ama dues
03-31-2003 | 12:54 PM
#26
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From: An Iceburg in, ANTARCTICA
Re: AMA dues
Originally posted by bryfly
Like every other organization I feel that the dues should be for the insurance only hence non-profit--I do find it to be a great expense-healthcare, auto, house and multiple other insurance stretch my checkbook to its max--...
Like every other organization I feel that the dues should be for the insurance only hence non-profit--I do find it to be a great expense-healthcare, auto, house and multiple other insurance stretch my checkbook to its max--...
The AMA is a non profit organization that exists to promote model aviation. Secondary insurance happens to be a BENEFIT of the organization.
03-31-2003 | 03:24 PM
#27
ama dues
>>>>>
Flyboy says, ref AMA dues: "It is not the price of the insurance people are *****ing about. $58 for a years insurance is not a big deal at all to most. But you are actually paying less than $20 for insurance. The rest goes to pay for stuff many don't want to pay for and shouldn't have to in the name of insurance. "
<<<<<<<
That stuff supports the foundation for the insurance.
I suppose that is why I pay multi-thousands each year to support worthless congressmen gallivanting around doing nothing worthwhile, Home Security aimed at disrupting the freedoms of individuals and bankrupting the airline industry, social welfare aimed at socializing and controlling the masses of illegal immigrants and other lazies, to say nothing of protecting BIG business and oil conglomerates.
The basic cost of anything seems to reach me at many times its worth. So be it!
Flyboy says, ref AMA dues: "It is not the price of the insurance people are *****ing about. $58 for a years insurance is not a big deal at all to most. But you are actually paying less than $20 for insurance. The rest goes to pay for stuff many don't want to pay for and shouldn't have to in the name of insurance. "
<<<<<<<
That stuff supports the foundation for the insurance.
I suppose that is why I pay multi-thousands each year to support worthless congressmen gallivanting around doing nothing worthwhile, Home Security aimed at disrupting the freedoms of individuals and bankrupting the airline industry, social welfare aimed at socializing and controlling the masses of illegal immigrants and other lazies, to say nothing of protecting BIG business and oil conglomerates.
The basic cost of anything seems to reach me at many times its worth. So be it!
03-31-2003 | 10:14 PM
#28
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From: Lincoln,
NE
ama dues
I was just going to post similar to what Hoss just expressed. AMA membership is a package deal for good reason. Many express the desire to only pay for the insurance portion. When you look at why they don't get their own insurance independently it is because they want to fly at the local AMA field... BINGO.
There are many AMA services that made that local AMA field possible... everything from the flying site in Muncie to Model Aviation probably played a part in establishing the AMA and your local flying site. You may never go to Muncie and maybe you use MA for a trash can filler, but all these items go toward the ultimate goal of supporting the hobby/sport.
It is very difficult (but not impossible) to start a flying club without the AMA. It is hard to get land, insure it,verify the pilots are insured so you don't lose it all if an accident occurs. The costs can be enormous. Events give clubs life. Clubs without events will wither and die. The AMA provides notification (in MA and on the web) and insurance for all sorts of events from mall shows to fun flys to competition. AMA Clubs get all this for a VERY low charter fee. This has enabled many smaller clubs to stay afloat, insurance alone would have shut down many small clubs otherwise. As you get to very large clubs, there is enough club revenue that they can support a private, non-AMA club. I know of a few, but they are rare. For the vast majority of clubs, the AMA is the best solution.
When someone doesn't want to pay for say the newsletter (Model Aviation) it is kinda like saying you want a discount on your auto taxes because you never use certain roads so why pay for them. When you want another magazine instead, it is like you want County auto tax people to give you a free pass for the toll way in another state because you like that road better.
Cheers
There are many AMA services that made that local AMA field possible... everything from the flying site in Muncie to Model Aviation probably played a part in establishing the AMA and your local flying site. You may never go to Muncie and maybe you use MA for a trash can filler, but all these items go toward the ultimate goal of supporting the hobby/sport.
