Author Topic: Our down-sizing Academy of Model Aeronautics: (Read 14750 times)

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #50 on:** October 05, 2009, 04:49:46 PM »

I renewed today along with my two boys.

+3

Wayne Collier · « **Reply #51 on:** October 05, 2009, 04:58:00 PM »

Quote from: FLOYD CARTER on October 05, 2009, 04:16:46 PM

Have you ever heard the term, "creative bookkeeping"?

Floyd

This reminded of a quote froma guy teaching accounting/bookkeeping.

"A good accountant is like a sting bikini -- what it shows is important, but what it hides is essential."

Bill Hodges · « **Reply #52 on:** October 05, 2009, 05:43:05 PM »

Mailed in my renewal today.

Bill Hodges

Matt Colan · « **Reply #53 on:** October 05, 2009, 07:05:09 PM »

Well today in the mail, I got my AMA renewal, and the cost of a youth membership is $1.00, without the magazine and $15 with the magazine (I'm not cheap I get the magazine). It's nice to be young

Chuck Feldman · « **Reply #54 on:** October 07, 2009, 11:35:30 AM »

each year I send in my Insurance? payment and wonder why the AMA still exists. They could at least change there name to reflect what they do. Any suggestions?
MAPR (model airplane protection racket) I'm sure you gentleman can top that one.

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #55 on:** October 07, 2009, 12:15:52 PM »

Chuck,
I see you proudly show your low digit AMA number in your signature here on Stunt Hangar. Why bother if you feel the way you do?

AMA isn't perfect, but it's really our best representation. I don't like my "association" at work either, but they are the only one's representing me rather than allowing the corporation to shove anything it want's down my throat. Same way I feel about the AMA sometimes too.

I've been a member since 1966 as a little Junior and the feeling is way different, but I'll remain a member. I sent my renewal in along with my Junior son's, as usual.

Chris...

Chuck Feldman · « **Reply #56 on:** October 07, 2009, 04:47:33 PM »

Cris,

Every year at this time I get upset with the AMA because they do so little for us. So many people have asked to not get the magizine but the answer is always the same. No. So please excuse my rant. I'll try to not do it again. (The low number). I once had a low number 650. That was because the AMA wanted C/D's to have low numbers. I don't recall my original number but it was close to 16500. Well anyway when I returned to the sport in 2001 I asked for my old number and they gave it to me. Then I realized that I didn't want such a low number because contestants and perhaps judges might expect me to do a lot better than I can. So I called AMA with a list of numbers that I recovered from old photos that I had saved. That is how I got the number I have now. Yes I am proud to have that number. It only reflects that I have been involved with the sport for a long time. early 1950 as I recall. I hope to see you some time soon.
Chuck

Mike Keville · « **Reply #57 on:** October 07, 2009, 10:13:45 PM »

Number, schmumber. When I was a CD, 1971-1978, my AMA number was 325. Wish I'd kept it. T'was a lot easier to mask-off or cut out only three numbers.

Dropped out while working in Saudi Arabia, then spending 5 years worth of nights & weekends on a college degree. Re-joined in the mid-'80s...receiving one of those 6-digit "newbie" numbers, as if I hadn't been modeling since 1947.

While visiting with the late Bev Wisniewski one evening, asked her to see if I could be re-issued my original (1951?) number, 14220. Done deal....have had it ever since.

Question is: why do I keep renewing with the Academy of Mostly ARFs? Answer: because I like to fly in contests, and because membership in the Academy of Modulators & Amplifiers is required in order to be a member of the greatest CL club on Earth, the Cholla Choppers of Tucson.

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #58 on:** October 08, 2009, 01:23:56 AM »

I am bringing my RTF Bf-109G park flyer just so you freak out a little bit.
Chris...

peabody · « **Reply #59 on:** October 08, 2009, 04:17:50 AM »

I believe that the AMA, for all of its faults, does a pretty good job. Without them, I would wager that those playing with toy aeroplanes would be SIGNIFICANTLY less than today.
They support the needs and wants of the majority of members. They ARE pretty poor in the marketing department, but try....
I find that my District VP and the AVP''s are receptive to suggestions that would be beneficial to "the greater good".....they are generally as dismayed as all of us here at the proliferation of time/money/magazine space devoted to Park Fliers, but they also explain that these present the greatest peril to our flying sites and ability to pursue our passions....
The AMA also recognizes that there is a real danger of the Fed "shutting down" airmodeling activity because of threats (real and perceived) to National Security, and that control line may become the ONLY airmodeling activity available in certain areas of the country....and control line is always mentioned when bans on flying are discussed...
Support the AMA and make reasonable suggestions....they DO care!

