What do you consider?

Why are you getting so defensive? I merely pointed out how much money Muncie was sucking from the core purpose that many believe that the AMA should be performing. You are the one who doesn't seem to know the true scale of that operation.

In other words, you are good at talking about pie in the sky deals but you have no experience with actually doing it. I have done it several times.

I don't believe we fully see the recurring costs of Muncis also. I was indifferent/slightly for Muncie when the acquitision was orginally proposed. Had know idea what it was going to turn into. If the AMA would leverage 3 million dollars for field acquisitions and upgrades, the hobby could be totally transformed. I know of very few clubs that would not just love to own their site and make permanent improvements. These clubs are also willing to invest time and their own money, they just need backing and leadership, a place where the AMA has been short sited. How many first class flying sites exist today? I mean when you drive up you go wow I want to belong to this. Every district should have at least one 1st class site. An open flying area with completely clear overflight, runway oriented to minimize sun impact, oversized paved runway, a building in addition of a pavilion that has nice restrooms and vending machines and can be heated or cooled for special events, nice paved parking lot for normal flyers with plenty of open tended grass area for event parking, RV hookups, landscaping..... A place where district championships can be held, district flyins, and the rest of the time just your normal everyday fly what ya bring for members of that club. Hypothetically if the AMA paid a club in each district $10,000 a year for a couple of weeks and weekends at that 1st class facility it would be peanuts to the AMA, and huge benefit for the hobby.

Phil

Paul McIntosh wrote:

Yep! You're so right! That's why I'm retired and you're not! That's why I own 200 acres at my residence. What do you have? That's why I built and own an equestrian facility housing close to 60 horses at present. How about you? That's why I don't work for a living, I work because I enjoy it. What's your excuse?

IOW, you're making assumptions about me without any basis in fact. Bad move feather merchant!

And like I said the first time:

"To really help clubs obtain fields, the AMA is going to need more funds than Muncie will provide."

IOW, dumping Muncie could well prove a waste of time for the return it would provide. Duh!

the true beauty of the internet. thousands of words and nothing said.

So, why aren't you using all your vast expertice to solve all the problems? You seem to know everything yet you still come on here and ask what the problems are. When they are pointed out to you by people who live in the real world, you come off like a know-it-all.

How many federal government agencies have you negotiated model airplane flying site for? I have helped negotiate three flying site deals with county governments.

BTW, you don't know anything about me, either.

So, getting several million dollars available to help local or districts set up flying sites would be a wast of time, in your opinion.

membership.

frequencies

rotflmao ....remove my-wife......please........(in memory of Rodney)

I can chime in with the content of the message. There are an awful lot of us old farts walking the flight line and the snapping and popping of knee joints.... But the language is something else too(to) It is an interesting generation of new kids. The schools push sports not aviation. Some do.

Icrashrc wrote:

Well if they raise money to help some poor club in the Virgin Islands, they had better not use my AMA dues. Assistance is one thing, but buying fields and doing that fairly and evenly would be impossible and is a failed socialistic ideal. To buy a field near the headquarters where only a few priviliged modelers can enjoy it is facist, but to buy fields everywere is socialistic. Both are failed systems.

Well, personally, I would rather they benefit more modelers even if it can't be perfect.

Besides, if you read my earlier post, you would know that I do not advocate the AMA buying sites. The money should be leveraged so that many local clubs can buy sites.

For two reasons Paul. First, if you dump Muncie, where is the AMA HQ going to be? You'll have to provide something for an HQ. So chances are what you gain by dumping Muncie will be eaten up in the new facility in one way or another.

Second, a few million is no where near what will be needed to help 2000 plus clubs eventually obtain flying sites. It's a drop in the bucket. I realize that a few million is serious money for you. But in my experience it's nothing! Let's talk hundreds of millions if you want to talk money!

How bout selling the Muncie propertys and reduce the dues to both clubs and members? That is the only way it could be done fairly. Or use the money to lobby congress or something constructive that would benifit all without using consiberable time and effort deciding which club needs the money the most.

Because I think you will find that the money sucked up by the Muncie site doesn't use all that much of the dues.

And, why waste money lobbying congress? We don't have a drop in the bucket compared to all the other land use lobbies. We can't even get a small slice of exclusive use frequencies!

Of course, with all your millions you could solve the problem overnight.

I have actually lobbied for flying sites. I have worked on business cases to buy flying sites. I have talked with Government officials regarding otaining and retaining flying sites. I have also worked on financial plans regarding buying flying sites. $3 million dollars could have been leveraged to secure over 1000 flying sites at the time Muncie was purchased. You, being a rich person, has no idea how to do that apparently.

Regarding where the headquarters would be if the Muncie site was sold? There are plenty of lower rent office spaces available vacant right now.

With an AMA full of optimists like yourself, is it any wonder the hobby is on the bottom of the ladder?

Yep! Rent instead of own! There's a wise us of cash!

I'd like to see you scheme to leverage 3 mil into 1000 flying sites? You couldn't get six sites within 50 miles of the DC area for that money. Just to name one area. Or do you plan to service only clubs located where the population density is 2 per square mile or less?

And BTW, I did buy a flying site! But I'm not dumb enough to spend any more to support the likes of you!

Again,

I would like to hear your grand solution. How about some details.

I thought you were some kind of financial genius. Figure it out yourself. I would point you to the AMA site assistance program as a guide but you aren't a member!