It is very difficult (but not impossible) to start a flying club without the AMA. It is hard to get land, insure it,verify the pilots are insured so you don't lose it all if an accident occurs. The costs can be enormous. Events give clubs life. Clubs without events will wither and die. The AMA provides notification (in MA and on the web) and insurance for all sorts of events from mall shows to fun flys to competition. AMA Clubs get all this for a VERY low charter fee. This has enabled many smaller clubs to stay afloat, insurance alone would have shut down many small clubs otherwise. As you get to very large clubs, there is enough club revenue that they can support a private, non-AMA club. I know of a few, but they are rare. For the vast majority of clubs, the AMA is the best solution.
When someone doesn't want to pay for say the newsletter (Model Aviation) it is kinda like saying you want a discount on your auto taxes because you never use certain roads so why pay for them. When you want another magazine instead, it is like you want County auto tax people to give you a free pass for the toll way in another state because you like that road better.
Cheers
03-31-2003 | 11:05 PM
#29
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ama dues
I have to disagree. I fly with 2 clubs. Both are about the same age. One has events, the other doesn't or never has. Both are a group of great guys who like to fly.
Up until a few years ago, there was no muncie. It had nothing to do with promoting model aviation. Local clubs do that. When there was a traveling nats, I feel that model aviation was better promoted by AMA, but now that it is in muncie, it promote model aviation only to locals. Noone else knows about it but modelers.
Modelers promote modeling. Without AMA, modelers would still promote modeling. AMA does it as well, but without AMA, modeling would still be promoted by modelers and would not change.
A lot of people don't like the magazine for what ever reason. I tend to read it more than any others.
The reason they make it a package deal is because they know that if they didn't, very few would support anything but the insurance and they couldn't afford most of the stuff they have.
Up until a few years ago, there was no muncie. It had nothing to do with promoting model aviation. Local clubs do that. When there was a traveling nats, I feel that model aviation was better promoted by AMA, but now that it is in muncie, it promote model aviation only to locals. Noone else knows about it but modelers.
Modelers promote modeling. Without AMA, modelers would still promote modeling. AMA does it as well, but without AMA, modeling would still be promoted by modelers and would not change.
A lot of people don't like the magazine for what ever reason. I tend to read it more than any others.
The reason they make it a package deal is because they know that if they didn't, very few would support anything but the insurance and they couldn't afford most of the stuff they have.
03-31-2003 | 11:24 PM
#30
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From: Kirkland,
WA
ama dues
Over the years I have heard many comments about AMA dues, I think they were $7.00 when I started but that is really pressing my mind so won't go there. However since we bring this up off and on, the responses are important for the newbies here.
So I thought I would call my insurance agent (State Farm), and three independent agents for the identical personal coverage that AMA includes for individuals (not the club section of insurance) Secondary coverage equal to that on AMAs website
http://modelaircraft.org/templates/a...9C19D7E854210. Under Services.
What an adventure.... NO ONE would quote coverage... one said that they were sure it could be written with Lloyds however secondary coverage would be at least $150 and year plus I would have to write my home coverage with them for it to be valid.
I asked about the group or club/property owners portion and all said that would be less of a problem than individual coverage, however would be expensive for small groups of less than 500 people... I don't like some of the things AMA has done over the years however just try to get additional coverage for R/C Aircraft as a named coverage added to your homeowners policy and you will see, we have a bargain....
Just my two cents worth... it was an interesting study
So I thought I would call my insurance agent (State Farm), and three independent agents for the identical personal coverage that AMA includes for individuals (not the club section of insurance) Secondary coverage equal to that on AMAs website
http://modelaircraft.org/templates/a...9C19D7E854210. Under Services.
What an adventure.... NO ONE would quote coverage... one said that they were sure it could be written with Lloyds however secondary coverage would be at least $150 and year plus I would have to write my home coverage with them for it to be valid.
I asked about the group or club/property owners portion and all said that would be less of a problem than individual coverage, however would be expensive for small groups of less than 500 people... I don't like some of the things AMA has done over the years however just try to get additional coverage for R/C Aircraft as a named coverage added to your homeowners policy and you will see, we have a bargain....
