Club Dues

[Dick Fowler]

While looking  at the G.S.C.B. site that Rich Peabody referenced in the ARF Nobler thread, I noticed that their annual dues are $125.00 !!! Wow.

The two clubs that I belong to have dues of $15.00 and $30.00. Just wondering what typical club dues are across the US.

[Bob Reeves]

Am sure it depends on how much the club is involved in Flying Field rent/upkeep expenses. Ours are $100.00 and sometimes it isn't enough but we seem to get by..

[peabody]

The GSCB is unusual in several aspects.
We rent a field and maintain it......advantages are that we have use of the facility 24/7 all year......no "politics" involved....

We pay some serious rent...and even more than that to the grass mower....he keeps it in terrific shape.....we also rent an outhouse.....Our annual expenses are around $10,000.00.... with a cadre of around 40-45 members, we must earn money in other "non-dues" manner....our Swap Meet is a good money maker, but we risk around $2K to do it (postage, printing and hall rent).... Our SMOOTHIE raffle worked well....our banquet makes us a bit as well. We use photo plaques that we print from the computer using a picture of the flyer and his plane and they are less expensive than traditional plaques or trophies....

[Russell Shaffer]

I would jump at the chance to have a great flying field at any hours 7 days a week for $10 a month.  I rotate through several school and park fields and am careful not to be too early.  The rotation is so as not to wear out my welcome.  I figure if I only show up every 3 weeks or so I won't be considered a nuisance.  Maybe wishful thinking, but so far so good.

[Phil Coopy]

The dues at our club (The Ridge Barnstormers of Lake Wales, www.ridgebarnstormers.com) is $100 a year and with an average of 45 members we just keep our head above water after expenses for lease agreements, mowing, and potties.  I think it is a geat deal when compared to the cost of other entertainment venues.  You can hardly take your wife out to a movie and dinner once a year for that, yet for that amount you can fly all you want every day from dawn to dusk(weather permitting) at our field.  Still we got guys who back up to the fence with at trailer load of planes worth several thousand dollars and then gripe about the $100 dues/year. Never could understand that, especially since those same guys will go out and pay $30 a day in greens fees ,run up and down the road an 8mpg  RV, or run bass boat all day long.

Phil

[Gary Anderson]

Hi guys, anyone that has a place to fly is lucky. We don't have a place and we have to float around to the different areas, put in a few flights and leave. I've contacted several different places with no luck. So if I had a place that cost me a hundred dollars a year, WOW, I would jump on board and be happy. Keep them in the air, Gary

[Wayne Collier]

Hey its cheaper than country club dues and there is no greens fee.

[Bill Little]

We are lucky at the club I am *usually* a member of, the MCLS in Huntersville, NC. (found out that I didn't pay this year, yet,  afterall!)  It is $25 a year plus $20 for a Park Pass.  I live over 100 miles from the club, so it's more like a donation, but I feel it is worth it.  The field was built, and is maintained, by the Mecklinburg County Parks and Rec. Dept.  A fabulous C/L-R/C site built on an old land fill.  Permanent Porta Pottys, Shelter, two paved and one grass circles, plus an extra "L" area at the end of the R/C runway that is painted off in a circle.  There is also an area where combat has been flown.  WE host two full contests a year.  Couldn't ask for much more, really, except to live closer to it!


The only other C/L dedicated facility in N.C. is Hobby Park near Winston Salem.  It is getting a little run down, though.  I don't believe there is still a C/L Club around there.

[Joe Messinger]

Those of us who fly at John Brodak's  "Flying Circus" are very fortunate indeed.  John has six circles, one paved. All maintenance is taken care of by Brodak's staff.  The flying fields are always immaculate.  John's workshop is available to all.  We can fly there seven days a week if we choose.  Membership cost is $10.00 per year.

I am very grateful to John for all he has provided.

Joe

[Steve Kientz]

  I belong to the Screaming Eagles of Plainfield, Indiana. It's a R/C club mostly with a C/L circle(grass).C/L dues are $30( for those of us that haven't joined the DARKSIDE).We are on state owned property(prison) so no rent ,but we have very strict no- fly zones and hours. The other concession is the R/C guys have a program with the inmates flying club owned planes.

Steve

[Bill Gruby]

OH BOY

   I don't know about the rest of you , but if there was a club that I belonged to that had a private field, with facilities, and grounds keeper. And if I also had unlimited access to this field. I DO NOT BELIEVE I WOULD BAT AN EYELASH AT $10.42 /MONTH thats $125/year.  Way to go GSCB.

"Billy G"   

[posthole_digger]

I belong to two clubs: one is strictly RC at a private airport. UC is not allowed because a plane might need to land on the runway we use and without throttle control a UC plane might not get down in time.

The other club is also RC, but usually you can fly UC almost any day before 4 PM - the RC guys don't start till then. By the way, the RC members have encouraged me to use the field for UC mornings and early afternoons; I'm the only member that flys UC.

The first club costs $30 a year and the second $100.

