I WAS a long time,25 years supporter and dues paying member of AOPA but dropped out last December because of cost. They keep sending me emails for there service which I delete.Taxation without representation is my belief on AOPA -Great if your into New airplanes with million dollar price tags and want to read all the inside the beltway spin.I don't mind PAYING for services that make me
customers or at least represent me .

I also belong to and pay dues/fees on the following
Cessna Pilots Association --$55.00 a year, P.A.M.A. Local -$35.00 a year, VHPA- $25.00 a year, HAI -$100 bucks a year ,
My web site Service(s) runs $250.00 bucks ----Includes 4 web sites Family-EDM-B&G and Reid Inspection Services .

D.A.V Life -$75.00 1 time years ago ,Purple Heart Society - $100 bucks one time .

Wonder how other people are doing on this subject

Hi Bill,

I believe in strength in numbers, and that's especially true when we have such small numbers to start with like we do with the aviation community. I belong to the following aviation organizations;

EAA (lifetime member)
Antique Airplane Association (lifetime member)
AOPA
Cessna Pilots Association
International Cessna 180/185 Club
National Waco Club
American Waco Club
National Air Racing Group
Midwest Antique Airplane Club

I think that's all of them! Anyway, I believe in mutual support for my fellow aviators and these organizations work toward that goal.

I agree with Joe 100% . There is strength in numbers but I generally distrust large organazations because structuring usually benefits the top executives and leaves the rest wishing for all the promises to unfold. I am the AOPA airport support rep for Jackson Hole and their cause is noble,,, to a point. I am also a EAA lifetime member as I believe the mission is worthy. In fact I just recently restructured my after life affairs to leave the young eagles program a tidy sum to perpetuate aviation. I have not even told the EAA of this so it should be a "little surprise" when time comes. We have to get the younger generation out of the house, off of the internet and video games and lite the fire of flying.. It works for us and it will save their souls . <G>.

Stol wrote:I agree with Joe 100% . There is strength in numbers but I generally distrust large organazations because structuring usually benefits the top executives and leaves the rest wishing for all the promises to unfold. I am the AOPA airport support rep for Jackson Hole and their cause is noble,,, to a point. I am also a EAA lifetime member as I believe the mission is worthy. In fact I just recently restructured my after life affairs to leave the young eagles program a tidy sum to perpetuate aviation. I have not even told the EAA of this so it should be a "little surprise" when time comes. We have to get the younger generation out of the house, off of the internet and video games and lite the fire of flying.. It works for us and it will save their souls . <G>.

I've decided If I do anything I'll re join the EAA . AOPA is ??? at best . Several years back I went to a trade show (HAI) to stand in the PAMA booth and hand out applications -my booth partner who also worked for AOPA told me stories of how the millions of dollars of AOPA funds were being spent --for private use of the upper level management of the AOPA .

BackCountryPilot.org
AOPA: I like there member services
EAA: Did it for OSH camp discount
RAF: Recreational Aviation Foundation
Blue Ribbon Coalition:
AMA: American Motorcyclist Association
NRA:
GOA: Gun owners of America
OFF: Oregon Firearms Federation
OPA: Oregon Pilots Asociation
TPA: Troutdale Pilots Association
Super Cub.org
ARRA: Americans For Responsible Recreational Access



I can not honestly say I am always up to date on my dues. I pay when the mood strikes me and I feel rich, inspired, or pissed off.

EAA
AOPA
Planetary Society
NRA

I'm not much of a joiner, so I only send dues to EAA.

tom

I guess we all have to make our own decisions where our dollars go each year. The interest and participation in the backcountry strips is widespread, as shown by the readers and contributors to the BackcountryPilot.Org site. But, let's never take the backcountry strips for granted. I would urge your contribution in either cash or time, or both to keep these magnificient backcountry strips open. Volunteer enthusiasts contribute a significant amount of time and money to help with the upkeep work performed. Some are completely maintained by people in these groups. The IAA, MPA, UBCP and RAF encourage and organize the volunteers to maintain and promote the strips in Idaho, Montana and Utah, as well as working towards the goal of keeping them open for all of us to use. The RAF has opened new strips in Montana and is now in the process of opening another new strip also in Montana. I think organizations like these are at the front lines of preserving the backcountry strips and being there as a a representative voice for users. It's easy to just take for granted the facilities and the maintenance, but the Forest Service and the State sometimes have trouble providing adequate funding and manpower. Johnson Creek is State maintained, but if there is a run on toilet paper and additional rolls are needed, the donation box can help out. Actually, I don't know if the donation funds have been used for toilet paper, but I do know that the donations have provided the little extras not included in their budget from the State.

