Hate the AMA?
 

WOW!! All of the talk on this board is so negative. There is a real passion in the hatred for the AMA. Why?

Here is what I do: I pay the annual dues, I read the magazine, I go fly ;) . End of story.

What did the AMA do to you people that made you so bitter? I need to know who to avoid :boxing: .

Hate the AMA?
 

Hatred ??? :confused: We the people for the people are discussing A organization that is for us and by the way the only one. We do'nt have a choice to shop elsewhere but we do have a say. This is how it will get done ,by reaching the masses of modelers to talk about the AMA.

Hate the AMA?
 

I do just about the same as you...............but sometimes I must
remind myself that "this is only a hobby" .

I think the hard feelings about AMA has been , (for one reason
or another)growing. I feel that the straw that broke the donkeys
back was the 10.00 dues increase. I paid it and I'm all set for
next year,but then again, no choice.



Regards
Roby

Hate the AMA?
 

There are choices, actually several. The following is not meant to offend, but to point out that we do have choices even if they may not be attractive.

Get involved as an officer with decision making responsibilities. Use your influence as an office to make the changes you feel are required. Oops, I meant make the changes your constituents want and which will furthers aero-modeling.

Quit the hobby and AMA.

Rally a group of like thinking individuals in your area and form a club of your own without AMA backing. It would be interesting to see some specific facts related to that effort.

Do nothing but complain on this forum which will probably never spur any action from AMA because they are not reading.

Form a constructive letter or email concerning specific facts and concerns and suggested alternatives. Forward this information to your elected AMA official, President, and this forum so that we can track progress. Not sure how well this would work, but it is an option.

Pay the AMA dues, vote, and fly. Have fun.

Organize a 100 man march on Muncie!! my favorite. I would have said 1 million, but there are not enough of us. But I'm fairly confident we could muster 100.

Mike

Hate the AMA?
 

So, uh, mrc100, was your point that there aren't any viable alternative choices for the average modeler who wants to fly?

Hate the AMA?
 

:D MikeL,

My point is that I guess I'll go fly now. :cool:

Also, I thought the 100 pilot march thing was hilarious...so I was hoping that would lighten a few folks up. :D I really have to stop laughing at my own jokes.

My point is that I really doubt anything constructive will come from this forum. I believe it was created with the best intentions, but I fail to see how it is going to sway the AMA organization. There will be lots of valid ideas posted, but I'm afraid they’ll be lost in the sea of non-specific discontent.

Actually, if I was as disenfranchised about the AMA as some folks appear to be I would look to start my own flying group. All you would need to do is essentially prove that you have liability insurance coverage for those that fly on public land. It's just kind of expensive but it may be worth the peace of mind.

Here's the kicker, I've been reading this forum trying to learn more about the AMA, because under my own submission I'm not the most knowledgeable, but I'm not learning very much from these posts.

Mike

Hate the AMA?
 

Well maybe nothing will come from posting here in this forum, but, then again you never know as nothing ventured, nothing gained. If nothing else issues are being brought to light and hopefully someone who can address the issues will see it, decide to do something about it, you just never know who is lurking in the background. One other thing it does is give the members a place to vent their spleen a bit about how they see the AMA being run and that can be very healthy.

Hate the AMA?
 

I support the AMA 100 %, totally and without reservation. it is the only avenue we have today to attract new aeronautical engineers, astronauts, pilots and others that may support the industry. and after seeing the glow on a youngsters face when they they have labored over an AMA delta dart, and it flys, that provides more stress relief than any contraption or method in the world...get behind the AMA and lets protect our little spaces that allow us to enjoy our hobby....i do and i will!!!! bill woodward, titusville ,fla. AMA 136062, Leader member

Hate the AMA?
 

Do you honestly believe that?! I don't know anyone who's chosen to pursue those careers because of the AMA. I went into the Air Force, another friend started in AE, one more is an airline pilot, and another is pursuing his private pilots license. All of us fly RC, and are AMA members. Did the AMA get us interested in it? NO! My first exposure to the AMA was sending in my check.

How'd we get interested in aviation? The way most kids do. Airshows, books, tv shows, watching planes fly by, and making model airplanes. We'd gone through free flight and line control before getting to RC, and never once knew about the AMA. Wonderful outreach to kids, eh?

