AMA Less the Magazine?

[Harleyman]

I know this has been talked about before, but I don't know what the answer is.

Can we get a membership to AMA with out getting the magazine, for a lesser fee?
Has this option been proposed to AMA?
Would a petition from a large group of Stunt fliers help?

I am considering joining to be able to fly in a local contest, so it has been on my mind lately.  I know the insurance is worth it, but it would be nice to shave a few bucks off the fee to not get the magazine.

How close are we?

[Bill Little]

I know this has been talked about before, but I don't know what the answer is.

Can we get a membership to AMA with out getting the magazine, for a lesser fee?
Has this option been proposed to AMA?
Would a petition from a large group of Stunt fliers help?

I am considering joining to be able to fly in a local contest, so it has been on my mind lately.  I know the insurance is worth it, but it would be nice to shave a few bucks off the fee to not get the magazine.

How close are we?

AFAIK, you get the magazine, period.  I have not seen anything different.  There has been discussion many times, but I do not think the AMA is real receptive to the idea.

[Andrew Hathaway]

They used to have a family option where two members of the family can join for the discounted rate and only receive one magazine, might still be available.  I think the problem is manifold.  They want your money to support all the operations and expenses, so they dont' want to give you a cheaper option.  Second, they sell advertising in their magazine by telling buyers that X number of members receive it monthly.  If they let us opt out of the magazine at a discount they lose some marketing viability and income from our membership, two things they're really not interested in.  They know they have us over a barrel, I doubt they're going to change just to make a small subset of the membership happy.  If I could fly at the contests I want to attend and not be an AMA member, I'd save the $$$. 

[frank carlisle]

I think the best way to get mileage out of our money is to start doing some serious property damage with our planes.
Perhaps we could use ARFs. Or....teach newcomers how to fly....under power lines.
How about running over those nuts that think baseball and soccer fields are for baseball and soccer.
Get a new garage to replace the old one you burn down when your nitro stash ignites.
A million dollars insurance money could go a long way toward a lifestyle upgrade.

If they insist on giving us the magazine. Let's rebel with recklessness.

[Jim Thomerson]

The major gripe I have with the magazine is when an issue has no construction article(s) or any information useful to a model builder except in the various columns.  I think writing to your district VP and to Dave Brown expressing these thoughts might get some positive response. 

Frank, I think it best not to be silly on the internet as someone will always take you seriously.  However, I do not always follow my own advice.

[frank carlisle]

I hear you Jim--------I had to really think about that one. On the upside though I get to let everyone know I was just being goofy.

I don't think I've ever read too much of any edition of Model Aviation. I would if I could get my head around other model aviation interests besides stunt. There are things we could do though to make it more enjoyable for us. Right off the top of my head I could see sending pictures of our latest projects. We could write letters to the editor and watch to see if they end up in print.

[Andrew Hathaway]

Model Aviation isn't much different then RC Modeler or Model Airplane News... Is Model Builder even around anymore?  It's really sad that there arent more/better magazines out there.  Stunt News is really the only true C/L publication and even then its stunt specific and bring with it a whole new set of political issues.

I don't know that submitting anything to any of these publications is going to bring us back into their spotlight.  It would be nice however if Model Aviation wasn't a 1/2" thick and completely devoid of useful or entertaining reading.

[Joey Mathison 9806]

racing guys have there own mag. and so does the speed guys. stunt news is not the only c/l mag out there. as far as the ama rag i have a hard time reading it covered with epoxy.