ll associations face the
challenge of generating
revenue. Revenue is generated
from a number of sources, and typically
dues are but one of the myriad options in
terms of ways that associations support
themselves.
A large portion of associations
derive most of their income from sources
other than dues, and in this respect AMA
is unusual. AMA derives the majority of
its income from membership dues, but
we are working to develop alternate
sources of income in order to keep the
dues amounts in check. It’s interesting to
see how the membership reacts to some
of these attempts.
We recently sent out an E-mail
promoting one of our “affinity” programs
(a credit card that returns income to
AMA), and within hours I received Emails
from members who were irate that
AMA would do such a thing. That
program generates more income for
AMA than a $1 dues increase would, and
that is $1 each member doesn’t have to
pay in dues.
We occasionally charge admission
to the National Flying Site in Muncie,
Indiana, for special events and that
brings about some grumbling. “Why
should the members have to pay to get
into ‘their’ site?”
On the surface that is a valid
President’s Perspective
AMA President Dave Brown
A reaction, but operating the site and
putting on some of those events involve
costs that are more appropriately borne
by the people who attend the events
rather than by the membership as a whole
through dues.
Overnight parking of recreational
vehicles with electrical hookups,
availability of water, and a dump facility
are other services for which we charge.
Again, some complain about the
existence of a charge or the amount
of the fee.
The idea is to try to recover costs
and generate income for the association
without increasing dues. I can assure you
that the officers and the staff do the best
they can possibly do to be equitable in
establishing any fees as well as the
amount of dues.
For as long as I can remember,
AMA has had a discount of $10 on dues
for seniors and that is not going to
change in the immediate future, but a
recent discussion of what this “costs” us
is revealing.
As the number of senior citizens
grows—and it is our fastest-growing age
category—the cost to the rest of the
membership rises. A $10 discount for
seniors is a nice idea, but that age group
accounts for nearly a quarter of AMA’s
membership.
The need to offset the loss of income
The Academy of Model Aeronautics is a world-class association of modelers organized for the purpose of
promotion, development, education, advancement and safeguard of modeling activities.
The Academy provides leadership, organization, competition, communication, protection, representation,
recognition, education, and scientific/technical development to modelers.
Mission Statement
the discount represents results in the rest
of the membership paying $3 more in
dues. The “nice idea” is suddenly seen in
another light.
As Sir Isaac Newton first observed,
every action results in an equal reaction,
equal in force, but in the opposite
direction. Perhaps he was thinking of
physics and bodies in motion, but it
surely applies to the economics of
running an association. Every time you
give something away to a member, you
must charge the rest of the members
more to balance the equation.
Think about this the next time you
are faced with an opportunity to help
support the AMA through any of the
non-dues revenue programs we operate.
AMA is one of the best values in the
world in terms of what you receive for
what it costs you. We all want to keep
it that way.
Fly safely and enjoy. MA
Dave Brown
AMA president
[email protected]
August 2007 5
The “nice idea” is suddenly seen in another light.
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Edition: Model Aviation - 2007/08
Page Numbers: 5