The AMA is not the organization that introduces most people to aviation. It's ridiculous to think that it is.

No, I don't hate the AMA, but. . .
 

In a previous post it is suggested the AMA is the only avenue to recruit new, and shall we say, bright members. I have a question - How many of you were involved with the AMA for a a period of time BEFORE they sparked an interest in you for modeling? I think there is a vast majority of people who’s LAST step before actually getting INVOLVED in modeling was to send a check to the AMA. Anyone who asserts that the AMA is actively promoting and recruiting new members needs only look at theirs and their friend’s first experiences in modeling. This brings up just one of the many problems I see with the AMA. They, while crucial to RC modeling, are doing a better job (obviously) of promoting themselves than they do of promoting us modelers. Case in point is any modeler who thinks that without the AMA they would not have an interest in modeling.

Modelers make up modeling – not the AMA. The tail cannot wag the dog. Another point I would like to make if I may is that the assertion that you should run for office if you are to voice an opposing position is ridiculous. Some would have us believe that the AMA is doing all the legwork that makes our ability to fly a reality and that they are working hard to promote the hobby. I believe that the ones doing the legwork of promoting the hobby are those who simply build and fly models. Spending hundreds of hours a year in a shop for no pay and then simply flying at your local club has a far greater effect on the prospective modeler than ANYTHING the AMA can possibly do.

These are just some of my thoughts and I feel positive that while there are some who feel as though the AMA is being attacked for no reason I feel just the opposite. I think that by voicing our opinions we are in effect moving the AMA in the direct it should go – that of which the membership feels it should. After all the AMA is here to serve modeling, it is not the other way around.

In the age-old question “which came first the chicken or the egg” the answer can be argued for ever. But for sure there were modelers doing what they loved most long before the AMA was around and for sure there will be modeling even if there were no AMA now or in the future.

Talk about Irony
 

Mike L,

I wrote the post above after reading only the first couple of posts in this thread. I just read your post and it blew me away that you also specifically mentioned that you felt the last step in you introduction to modeling was sending a check to the AMA!

Your point is in my opinion Right On!

Hate the AMA?
 

I had a similar experience to Mike L...

Hate the AMA?
 

Ok for those of you who are new to the addiction called RC.... A few years ago or maybe a few more than that now, another entity was formed that I belive was called the Sport Modelers of America or something of that nature. It was a very short lived orginaization that was started as an alternative to the AMA. They carried insurance and such just as AMA does. It did not take long for them to realize that it was not as easy or as cheap as we thought it should have been. They lasted about "as long as a pop corn fart in a whirl wind".

I did not like to see my dues going toward the new building and facilities that I will probably never see with my own eyes, but hey, I have to have the insurance to fly at our site, and I do belive that they (AMA) do alot of good in certain areas.

I also pay more than 58.00 a year for a few other magazines that I subscribe to and dont get any insurance from them........

AMA
 

The true name was SFA Sports Flyer's's of America and they did not fail becouse of the cost of running business they were sued out of business by the Great AMA.
Milton

Would like to ask one question of anyone out there
What has The AMA done for you or your flying field in the last ten years.??????

Hate the AMA?
 

http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/...fragend013.gif

http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/...fragend013.gif

http://www.click-smilie.de/sammlung/...fragend013.gif

AMA
 

Now that I like, Looks like me when my wife ask where did that plane come from

Milton

SFA
 

HOW many time are we going to have to post that the AMA sued SFA to recover OUR money spent defending US against the SFA. SFA SUED the AMA first and lost. SFA sued for the expressed purpose of getting a quick buck. DO A SEARCH , there are threads from people directly involved.

Hate the AMA?
 

Actually, there is another choice. If there is such a hate for AMA or at least someone has a problem with AMA, simply to make a statement, join the http://www.unitedmodelers.com I don't think that many people even know this modeling organization exists. It's only $38.00 ($20 less than AMA) and no magazine, which is why so many people have a problem with AMA.

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

Hate the AMA?
 