Russ Danneman · « **Reply #60 on:** October 08, 2009, 07:13:23 AM »

signed my son up today!

john e. holliday · « **Reply #61 on:** October 08, 2009, 09:40:16 AM »

I have been an AMA member since my first contest at Stanley Kansas Air Field. Was DQ'd when wheel fell off the Guillows Rat Racer. Have never let it lapse even the years I couldn't go to contests. As any organization, it is only as good as its members. Getting ready to send renewals for 4 grand kids and myself. DOC Holliday

Scott Jenkins · « **Reply #62 on:** October 08, 2009, 10:57:07 AM »

Among the obivious that already has been stated. How many of you have ever
seen a District VP at a C/L local contest, in District V we have a relatively new VP
and for the time he has been in office not once have I heard of him being at any
C/L contest that goes for the AVP's also we have about 6 of them here in FLorida.
And I do not recall a C/L contest mentioned in the District news since the last VP
was in office. I apologize for not remembering his name, but he did show up a a
contest or two and shook every hand that did not have a handle in it at the time.
The only person I know shows up at nearly every contest regardless of venue is
Gene Martine the C/L contest coordinator for the Florida part of the district.
In essence if we cannot get the people that run the district political end of our
hobby to recognize that we are a viable part of the AMA then what hope do we
have of attracting AMA headquarters to support us on a national basis.

Scott

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #63 on:** October 09, 2009, 08:04:15 PM »

One thing that might help is for the AMA to be true to its mission as an educational association. When do you actually see anything educational that the AMA does? I suppose you could stretch the word "educational" to the point that the typical, incessant ARF reviews of its magazine might be jammed into it, but I doubt it. I wonder what would happen if the AMA, instead of chasing the market, actually changed its basic approach and honored what it is incorporated as? What would happen if it became proactive and set an agenda of education instead of chasing the latest market craze in model flying. Since that craze currently leads to the local Toys-R-Us store, you have to wonder about the capabilities and thinking process of AMA leadership.

Does the IRS ever check to see if an institution incorporated as an educational entity actually is? Apparently not.

Scott

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #64 on:** October 09, 2009, 09:34:55 PM »

Quote from: Scott Richlen on October 09, 2009, 08:04:15 PM

When do you actually see anything educational that the AMA does? Scott

The Delta Dart.There ya'go!

Brian Massey · « **Reply #65 on:** October 10, 2009, 03:13:31 PM »

As a returning "retread" to C/L flying, I have a couple of observations:

First: Having not seen a C/L plane in the air for about 35 years, I was/am surprised how many are still active in the hobby. Even more surprised how many contests are still held, and how well attended. I'm not surprised that parks and schools still shun C/L.

Second: I purchased some stuff from Tower Hobbies and got a free 3 month subscription to Model Airplane News, my past magazine of choice. After reading 3 issues I did not once see "C/L" anywhere. I'm not sure MAN knows the hobby still exists. You can imagine what happened to the "special renewal offer" when it came. The amount of coverage that the AMA "official" magazine gives to C/L is disappointing at best.

It's pretty obvious that R/C currently rules, but that's no reason to turn your back on C/L. As a member of the Fresno area PC Flyers, I have started to churn out a small newsletter. Our local hobby shop is happy to allow me leave a stack on the counter; and guess what, it works. We have a new father/son combo who have purchased a PT-19 ARF and will fly for the first time tomorrow.

I would think that the AMA could afford to spend a little more time/effort/money to promote our hobby. I haven't joined PAMPA as yet, but will be soon; for some reason I just keep dragging my feet.

Brian

GGeezer · « **Reply #66 on:** October 10, 2009, 03:27:55 PM »

Brian,
Model Airplane News is now a strictly R/C magazine and has been for at least 10 years. The only model magazine on the news stands that still has FF and CL articles and plans and is not a commercial catalog is Flying Models, the only magazine I still buy. I do hope they can stay in business otherwise special interest group publications and club news letters will be the only source of non R/C information.
Orv.

Clancy Arnold · « **Reply #67 on:** October 10, 2009, 04:00:24 PM »

Try a subscription to Control Line World.

Strictly Control Line.

Address:
Control Line World Magazine,
100 Park Avenue,
Carmichaels, PA 15320

Clancy

EddyR · « **Reply #68 on:** October 10, 2009, 08:47:48 PM »

One point everyone is missing is there would be no contest if there was no clubs and there would be no clubs if we didn't have AMA's incredibly inexpensive yearly club field insurance. You have to have some membership and a legal name to get the insurance. Ever go and talk to someone about using there lot to hold a contest and not have insurance you can offer the owner.We hold two sanctioned contest and many other events at the Huntersville field each year. We could not even walk on the field if we didn't have the insurance. It's $65 a year. Someone said lets get private insurance. How about $3500 a year. I just spent several months working with the county to get us set up for several years into the future and they agree that AMA is the best way to go and the only insurance they will except. You won't get on the field with your homeowners insurance. Do you think your homeowners insurance will send the county a letter saying they are going to cover you at the field. With out that letter we can't use the field. After the first of the year our field is going to be locked all the time. Club members can get a key.We formed a Charter within the AMA between the RC club and our CL club for joint use of the field and our insurance is going to be cheaper next year. I agree if you don't want to belong to a club and like to fly by yourself on a school ballpark you can skip AMA. If AMA did nothing but supply insurance it would still be of great value.
Ed

Brian Massey · « **Reply #69 on:** October 11, 2009, 09:18:50 AM »

As far as Mike M's point, we do need to market our sport. "Control line" or "U-control" are old names; why not call it what it is and at the same time bring it into the modern age; after all, we are the orginal "Fly-by-Wire"

. That's what we call our PC Flyer's newsletter, and people seem to like it.