Before I moved into the area, I was unaware of how much work is done by these organizations and the volunteers and even of the donation box at Johnson Creek. Most of Idaho's public campgrounds are fee based for car camping, but there is no fee for airplane campers. Nothing seems to stay the same, but with organizations such as IAA, MPA, UBCP and the RAF working in our interests, these strips may remain open for use by our grandchildren. I believe these organizations are very worthy of our donation dollars. The annual dues are only a few gallons of fuel.

There are numerous other organizations that have similar interests, these are just the ones that I'm aware of because they're in my area.

I'm off my soapbox now.

Jack

EAA
AOPA

To keep the wilderness strips in the west: They do great work
IAA Idaho Aviation Ass. Great Association with hard effort at keeping the wonderful backcountry airstrips open (flyidaho.org ). Please consider joining.
RAF Recreational Aircraft Ass.

Being one of the little guys in GA, I have some of the same questions about AOPA, but the fact is we need some entity to unite the money and political pull of the gulfstream owners with the numbers of the rest of us flying low level with spark plugs. Beyond that, Idaho Aviation Association is a volunteer organization trying to protect a resource which is very valuable to me. They don't pay big executive benefits and my money is used efficiently to maintain Idaho flying. I pay the "2nd household membership" as numbers can mean a lot to an organization with just above 1000 members when trying to make their voice heard by the government. Johnson Creek may be state owned / operated, but Moose Creek and many others aren't. As of this week, the forest service thanked the IAA for their time and input into the recent campground discussions, but for now they were going to manage things "their way". The fate of the Big Creek airstrips, Krassel and Reed ranch is far from resolved. If you fly there, it should be a no-brainer.
With the rest I am a member better than 50% of the time, but like Rob stated, sometimes it all depends on the mood and the wallet when the renewal letter shows up.
Alaska Airmen's Association
Utah Back Country Pilots
Recreational Aviation Foundation
Seaplane Pilots Association
EAA
Civil Air Patrol

" I WAS a long time,25 years supporter and dues paying member of AOPA but dropped out last December because of cost. They keep sending me emails for there service which I delete.Taxation without representation is my belief on AOPA -Great if your into New airplanes with million dollar price tags and want to read all the inside the beltway spin.I don't mind PAYING for services that make me
customers or at least represent me . "

182 STOL:

I share you distrust of any large organization (starting with our government), however, I will suggest that you may want to reconsider your position.

First, as matter of disclosure, I'm a member of AOPA and EAA both (180 Club, UBCP and RAF too). But I don't have any other horses in this race except my own flying welfare. I don't work for any of them and have no position in any of the organizations.

That said, we are faced with unprecedented encroachments into our ability to fly small GA birds. The list is almost endless and has been talked about quite a bit on this forum.

Cap and trade will dramatically increase the price of our fuel, the recent lawsuit settlement concerning lead in the fuel is going to mean leaded fuel will be taken from us, new FAA funding formulas (read that you and I will have to pay even more), the initiative by Homeland Security to impose draconian security measures at small GA airports, the desire of federal land agencies to limit access, the attempt to limit flights of aircraft over 10,000 lbs., it goes on and on. I don't care who you voted for and what your political persuasion is, GA flying is under assault and not in a small way.

Chose your poison, I don't care, but the biggest sticks in the woodshed are AOPA and EAA and both are spending significant time and dollars trying to lobby about these issues. They may be wasting other dollars, I don't know. But I do know that they are doing something!!! And we desperately need something right now!!! Not later. Am I really excited at the leadership that is currently being exercised? Probably not. But I know something is better than nothing.

I urge to not only join one of the organizations, but also contribute to their PAC fund.

One more point concerning backcountry flying. All of the organizations you mentioned are great. But I especially want to plug the RAF.