Just my two cents worth... it was an interesting study
04-01-2003 | 09:28 PM
#31
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From: Lincoln,
NE
ama dues
FlyBoy, I obviously don't know any info on the clubs you mentioned. However, I seems reasonable to me to assume that clubs that host events, even non-competition events, are doing a better job of promoting the hobby to other modelers and the public than clubs that don't host events. In my area, local clubs that don't host events are stale in my opinion, but it is just that... my opinion.
To all: I think too often people look at the AMA as just an insurance company, which of course they are not. The AMA offers a lot to modelers as many have pointed out in this thread and others. You may not compete, you may hate the mag, you may never travel to Muncie, but all these things strive toward uniting modelers across the states and promoting the hobby.
Just take competition for example, most don't compete. But for those of us that do we demand a lot from our equipment. We encourage companies to make better planes, better engines, better servos. What we considered "top of the line" a few years ago is now the sport version that the average joe owns and runs in his Sunday plane. Organized competition and national exposure plays a large part in this. The magazine is just one media of many the AMA uses to promotes the hobby.
Cheers
To all: I think too often people look at the AMA as just an insurance company, which of course they are not. The AMA offers a lot to modelers as many have pointed out in this thread and others. You may not compete, you may hate the mag, you may never travel to Muncie, but all these things strive toward uniting modelers across the states and promoting the hobby.
Just take competition for example, most don't compete. But for those of us that do we demand a lot from our equipment. We encourage companies to make better planes, better engines, better servos. What we considered "top of the line" a few years ago is now the sport version that the average joe owns and runs in his Sunday plane. Organized competition and national exposure plays a large part in this. The magazine is just one media of many the AMA uses to promotes the hobby.
Cheers
04-01-2003 | 11:11 PM
#32
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
You Get Out, What You Put In !!
The most important thing is stated above. When you join the AMA, you join the "WHOLE AMA", not just one little part of it. You knew that going in. All the after the fact I dont like this, I dont like that stuff is just so much blah, blah, blah. If you join and contribute nothing, you gain nothing except the barest minimum of being able to fly, period. And some even complain about that. Want to see more, you have to contribute more. Be a club officer, newsletter editor, see how much work that can be with all the people who "want", but dont "want to contribute". Thats the part you dont see from the "I just want to fly members". Keeping the Local Govt Officials happy, getting the permissions and permits to use the land etc etc. The list is long. IF your not promoting your hobby and Club, some other activity will run you over. Unless of course you own your land, and the land all around you. Doesn't matter if you have been there 20 years, the minute a homeowner complains you will have to start worrying or looking for a new place to fly. Some clubs are lucky and dont have these worries, but most do. The TOC is gone, why the Guy who put it on died, and his wife said well were not going to do that anymore. So no more TOC. These things happen. remember it takes work. If the AMA needs to be changed, it will take work, and lots of it. But it can be done. Just my thoughts.
Vince AMA 7051
Vince AMA 7051
04-01-2003 | 11:25 PM
#33
My Feedback: (11)
ama dues
Hi monkeyboy, You are right in a way, but the way I see it here, both clubs do about the same in promo. The one that puts on events, big and small do have lots of people they reach, but the other I think has more people stop by the field and are more the kind to put a radio in someones hand and get them interested. Both have their good points, and both have their bad. I agree that competion is more fun, thats why I belong to both. I like the small club better but also like to compete.
By the way, I have been a club officer of one or the other or both for over 15 years, written the news letter for more than I want to count and have been a CD for almost 20 years now.
The whole hobby is fun. Its what you make of it.
I would still argue that the muncie site does very little to promote model aviation. I can see the museum, but a traveling nats would promote model aviation better to the whole country than one that stays in Muncie and promotes it to just the people close to it or those that accidentally stumble across it.
Just my 2 cents.
By the way, I have been a club officer of one or the other or both for over 15 years, written the news letter for more than I want to count and have been a CD for almost 20 years now.
The whole hobby is fun. Its what you make of it.
I would still argue that the muncie site does very little to promote model aviation. I can see the museum, but a traveling nats would promote model aviation better to the whole country than one that stays in Muncie and promotes it to just the people close to it or those that accidentally stumble across it.
Just my 2 cents.
