http://www.modelaviation.com/the-value-of-membership
It time to let the AMA know how you feel. If you have the time please go to the link and respond to this article.
Written by Dave Mathewson
View from HQ
Monthly AMA News Column
As seen in the September 2017 issue of Model Aviation.
"We’ve all heard the question, “When a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around to hear it, did it make a sound?” The logical answer would be “yes.”
I was speaking with another association leader recently who put a spin on that question. He asked, “If an association offers value to its members and the members do not take advantage, did the association deliver value?” He felt most would answer that question with “no.”
His reasoning centered upon value proposition. Today it is critically important that associations such as AMA provide a high level of value to their members. Occasionally, when an AMA member is asked about what he or she receives from his or her membership, the person is at a loss for a good answer.
This is typical in most membership organizations. In AMA’s case, insurance is usually given as a reason for belonging. After that, the member sometimes has a hard time articulating other reasons, although most know that there are many.
Most of AMA’s members can be broken down into two categories. Those in the first category will continue to belong to AMA no matter what. Many have been modelers for decades and AMA members for nearly as long. They know the organization and believe in it because they’ve lived it. They know firsthand how their AMA membership has enhanced their ability to enjoy model aviation.
The second is a more challenging group. Those in this group are generally willing to join an organization if they believe that the value they receive from membership is equal to or greater than the cost of dues. They are typically younger, have busy lives, and their available recreation time is limited. They see association membership as an investment and want to see a return on that investment.
AMA Executive Director, Dave Mathewson
AMA offers dozens of membership benefits. Not every member wants or needs each benefit, but all want or need some. Make a list of all AMA membership benefits. Some of the most recognizable include AMA’s work to allow model aviation to remain free of overly onerous government regulation; its work as a liaison to other government agencies including the EPA, FCC, and Department of Homeland Security; the Disaster Relief Program that has helped dozens of clubs faced with loss or damage to their flying sites as the result of natural disasters; the Flying Site Assistance Grant Program that has helped clubs improve their current facilities or purchase a permanent flying site; the Take off And Grow Program that provides financial assistance to help clubs introduce model aviation to others in their communities and build the club’s credibility with its neighbors; the Legal Defense Fund that provides matching dollar financial assistance to help clubs overcome the threat of losing flying sites; and subscriptions to AMA’s flagship publication, Model Aviation, or Park Pilot magazine, or both.
Add to this impressive list the Charles H. Grant Scholarship Program that has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to young members beginning their college careers; AMA’s education outreach efforts that provide support to clubs in their effort to introduce model aviation to younger members of their communities; a structured system of competition rules and a sanctioning process that helps manage more than 2,500 individual club events each year; and being the only organization in the US that represents model aviation on an international level through our affiliation with the NAA and FAI.
Then add a significant benefit, the one most members think about first when asked about AMA: the liability insurance protection AMA provides to each member. This excess coverage for members is well above what most of us individually carry and provides peace of mind for many. Possibly more important is the primary protection that each of our chartered clubs can offer flying site owners as a result of their AMA affiliation. This benefit has allowed hundreds of clubs access to good flying sites that they might not have otherwise had.
To complete the list, add the dozens of other benefits, too numerous to mention, that are also included with an AMA membership.
So now that you’ve compiled a list, place a dollar value next to each item that would equal the value of this benefit to you. Values will be different for every member. Some members feel certain benefits have no value to them while others might place a high value on that same benefit.
After you’ve assigned values go back and add up the numbers. If the number is greater than the cost of your dues, membership in AMA is a good value for you. I truly believe most will find that AMA membership is a great value.
See you next time …"
It time to let the AMA know how you feel. If you have the time please go to the link and respond to this article.
Written by Dave Mathewson
View from HQ
Monthly AMA News Column
As seen in the September 2017 issue of Model Aviation.
"We’ve all heard the question, “When a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around to hear it, did it make a sound?” The logical answer would be “yes.”
I was speaking with another association leader recently who put a spin on that question. He asked, “If an association offers value to its members and the members do not take advantage, did the association deliver value?” He felt most would answer that question with “no.”
His reasoning centered upon value proposition. Today it is critically important that associations such as AMA provide a high level of value to their members. Occasionally, when an AMA member is asked about what he or she receives from his or her membership, the person is at a loss for a good answer.
This is typical in most membership organizations. In AMA’s case, insurance is usually given as a reason for belonging. After that, the member sometimes has a hard time articulating other reasons, although most know that there are many.
Most of AMA’s members can be broken down into two categories. Those in the first category will continue to belong to AMA no matter what. Many have been modelers for decades and AMA members for nearly as long. They know the organization and believe in it because they’ve lived it. They know firsthand how their AMA membership has enhanced their ability to enjoy model aviation.
The second is a more challenging group. Those in this group are generally willing to join an organization if they believe that the value they receive from membership is equal to or greater than the cost of dues. They are typically younger, have busy lives, and their available recreation time is limited. They see association membership as an investment and want to see a return on that investment.
AMA Executive Director, Dave Mathewson
AMA offers dozens of membership benefits. Not every member wants or needs each benefit, but all want or need some. Make a list of all AMA membership benefits. Some of the most recognizable include AMA’s work to allow model aviation to remain free of overly onerous government regulation; its work as a liaison to other government agencies including the EPA, FCC, and Department of Homeland Security; the Disaster Relief Program that has helped dozens of clubs faced with loss or damage to their flying sites as the result of natural disasters; the Flying Site Assistance Grant Program that has helped clubs improve their current facilities or purchase a permanent flying site; the Take off And Grow Program that provides financial assistance to help clubs introduce model aviation to others in their communities and build the club’s credibility with its neighbors; the Legal Defense Fund that provides matching dollar financial assistance to help clubs overcome the threat of losing flying sites; and subscriptions to AMA’s flagship publication, Model Aviation, or Park Pilot magazine, or both.
Add to this impressive list the Charles H. Grant Scholarship Program that has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to young members beginning their college careers; AMA’s education outreach efforts that provide support to clubs in their effort to introduce model aviation to younger members of their communities; a structured system of competition rules and a sanctioning process that helps manage more than 2,500 individual club events each year; and being the only organization in the US that represents model aviation on an international level through our affiliation with the NAA and FAI.
Then add a significant benefit, the one most members think about first when asked about AMA: the liability insurance protection AMA provides to each member. This excess coverage for members is well above what most of us individually carry and provides peace of mind for many. Possibly more important is the primary protection that each of our chartered clubs can offer flying site owners as a result of their AMA affiliation. This benefit has allowed hundreds of clubs access to good flying sites that they might not have otherwise had.
To complete the list, add the dozens of other benefits, too numerous to mention, that are also included with an AMA membership.
So now that you’ve compiled a list, place a dollar value next to each item that would equal the value of this benefit to you. Values will be different for every member. Some members feel certain benefits have no value to them while others might place a high value on that same benefit.
After you’ve assigned values go back and add up the numbers. If the number is greater than the cost of your dues, membership in AMA is a good value for you. I truly believe most will find that AMA membership is a great value.
See you next time …"