Brian

John Stiles · « **Reply #70 on:** October 11, 2009, 11:05:30 AM »

Quote from: Hoss Cain on October 01, 2009, 12:51:24 PM

Gentlemen, fellow Model Airplane Enthusiasts:

There is far more to our sport than most aeromodelers ever realize.

In any case here are the figures that are official from AMA Membership department. What are you and I going to do about it?

Official membership numbers close on Sep. 14 of each year.

2000........165365
2001........170754
2002........173420 Peak
2003........168075
2004........163709
2005........161006
2006........156765
2007........151394
2008........148487
2009........142231

It might help if some "aero-modelers" could can the attitudes towards new members. I left this forum once because of certain attitudes toward "my" voicing of opinion in an open forum. In my opinion anyone who doesn't like a thread posted by a new member, or even a comment made in an open forum, they can ignore it.......but copping an attitude towards new members, or even those not so new....is counter-productive to keeping this a family oriented sport. Having said that, I will now retire myself to the "back channel" of these boards.

Brian Massey · « **Reply #71 on:** October 11, 2009, 10:43:16 PM »

Does Control Line World have a web address?

Brian

Jim Oliver · « **Reply #72 on:** October 12, 2009, 03:25:23 AM »

Brian, try:

www.controllineworld.com

Jim

posthole_digger · « **Reply #73 on:** October 12, 2009, 06:09:01 AM »

Too bad that site is so far out of date. And, if you click subscribe there, my computer gives me a message to close the window for security reasons.

Paul

Dick Pacini · « **Reply #74 on:** October 12, 2009, 08:26:48 AM »

This Connection is Untrusted

You have asked Firefox to connect
securely to www.brodak.com, but we can't confirm that your connection is secure.

Normally, when you try to connect securely,
sites will present trusted identification to prove that you are
going to the right place. However, this site's identity can't be verified.

What Should I Do?

If you usually connect to
this site without problems, this error could mean that someone is
trying to impersonate the site, and you shouldn't continue.

Technical Details

www.brodak.com uses an invalid security certificate.

The certificate expired on 9/28/2009 5:50 PM.

(Error code: sec_error_expired_certificate)

I Understand the Risks

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #75 on:** October 12, 2009, 10:36:54 AM »

That's just Microsoft's BS security crap, they have to keep changing things making it hard for anyone to stay on top of it.

Call Brodak and they will fix you up.

Steve Scott · « **Reply #76 on:** October 12, 2009, 12:47:40 PM »

Quote from: Ty Marcucci on October 02, 2009, 06:29:03 AM

Hi
Dick. You can get your old number back if 1. It is still available. 2. you have an AMA licence with yuor old number on it. Just send in the application with a note and a copy of the old lic. It worked for me after 22 years.

There was a period where AMA used to recycle old membership numbers. I joined AMA during the 1960s when I was a youth but let it lapse during my college years. A few years later at one of the trade shows, I asked Vince Mankowski about rejoining. He said I should be able to get my original number back as AMA had gone back to their original practice of assigning only unique numbers to new members.

That said, AMA is not unlike any other organization having to compete for discretionary leisure dollars these days. A brutal economy and recent fiscal/monetary policies of enabling primarily the wealthy have devastated what was once a thriving middle class. I can attest as recently as 2002, my professional career and personal wealth were both in far better shape than today.

Sadly, I've had to drop several organizations and SIGs I formerly finacially supported. I'm having to work longer hours, my spouse has been forced to reenter the workforce and I'm finding precious little time for modeling or many of the other recreational activities I used to enjoy.

Demographics have also changed. The rapid emergence of small, affordable and largely pre-built park flyers have seen full AMA participation take a hit. They don't need a sanctioned field requiring AMA membership to fly their "toys". I now have as many unassembled ARFs still in boxes on the shelves because I can't break away from the higher priorities in life.

Just look at today's kids. There is so much more pressure on them to achieve success at an early age they have to commit to grueling sports programs, tackle more difficult courses in school and are straddled with MUCH more homework than I have had to complete 45 years ago.

I'm not sure AMA can reverse what is, in reality, a national social/economic trend.

Brian Massey · « **Reply #77 on:** October 14, 2009, 03:14:44 PM »

For those of you also having issues along with me regarding www.controllineworld.com, I asked the main guy, John Brodak. That website is no longer used, you can subscribe by going to the Brodak home page. He said in his email that you could look at the magazine there, but may have misspoke; I see no links to the magazine except for the subscribe link.

Brian

Author Topic: Our down-sizing Academy of Model Aeronautics: (Read 14750 times)

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