weeks.

The following was snatched from a post else where made by Red Scholefield:


* * BENEFITS OF THE ACADEMY OF MODEL AERONAUTICS * *

PROGRAMS
1. Sanctioned Competitions with over 2,500 annually
2. Assistance in getting and keeping flying sites
3. National Safety Advisory Program and Safety Codes Standard
4. Annual Youth Scholarship Program
5. Youth Education Programs
6. Club chartering Program provides club and site assistance to
almost 2,400 clubs
7. Dues structured by age groups ? younger and older modelers pay
less
8. Opportunity to serve in leadership roles of Contest Director or
Leader Member
9. World Championships Teams selected and financing
10. Support and promotion for the sport of aeromodeling for schools,
service groups and clubs
11. Air Show Team Program offers demonstrations of model aircraft to
millions of people
12. Club Officer Recognition
13. Members elect corporate officers ? annual elections
14. Mall Show Program for clubs
15. Historic Preservation and Research (Museum, Archives, and Library)
16. Introductory Pilot Program
17. Attend major modeling trade shows for member assistance and
provide public awareness
18. Conduct volunteer program for member's participation of the
International Aeromodeling Center activities
19. Opportunity to be an elected corporate board member and vote in
behalf of the district
20. Leader club recognition
21. Hobby shop display for AMA information center
22. Hall of Fame recognition
23. Experimental Aircraft Inspectors for models over 55 lbs.
24. Turbine Waivers for jet pilots


SERVICE

1. Liability Coverage for Operations of Model Aircraft, Boats, Cars
and Rockets
2. $2,500,000 Comprehensive General Liability Protection for model
activities for members, clubs, site owners and sponsors
3. $25,000 Accident/Medical Coverage for members
4. $10,000 Maximum Accidental Death Coverage for members
5. $1,000 Fire, Theft, and Vandalism Coverage for members
6. Primary Site Owner Insurance ? $5,000,000 each location
7. Published???Financial Information, Contest Calendar, Construction
Articles and News
8. Non Profit status to retain income as a Tax Exempt organization
under IRS Section 501(c)(3)
9. Accumulated assets ($11 million)
10. Safeguarding radio frequencies through liaison with Federal
Communications Commission
11. Achievements recognized through the Awards Program
12. World Record performances processed through F.A.I.
13. Contest scheduling coordination to avoid conflicts
14. National Records recognized and recorded
15. Liaison maintained with major Government agencies (Corp. of
Engineers, Navy, Air Force, Army, Marines)
16. Film Library with rentals available to members, clubs and general
public
17. National Museum ? Frank V. Ehling National Model Museum ? free
admission to all members
18. Museum Store for visitors
19. Museum Patron Program
20. Support and sponsorship of technical meetings
21. American representation to the Federation Aeronautique
Internationale (FAI), Paris, France
22. Over forty full time staff members, dedicated to serving all
aspects of aeromodeling interests
23. The National Center for Aeromodeling, the world's only full?time
model aviation facility
24. Lee Renaud Memorial Library ? more than 25,000 publications and
books with research service available
25. Specialty member programs offered only through AMA membership ?
Optional insurance, Credit Cards and Eye Care Discounts
26. Serving aeromodeling since 1936???now over 60 continuous years
27. Fax?on?Demand for forms and information 1?800?500?3139
28. Affiliate of National Aeronautical Association
29. Web page on Internet ? Information dissemination
30. Internet E?mail ? to improve ease of communications
31. Federal land use with Department of Interior
32. District meetings for in person contact
33. Free 800 number for member service
34. Administrative staff to assist with explanation of various
programs
35. Coordination with Federal Aviation Administration to promote safe
regulations for flying models.

EVENTS

1. National Championships, world's largest model airplane meets
2. World Championships and other special activities hosted
3. Development of new outdoor promotional modeling events


PRODUCTS

1. Model Aviation Magazine ? The Voice of Aeromodeling News
2. Standardized competition rules ? the Rule Book
3. Field Safety and Frequency Posters
4. Modeling publications available at discount through Supply &
Service Department
5. National Newsletters for clubs
6. Delta Dart Kit for introduction to aeromodeling
7. Hobby Shop lists for promotions
8. Club Labels for promotions
9. Club Newsletter Labels for promotions
10. Museum newsletter Cloud 9 for patrons
11. Competition license for sanctioned events
12. Advertising about the Association Services in other modeling
publications



The negative points on the AMA are that too few modelers ever get
involved
in the organization, just joining so that they can fly at AMA
chartered
clubs. The AMA has to operate then, on very little input from the
membership and only hears the *****ing when they do something a member
finds does not fit his or her personal agenda. While there are
exceptions,
these same individuals usually don't usually get involved in running
their
local clubs or contributing anything of a positive nature at the local
level either. While you will hear that the AMA does not communicate
with
the membership you will find that they do this quite well in their
monthly
magazine Model Aviation.

