AMA now scaming?

While it may feel like a scam, it's just a typical marketing ploy and it works in too often and too well for organizations not to use it.

While not, for various reasons, an AMA member at this time, I belong to a couple of other organizations that started in the same type thing and my reaction was the same as many here - it ticked me off and I didn't like it at all.

However, the solution in both cases was a quick letter to headquarters with a request that they not send me any unsolicited items. No rants about their policies or requests that the instigator be fired, just a simple "In the future, please do not...." This has worked perfectly in both cases and I have not received anything from either of them. Some enjoy it others do not... if you're one that doesn't, it's fairly easy to fix. Cheers, jc

"C G" wrote

Maybe someone will straighten me out on this if I am wrong, but the AMA that I grew up with was a non profit organization focused on educating folks about aviation.

Ed Cregger TAS

AMA is an IRC 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization formed with Education as its objective. The term non-profit does not mean that the specific unit cannot operate profitable businesses or operations. There are restrictions against certain distributions and benefits for specific individuals or other units along with accumulated assets. For example the AMA magazine, "Model Aviation" is owned by AMA but for tax purposes the magazine is considered "Unrelated Business" especially in the area of advertising income. To offset the "taxes" the current AMA Financial Officer (EVP) has devised a strategy whereas all the costs of obtaining the revenue and the advertising plus producing the advertising is charged against that advertising. Sounds Good? Read on! AMA/MA has the lowest advertising rates in the industry other than "RC Report". AMA/RC is the only U.S. magazine that solicits advertising through an agent on commission. The total net advertising revenue against other expenses amounts to less than 5% of the total cost of the magazine. That results in the major expense of the magazine being borne by the AMA membership through dues. Another irregularity (irr. in my opinion) in the current accounting scheme is that the staff of the magazine is not even shown as magazine expense, but as AMA Staff expense. My estimate is that the magazine actually costs the individual member in dues that amount as so stated on the lower portion of page 6 of each issue, beginning "Model Aviation" and continuing with ".... $18.00 of the dues are for the subscription." This information is in the audit report for 2003 for those that are able to decipher it. Warning: 3rd grade level may be required. (;-))<

Actually, if I were in the CFO position, I would bring MA into a PROFIT Center which may certainly increase the taxed portion and tax paid, it would also do two other very important things. (1) AMA's income from another source would be well increased, (Have you ever heard of anyone that properly pays his Federal Income taxes being poorer -- The more taxes I ever paid was when I had MORE relative income) and #2: With a high rate for advertising within the modeling media, just MAYBE, the other media magazines would AGAIN support AMA sponsored events/activities within their pages. Other magazines are sold on newsstands and would help get the AMA message outside the choir. For all of you out there with objections to AMA policies, check out page 149 of your March 2005 MA. You again have options to make significant changes at the EC level. Nominate NEW people to the available offices. Just write a short letter and send it -- CERTIFIED RETURN RECEIPT MAIL -- to AMA for the Nominating Committee. Have others do same or at least endorse your letter. There is a chance to add FOUR new individuals to the EC. Make your voice heard. If you want this AMA to be OUR AMA, it is again the HOUR to make it so. Ball in YOUR court!

Horrace Cain AMA L-93

"Look and you will find it -- what is unsought will go undetected." Sophocles "Never give up for that is just the place the tide will turn." H.B. Stowe "A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them." P.J. O'Rourke

Well, Ed, apparently the AMA we grew up with is no longer content being the national organization for promotion of the sport.

So, some other company is sending these things out? How did they get all the addresses?

Can you say, "Sell the database?"

Poor AMA, now I'm wondering why I haven't gotten my copy yet?

generally don't like junk mail but at least this one is targeted little more than the usual stuff. Next, I'd like to see a pre-printe address label, w/ my AMA number, now that would be useful

-- sfsjki

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Well then whenever I feel like selling something, I will not bother with ebay, I will just mail it to you with a bill.

How is this possible? The only way I can think it is possible is if the AMA sold/gave something to the third party mailer in return? What could that be? The mailing list you think? If the AMA sold our personal information down the river, heads should roll.

But, for it to be free for the AMA, was our personal information sold or given away, thus insuring more junk mail in our boxes from multiple sources? If not, how is it possible? If so, that was a terrible thing for the AMA to do to it's membership.

Oh, NO, that would NEVER happen! ;^)

HEHE!

I can't see how another company can send out mass mailings (not costing the AMA anything, of course) without there being a GREAT probability of profit. I think everyone who gets the packages should also be looking out for other mailings not necessarily related to model aviation.

The AMA HAD to provide the names and addresses of their membership to a third party for this to happen. I am also fairly sure that third party WILL profit before the AMA gets a dime.

I'll give 'em this, it's an education for sure! Now whether or not it's about aviation.................

Now we finally agree on something. My only question is, what took you so long?

And has it been noted how this happened so soon AFTER an election? Plenty of time before the next vote for everyone to forgive and forget!

The only way you're ever, really going to get their attention is to vote with your wallets. But the AMA has a sure thing. They're organized while the membership, even the disgruntled ones, are anything but organized. Hmmm! Maybe that was the heart of the SFA threat!

And then the whiners will complain about the loss of service. Case in point, the complaints about the AMA no longer mailing contest rules books.

In what way? They clearly said you could keep it WITHOUT paying.

The "30 seconds" is much less time than the whiners are spending here complaining about it.

To a vocal few, the ones who will complain about anything, yes. To the rest of the people, who don't let such petty things bother them, it's actually been entertaining to see y'all whining.

In your rush to contradict, you both agreed and disagreed with me about one single statement. You really should think more carefully before typing.

Duh, the chance to make money from the DVDs.