:stupid: I can't count the number of times someone has shown up at our field that was interested in flying RC airplanes. Then they start with the questions, how much does it cost to get started?. Well a plane will cost this much, a radio this much, an engine this much, oh and by the way it will cost you this much to join the AMA and there are also club dues. To those of us that are already hook line and sinker its a no brainer, we pay and fly, we have no choice. Those who are interested in learning to fly are hit up front with an expense of over 100.00 of which they can see no immediate benefit. It has turned many people away because they see it as a bottomless pit, so off to the toy store to buy an electric airplane the cost under a hundred bucks and no insurance necessary. They try to fly their little planes and end up shooting ours down. Whats my point?, $58.00 is a little rich for the newbie. We should have a choice as to weather we want Model Aviation Magazine. I pay $30.00 a year for my favorite magazine. Considering markup lets say it reduces our dues to $38.00 per year instead of $58.00, thats easier to sell. As far as the NFS is concerned I can't say if its a good or bad thing because its soo far away that I can't enjoy it . I can see it now, Hey honey lets go to the NFS this year on vacation, yea right! and if she agreed to go she would be wanting to leave 10 minutes after we got there. I would rather my dollar go towards educating the toy store flyers about the dangers they impose on themselfs and others when they fly and on ways to increase membership in the AMA. RC flying is becoming big business, bigger than us. Its only a matter of time and someone will get hurt by a back yard wonder boy flying his magic carpet and bring a law suit that will hurt everyone. Hey AMA spend our money wisely.

End of year crap also!!!
 

Have been out of the hobby for 10 years or so but am now getting back in to it and would like to join ama again in order to be able to fly at local field but am amazed that if I join now at the end of the year will have to pay full price for remainder of year...2 months! Why in the hell can't they pro-rate or carry a member from start of membership on forward for a year? Bob.

Hate the AMA?
 

If you sign up in October or later then the rest of the year is "free" and the membership will be good for all of next year also. I just got this reply back from AMA about a two weeks ago.



If he joins now he will get the rest of this year and all of next year for the 58.00
-----Original Message-----
From: Leonard Perry [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, September 27, 2002 2:05 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: New membership


Hello,
I would like to know if the dues are pro-rated for membership. I have a new modeler who would like to join tomorrow but wants to make sure that he does not have to pay again in december. Please advise.
Thanks
Leonard Perry
AMA 74318

AMA
 

In response to Ghost.

When someone shows up to our field and ask the same questions about cost, They do get benefits right away from their AMA dues of $58 bucks and $45 club Dues.

1- They get unlimited use of a very nice flying facility that has a Simi-hard surface and grass runway, Paved parking, covered Shelter, Concrete walkways , Picnic Benches, BBQ grill , Usually drinking beverages are available , secured equipment Building , all built and provided and Maintained by the Club.

2- Aircraft Prep training , We teach everything from assembly of ARFS to building from sticks , starting and maintaining engines and radios, a class at the beginning of each club meeting exclusively for beginners.

3- flight training - Unlimited training by experienced pilots on specific days and times , plus flexible schedules for one on one training. No deadlines , learn at your own pace.

4- Aircraft inspection and set up training, Experienced pilots will inspect your set up for problems before it is flown each training day and explain the problem.

5- Use of Club Buddy box systems.

6- Use of Club Trainer if needed

7- Discounts at local Hobby Supply

8- Notification of up coming events

9- Aviation Video Archive

10- Not to mention the peace of mind of a little liability coverage just in case.

IMO this is no small list and worth every Penny . If your Club does not have a similar list, WHOS FAULT IS THAT, NOT THE AMA.

And as a Matter of fact we just had two of our club Members that just got Married spend thier HoneyMoon at the NATS. .

Hate the AMA?
 

Well that all sounds good but means nothing unless you can get them on the flying field.

AMA
 

We don't have to get them on the field, They come on thier own. At least a Dozen or more every summer. Tuesday Evenings the field is closed to open flying and reserved for trainers only . The above list sells itself because we do what we say. Whats YOUR clubs trainer program ? And How many new members does yours get every year?

AMA
 

It's wonderful that you think the AMA is perfect, and doesn't have any areas for improvement. Also, it must be wonderful to belong to the perfect club, where there are only positives and no negatives. Would that we could all say that. Sometimes, though, you have to take the best of what's available, or nothing. In order to do my flying as safely as possible, I prefer to take the best of what's available, even if I have to travel over 50 miles to get there.