Unfortunately a vocal few of the members just don't take the time to
read
it and would rather ***** instead. As with all generalizations there
are
exceptions to this. This is not to say that the AMA and its officers
are
without some warts. In the past they could have done a better job in
some
areas, but these are unpaid volunteers and it is impossible to make
everyone happy. The overall operation of the AMA has been steadily
improving at a faster rate than one would expect considering the
apathy on
the part of the membership to provide any constructive comments as to
how
things could be improved.

Most clubs in the country are AMA chartered clubs (this is the choice
of
the membership at the local level) and as such require AMA membership
to
fly at their facilities. Non AMA clubs are quite limited in number.

Bottom line, if all you want or need is the insurance, never plan on
flying at any other club site or function, don't want a magazine that
covers general aeromodeling, flip a coin. For $38 you can get
insurance
from the UMA (http://www.unitedmodelers.com/) or for $48 you get all
the
AMA has to offer.

I would encourage you to consider the later and become an active part
of
the modeling organization with a half-century of service to modeling.

Red Scholefield - AMA 951 IMAA 18939
District V Leader Member/CD

J_R

As Bill Vargas pointed out to me, the dues in now $58. It is an older post from Red, written before the dues increase.

JR

Live Wire

Dues are cheap , AMA started out great but did not keep up with the times. The advacement of the hobby, MONEY is the bottom line. People want more money ,so so other people have to raise their prices to meet the demand. The hobby has grown and so has its expences. Back when AMA started you could get in the hobby Cheep said the bird. Then every thing changed , prices went up . Chances of having an accident increased and then came attournies and law sutes. Then some one made an investment and lost . That should not have been "USE"
You are getting more than you are paying for, If there is something better get it. I hope you can enjoy it. There are people that get involved some times it works "IF" you have money property or name, then you can play god Your word is law.

rons_29445

Thanks for the responses.
Perhaps there is more to the AMA than I first thought/remembered.
But all the threads brings up 2 new questions.

1. Since Homeland Defense is moving to outlaw the Rocket engines for Model Rocketry.
What action / direction is the AMA planning to get involved in?
My assumption being that R/C models period will come under change.

2. I also assume I am in District V being that I live in South Carolina.
Why doesn't each state have their own AMA representative?
Tia
Ron

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

AMA is broken into districts. Each district covers a few states. I am sure they just figured that each state didn't need a rep and could get by with the districts. It seems to work.

I have been hearing talk for years about banning RC aircraft for just the reason you stated. I can't see it ever happening. There are too many out there and they couldn't do it. It would be like totally banning hand guns. Too many people would fight and last time I checked, this is still a free country, kind of. I can't see them ever banning RC planes. If they did, a lot of us would never turn ours in. No way No how!

Hossfly

>>>>>>>>
? 2. Other than the liability insurance, and as a requirement to fly at most r/c fields.
What does the AMA do for me as a member?

TIA
Ron


2. I also assume I am in District V being that I live in South Carolina.
Why doesn't each state have their own AMA representative?
Tia
Ron

Eagle delta

My Feedback: (1)

I can get AMA membership for a $1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rons_29445

The reason for my question regarding the individual state representaion is"
That while reading other threads, I came across the website for the District V and saw that there is the District V VP and 6 Associate VP's for 7 states. But 2 are from Alabama and 2 are from Florida.

http://www.modelair.org/assoc_vp/assoc_vp.htm

What about Mississippi and South Carolina? Don't these states count in the scheme of things?

Is it due to lack of participation?
I mean, I can't seem to find heli pilots or jet pilots in the Charleston area. I have posted for both and the responses have been dismal to say the least.

Perhaps if each state had their own AMA representative there could be more emphasis on membership drives and bringing in new blood into the hobby. Or am I mistaken in thinking this way?

Tia
Ron

foxx

My Feedback: (2)

J_R
It looks to me you are one of the AMA officials so you may be able to answer this question , Every year I pay my dues and it appears as it falls into a giant black hole then the following year AMA asks for more. I was wondering if the books are open to the members so they can follow were the money goes. Everybody is so hung up on the assurance issue and don't even realize it is almost close to a miracle if you could ever collect so to me it is a non issue I believe in a strong AMA mainly for protecting our frequencies and regulating the club so some jerk don't go to a Yard sale and buy an old radio and shoot you down. Some of you defending the increase of the price because everything else is gone up in price but this is not true see how much you paid for an engine 10-12 years ago and how much its is now you will find out basically the same, most officers of clubs are volunteers and the individual club expenses are paid by their own members so where the money goes that is my question Thankx

J_R

foxx

First, I am not an AMA official nor do I desire to be one.

The Financial Audit for 2001 is posted in the members only section on the AMA web page.

If you are interested in seeing what others have had to say about the numbers, there are a couple of threads in this forum that have covered the issue in some depth.

Bill Lee is the only AMA official that I know of that posts to this forum. He is an AVP in Dist VIII. There may be others that I am not aware of. At least a few officials do read the posts here.

JR