Hydro Junkie

And, while that would probably be the case, do you really think the GOB Network would go down without a fight? I'd be willing to bet that if they stood to get beaten in an election, they would probably claim there was at least one source that "influenced the outcome", kind of like the last Presidential election where the Democrats are claiming the Russians swung the election to Trump

franklin_m

Here's another couple charts and a secondary reason why AMA chose to give the foundation $300,000 only to have the foundation turn around and give $141,800 of it right back to AMA.

Look at the first chart, Foundation income and assets look pretty good right? Well, second chart is what it looks like w/o $300,000 plus up and the Foundation give back. Suddenly the foundation doesn't look like it's doing so well does it? (data comes from AMA and AMA foundation IRS990's)

Stickslammer

Well, Guys, you can`t argue with the facts, and there they are in black and white. Thanks to franklin m, Appowner and others to researching and waking us up to the fact that something stinks in Muncie. For my part I can say I have the "stones" to vote in every election I can, whether it in the AMA or my state, local, county or federal elections. Although it doesn`t require "stones" to check off boxes. I am not a very active member in my club, but I wonder what would happen if I were to try to rally support in order to try and shake things up in Muncie?
I am one of the AMA members who feel like they are getting ripped off, but I am not going to quit the hobby and there`s really no place for me to fly my bigger glow stuff than at the club flying field, which is only 15 minutes away.
So what to do? Maybe a form letter written by someone way more qualified than me, Appowner, franklin m?, that we could print off, sign and send in to Muncie?

fliers1

How about contacting industry members like Horizon Hobby or https://www.nrhsa.org/ NRHSA? Or call AMA on the phone and try to find out what their agenda really is? What is their ready to fly, proactive growth plan?

Appowner

Thank you for voting and participating in this grand experiment we call The United States.

I did the letter thing some 25-30 years ago. My entire club joined Sport Fliers in addition to AMA. AMA didn't care and responded with threats to our charter.

Being retired I'm no longer up to writing polite letters. I am not PC. I tend to speak my mind in the street language most these people seem to prefer and understand.

fliers1

The AMA can always be counted on to do the right thing…after they have exhausted all other possibilities
A Winston Churchill quote that I substituted American with AMA

fliers1

I wonder how this plan is working out? Think we might be getting a report from AMA?

https://www.modelaircraft.org/progra...entive-program

Appowner

Curious as to how long this program has been available?

Not like the AMA to keep a success story secret. Therefore, I suspect the opposite.

I would suspect the vast majority of people who walk into an RC hobby shop are already aware of their options and have made their decisions. On the flip side, those who purchase their drones via impulse at Wal Mart or similar, I doubt the store, at the cashier level is even aware of this program if they'er even aware of the AMA.

I suspect someone sold this idea for the great surge in membership it would produce. At a potential cost of 1/3 of AMA revenue. Where the reality is, it's just some ill-engineered fluff intended to con the members into believing Muncie is actually doing something. Another waste of time, money and resources.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

franklin_m

The problem isn't the "ease" of getting an AMA card, it's the lack of perceived value for the money. "Joe Average" guy that walks into a LHS, who's buying a plane to fly in a park is rightfully asking "What do I get for my $75?" When the answer is "a magazine, insurance, 'advocacy', and access to local flying fields" I submit that Joe Average looks at those and isn't seeing the value.

I know you see the value in membership but I submit that many, most especially the AMA EC, needs to face the fact that most people do not see the value. And "telling them about it" over and over hasn't convinced them so far, so not sure why doing more of the same in the form of pamphlets and a card in their wallet will produce a differnet result.

I maintain the best reason for AMA membership is access to the local flying field. But that's only a value for people that "need" or "want" a local field. For the guy with his kid in the local park, they could care less. For the guy with a kid that's trying to fit this into a schedule that involves baseball, soccer, drama, etc., the distance to the field is an issue. And lastly, even IF they're still with you at this point, are they willing to pay for access to the field if it involves an additional cost?

In my case, that's $100 above and beyond AMA. Well, I've got a garage full of 40-75 size stuff that I can't fly in the park. Yet I dropped my membership and they've sat. Why? 20 minutes each way to the field, rough grass that's hard on anything smaller than 20cc models, and time spent waiting for 3D guys to stop hovering in the middle of the runway. Nope. I can save the money, walk to a park 5 minutes away, and make more flights.

My point is, AMA needs to find / create MORE value for the money than they have now. That said, AMA seems to be hanging their hat on getting a waiver to the 400 foot in class G if at AMA field. First, that's far from certain, as commercial users aren't going to like it. But even if they get it, those people are largely already flying at AMA fields now. We'r e not talking vast numbers of new members. I submit that the overwhelming number of folks are more like me, perfectly happy to fly smaller stuff close to home and have no problem with the 400 foot restriction.