I feel these fees are reasonable to support my hobby as these amounts are way smaller than the total I spend on these hobbies.

Paul

[Bob Disharoon]

110.00 in Naples, fl.

[john e. holliday]

I belong to TOPCLASS control line club in Topeka, Kansas.  A 70 mile drive to use a paved circle and there is enough grass for two circles.  It is part of Gage Park.  Then I joined the Northern Knights Radio Control Club as they have an area that gouged out for a control line circle.  This is the third year of using the field and it is starting to shape up pretty good for a grass circle courtesy of the club and John Bender also Howard Terrell.  It is 28 mile drive one way.  The entrance is right at one mile east of NE 96th and I-435 on the Missouri side of the state line.  Dues for TOPCLASS is $10.00 and NKRCC is $30.00.   DOC Holliday

[Andrew Borgogna]

I belong to he Knights of the Round Circle in Orange Co. Ca.  We have access to a great flying site at Whitter Narrows, our AMA card gets us in on the weekends free and the park is free during the week.  Down side is anybody can fly at the site, it is a public area and the distance to my house is 55 miles.  At todays gas prices it costs me about $10 a trip to go flying.  I do get in some flying on the weekends at a local elementary school but that could end with one visit from the local police. 

I would gladly pay $100 for a 24/7 flying site close to home.
Andy

[Rudy Taube]

I belong to he Knights of the Round Circle in Orange Co. Ca.  We have access to a great flying site at Whitter Narrows, our AMA card gets us in on the weekends free and the park is free during the week.  Down side is anybody can fly at the site, it is a public area and the distance to my house is 55 miles.  At todays gas prices it costs me about $10 a trip to go flying.  I do get in some flying on the weekends at a local elementary school but that could end with one visit from the local police. 

I would gladly pay $100 for a 24/7 flying site close to home.
Andy

As an add on to Andy's post. I am also a member of the same club. And like Andy said, we have a great site. ..... Our dues are only $20 per year. The majority of the users at our field are club members, but there is no requirement to join.

Our flying site consists of two large paved circles + one more paved circle inside a large fenced cage, great for speed or any CL, + two grass circles ususally used by Rich Lopez and friends for CL combat on the Week Ends. Our site is part of a large CL/RC/HL Glider/Heli complex.
      I am also a member of the R/C club for $40/year. This allows me to fly CL and RC at the same site for a ridiculously low cost. The RC club provides Porta-Poties and RC field maintenance. The LA Parks Dept does all our maintenance. This site has to be one of the best "bangs for your buck" in modeling. And we get to fly all year round, 7 days a week, Sun Up to Sun Down. ..... As an added benefit, I get to watch very good pilots like Andy fly. This helps me see what the stunt pattern SHOULD look like, as apposed to my loose interpertation of the maneuvers. ;-)

Unlike Andy, my drive is only 32 mi. each way (46 min.). But I do most of my CL, and small RC flying at the park that is a few min. walk from my house. I know CL Electric is not for everyone, but it does allow quiet CL flying at local parks. The head of Park maintenance is an elec. RC flyer, and we often fly together during his several "breaks", so I have no worries about being allowed to fly my ECL and ERC there.  ;-)

There is also another CL club I belong to. The Valley Circle Burners near Van Nuys CA, just north west of LA. It is approx. 30 mi. each way from my home (1 hr.). The dues are only $20 / year. Their flying site has two, almost new, paved circles + 3 or 4 grass circles. On the other side of the parking area is the RC field. These sites are compliments of the LA county Parks Dept., via our tax $ put to good use! :-)

We are very lucky here in So Cal to have CL sites easily available. We also have many enjoyable CL contests every year. .... Yikes! I'm beginning to sound like the Chamber of Commerce? 

[Dick Fowler]

Here's the view from the Akron Circleburners field. When the circles get paved and fenced it will be a great facility. Anyone in the Akron, Cleveland area is welcome to visit and fly.

[Jerry Eichten]

Looks like a great site near the blimp hangar...

Dues are $20 per year for The Evergreen Aviation Modelers (TEAM) of McMinnville, Oregon, USA.  We are a combined CL and RC club.  Facilties include a 500' paved RC runway; the CL side has a paved donut plus a grass circle with small paved take-off strip.  The fields have electricty and in-ground irrigation systems.  All the fencing, tables, etc. were installed by club members.  Bathroom facilities and lawn mowing is provided free of charge by the nearby aviation museum. 

An educational foundation grant exceeding $80,000 was provided by one of our members to start the model club.  We're looking for more members...

A few pictures of the CL site are here:  http://www.flyinglines.org/Oregonfun.4.07.html

[Clayton Smith]

The Winston Salem North Carolina Hobby Park Control Line facilities have been enjoyed for over 30 years.  Two large paved and one grass circle with permanent shelter and facilities.  Probably one of the most utilized control line sites in the eastern United States.

There are no club dues nor park permits.  Just a bunch of flying by some of the best control line fliers in the country.

Clayton Smith