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Saying goodbye to AMA?

witchfingers

70cc twin V2
I have been pondering a question. What fallout would there be if all rc clubs went private and dumped the AMA requirement? I have homeowners so I really don't see why I need ama b.s. insurance. If a large insurance provider stepped up and would underwrite policies specifically for rc craft, could we all get that and move on? At this point in the rc industry, I see it is time to evolve. The technology has brought us to a point where the FAA as well as many non rc people are not seeing it as" just a hobby". Obviously we have no one advocating for us so maybe we should provide for ourselves. FAA fee..$5. Insurance per month/year???? Its got to be less or comparable to the ever inflating cost of AMA membership especially if we could get into an insurance pool. I just think it is time for a change. I think the sport has passed up the AMA. I would love to hear every ones thoughts on this. Maybe there is something I am not seeing and you can enlighten me.
 

Bartman

Defender of the Noob!
My main concern would be all of the events and categories that are organized by the AMA. Maybe those categories could be organized by the people that participate (like IMAC) but if there's a chance of those things going away then I'd be reluctant to agree with you.
 

49dimes

Damn I'm hungry
Personally my feelings are just the opposite. President Reagan even said "Government is for the peoples protection and not running their lives". The AMA does still let us be known as a "group" of people who engage in model sport for competition and / or personal pleasure. The FAA is refusing to recognize us as such and we are to be counted as part of the general population.
I don't disagree that the FAA has a genuine concern with public safety and the national air space but I strongly disagree how they are undertaking the problem of the general public causing disturbances in conformed flight operations in the national air space.

I can just see it coming......."Back Ground Checks" before you fly or buy. Registration is only going to be the "tip of the ice burg".

We as a "group" should be exempt just by the fact that we are the AMA ;).
 

Terryscustom

640cc Uber Pimp
It's not even a question, it's already been clarified that things like the 400' rule will only apply outside of AMA recognized flying sites and those flying outside of the AMA. Also for those of us that go to lots of events it's pretty much a no brainier that we will be able to continue what we do for some time yet. AMA will go on and still makes sense to belong.
 

RJ 706

70cc twin V2
It's not even a question, it's already been clarified that things like the 400' rule will only apply outside of AMA recognized flying sites and those flying outside of the AMA. Also for those of us that go to lots of events it's pretty much a no brainier that we will be able to continue what we do for some time yet. AMA will go on and still makes sense to belong.

Would it not be in everyone's best interest to support the AMA and what it is supposed to stand for?
Return the direction of the organization to the majority of those that have supported it for so many years by removing the leadership !!!!!
All of those in Bob Brown's pocket, as well as Mr. Brown, need to be voted out of office and replaced with officers that represent the majority, NOT what Bob Brown dictates to them.
The AMA brand belongs to us, but it is our responsibility to step up and make ourselves count. All of the energy put into bantering the pros and cons of the situation should be put into making every effort to use the power of the numbers to clean house and redirect the organization.
Serious changes need to be made to the management and the amount of power they have before placing things to a vote of the membership.
AMA is running like a bad Homeowners Association. The board does as they please, because they are allowed to do so by the laid back attitude of the membership.
They we're all elected to SERVE the membership and the majority of our desires. We should call for Mr. Brown to do as any failed CEO in corporate America, to resign.
 
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Bipeguy03

150cc
Would it not be in everyone's best interest to support the AMA and what it is supposed to stand for?
Return the direction of the organization to the majority of those that have supported it for so many years by removing the leadership !!!!!
All of those in Bob Brown's pocket, as well as Mr. Brown, need to be voted out of office and replaced with officers that represent the majority, NOT what Bob Brown dictates to them.
The AMA brand belongs to us, but it is our responsibility to step up and make ourselves count. All of the energy put into bantering the pros and cons of the situation should be put into making every effort to use the power of the numbers to clean house and redirect the organization.
Serious changes need to be made to the management and the amount of power they have before placing things to a vote of the membership.
AMA is running like a bad Homeowners Association. The board does as they please, because they are allowed to do so by the laid back attitude of the membership.
They we're all elected to SERVE the membership and the majority of our desires. We should call for Mr. Brown to do as any failed CEO in corporate America, to resign.

Perfectly said.

The AMA has always given us the representation we've needed until now. As @49dimes said it still allows us to be known as a group, kinda like the NRA.

The problem is money got involved, I mean I opened up the latest issue of MA and what did I see? About 20 full page ads fo "DRONES". And when all these quads starting getting popular and became a problem that the FAA had to deal with instead of pushing it aside, the AMA should have been distancing itself from the word Drone, but instead they seemed to be defending them at first. We are talking people that weren't even AMA members, why did that happen? Money.....

Here's a crazy thought that will probably catch hell.

The AMA can't really "kick out" all the quad enthusiasts, but how about they have to pay an extra amount on the membership dues for excessive hardship, and get a special card that verifies they have paid to be covered flying a quad? Hate to sound like an A**hole but how many Giant Scale, Heli, Scale, Sport guys do you see causing problems with the feds?


With all my ranting I'm not dropping my AMA membership, I can't as I live on a small full scale airport, and my permission to fly is based on me having an AMA Membership and following the SAFTEY GUIDLINES. And I will bitch about it until the end and probably for several years after but I will register if nothing happens between now and FEB 19, but if that is the case I will be calling for the AMA officials heads on sticks!!


RANT OVER (for tonight anyway)
 
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