Appowner

And enjoy the hobby the way most of us intended to in the first place.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Hydro Junkie

All I have to do is walk into any of the few remaining LHSs and see nothing but foamies and park fliers and that kind of says it all. I haven't seen any wood kits, other than Guillows stick and tissue planes, for several years. I've watched Tower cutting back on kits over the past few years as well, prior to the bankruptcy. They were offering more and more ARFs and park flyers and few and fewer kits. Seems to me that, if those are what are being offered, that's where the public will spend their money and won't be looking at the AMA to get access to flying fields that they don't need to use

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

franklin_m

The best evidence of the change in behaviors is AMA's declining membership revenue and declining charter club fees. As you can see from the attached charts, the trends are clear. Worse yet, 1/3 of all AMA expenses is on people. Fewer members, fewer clubs, and fewer events, yet staff has increased? Not quite sure how that's justified. And to top it all off, the magazine continues to lose money. At some point, there has to be some cuts.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

init4fun

And now , for something completely different , , , , Howz about a nice Spektrum bonfire ?!?!?!? This was the Spektrum ad in the most recent Model Aviation , now , I'm all for being just as festive as the next guy , might have even said "Merry Christmas" to a stranger or two here or there once or twice in my lifetime , , BUT , the last thing that makes me think Christmas or that gives me the warm & fuzzies about the reliability of my control system is visions of a bonfire in my radio dancing in my head.....

Gee now I can't wait to see what the Spektrum New Year's ad looks like , Hmm , anyone ever seen a drunken TX ?

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

franklin_m

It's hard for AMA to "promote" the hobby when they're spending money on staff at Taj-Muncie. That's money that's not available to be spent at the front lines, where the real "promoting" of the hobby takes place. So yes, I do blame AMA ... for foolishly spending resources that could be better used where the potential members are living and working (i.e. everywhere but "Taj-Muncie").

Blame all of us for shopping at Tower and Horizon. All they did was respond to customer demand. And blame some LHS as well. For example, I walked into my LHS ready to buy at Blade 500. It had already cost me about $5 to drive there. So I tell the clerk that I'll buy the heli if they'll match another LHS with bit online presence. The guy says he can't make that decision, but if I come back the next day, the owner will be there. So another $10, $5 to drive home and $5 to drive back the next day. So I make the case to the owner that I can have it delivered to my house for a price, and if he'll match it then I'm happy to spend the money with him. Owner says no. So I drive home (another $5). The next day he calls and says that if I come back, he'll sell it to me for $7 over the online retailer. So I'm into it for $15 in gas already, and his way of "earning" my business is to ask me to spend another $5 in gas AND pay $7 more? Yeah right. So I bought from the online place. Had it in two days.

I'm sorry, where does it say that "I" have to do anything? The beauty of this country is that I get to do as much or as little as I like. I also get to choose how I participate in the hobby .. or not. What I will say is that if any kid in the neighborhood comes up while I'm flying, I take the time to talk to them, show them, and depending on what I'm flying, let them try. But they're more interested in my photo drone than helis and planes.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

franklin_m

(1) Cut costs at HQ, target 50% savings.
(2) Eliminate any AMA HQ event that isn't revenue neutral or better (Toledo, traveling used airplane sale, etc.)
(3) Use savings and expand grants for local flying sites to improve quality and/or reduce cost of joining
(4) Use savings to move NATS among various regions; opporutnity for more people to participate but also more spectators (i.e. potential members)
(5) Use savings to send more than over-priced wind up rubber planes to get kids interested
(6) Stop contributing member dues money to the Foundation. Latter either succeeds or fails on its own.
...this is just a startYou can speak to your hart's content. I think if you go back and look at what I actually wrote, I never said anything about you not speaking. I merely pointed out that I get to choose what I do and don't do. Read the actual words.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

jcmors

I think that one of the problems regarding the promotion of the hobby could be the attitude of some clubs and long time participants in this hobby. I've been flying RC for decades but for a long while I worked away from home and never knew how much time I would have in one place to join a club, though I have been a member of the AMA. Several years ago I landed a position with a consulting company close to home and thought that I would like to join a local club, mainly to meet some fellow fliers and have a place to fly larger aircraft. There are two clubs in my area, one 40 miles away, another within 10 miles of my house. I contacted them both about membership. One gave me their meeting place and time and invited me to come to a meeting, and oh by the way be sure to bring my dues money if I wanted to fly. The other, the one further away invited me to a meeting to meet the other members and oh by the way, bring a plane to fly, whether you decide to join or not! Guess which club I am a member of. If there had only been the closer club with the attitude I received as a potential member I wouldn't be in a club at all.

I have flown at AMA club fields as a guest in areas where I was staying for work away from home and always donated something or at least offered to.

Some of the long time participants in this hobby are less than welcoming, I don't think it is the majority but it isn't far less than half in my experience.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

jcmors

I understand what you are saying however the response to my query and comment about making sure I bring my money was from the club president. The club I joined is definitely a friendly group of people and accepting of all forms of Model aircraft. I definitely think I made the right choice! It's an unfortunate situation and first impressions definitely matter if we are talking about trying to promote the hobby as a fun activity that someone should become involved in. I have been involved in RC for a long time so it definitely didn't turn me away from being involved in the hobby however imagine if I were new and just interested in getting started in the hobby!