This is the only organization totally dedicated to keeping the backcountry open and they are doing a great job!!! I know one of the board members and they made a presentation in 08 to the Forest Service and were successful in getting them to consider adopting uniform rules on how to treat backcountry strips. They have assisted on the Tuweep strip, worked on behalf of Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Montana pilots, assisted in getting a new backcountry strip in Montana, etc. We in NM are trying to get the legislature to pass some laws exempting those who donate land for backcountry strips from legal liability. They have offered resources for that. They are making presentations at all of the major flying events (i.e. EAA Airventure, AOPA gathering, etc.) to raise awareness to our cause. In general, I believe they are doing a good job with not many dollars.

WE SHOULD ALL BE RAF MEMBERS. I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT THEY ARE DOING A GOOD JOB AND THEY ARE NOT SPENDING MONEY ON ANYTHING BUT PROMOTING BACKCOUNTRY STRIPS.

http://www.recreationalaviationfoundation.org

Thanks for letting me vent 182 STOL. I hope all of us pitch in somehow!!

Regards, Larry

AOPA
EAA
Supercub.org
Backcountry.org - hey I know these last two are not what you are looking for, but I use them the most.

I quit AOPA once, only because I hate the cardboard inserts in their magazine. I still had an issue come, and low and behold, it had no cardboard inserts, so I sent the money. Ever since, they all have cardboard, so I'm re-thinking again. I know they fight for us, I just don't want all the spam mail they send every few days.

Now that my AOPA juices are flowing, ten years ago, I paid them for a title search on a plane I bought. Last year I tried selling it and that guy found a lien that was 15 years old. This week I just bought another plane and decided NOT to use their service.

I support anything that promotes backcountry flying, because that is what I love to do, and I feel that if I don't participate, then the other side gets a little more strength to shut these strips down. Kinda like what my dentist told me once,"you onlyhave to take care of the teeth you want to keep". Don't do anything, and they will go away.

Very similar to what is goung on with the rest of our right right now.

I am a proud member of Recreational Aviation Foundation
Utah BackCountry Piots
Idaho Aviation Association
Montana Pilots Associaton

Along with:

BCAH

Experimental Aircraft Association
A large part for their work with younger people

AOPA
With the hopes that they can help protect our rights


NRA
Needs no explanation


Mile High Club
Also needs no explanation

182 STOL driver wrote:I WAS a long time,25 years supporter and dues paying member of AOPA but dropped out last December because of cost. They keep sending me emails for there service which I delete.Taxation without representation is my belief on AOPA -Great if your into New airplanes with million dollar price tags and want to read all the inside the beltway spin.I don't mind PAYING for services that make me
customers or at least represent me .

I also belong to and pay dues/fees on the following
Cessna Pilots Association --$55.00 a year, P.A.M.A. Local -$35.00 a year, VHPA- $25.00 a year, HAI -$100 bucks a year ,
My web site Service(s) runs $250.00 bucks ----Includes 4 web sites Family-EDM-B&G and Reid Inspection Services .

D.A.V Life -$75.00 1 time years ago ,Purple Heart Society - $100 bucks one time .

Wonder how other people are doing on this subject

Organizations.....not to pick at you 182 STOL

I originated once.

Ummm, let's see...

Mile High Club
Half Mile High Club
Desert Lobster Frequent Flyers Assoc.
BCAH Compound Commander
126th Air Ambulance Co. Go Ugly Early and You Never Go Without Club
Cache Creek Drinkin' and Plinkin' Society
Kit Kat Ranch, Mina, NV, Quality Control Inspector.

I think that about covers all the important ones.

Gump

AOPA
Alaska Airmen Association
International Cessna 170 Association

A few web boards too

shortfielder wrote:NRA.....Needs no explanation

When I listed my memberships I confined my list to aviation organizations, but I am also a Patron member of the NRA. And I agree with shortfielder, it needs no explanation.

GumpAir wrote:Ummm, let's see...

Mile High Club
Half Mile High Club
Desert Lobster Frequent Flyers Assoc.
BCAH Compound Commander
126th Air Ambulance Co. Go Ugly Early and You Never Go Without Club
Cache Creek Drinkin' and Plinkin' Society
Kit Kat Ranch, Mina, NV, Quality Control Inspector.

I think that about covers all the important ones.

Gump

Kit Kat Ranch ,Mina ,NV. Quality control inspector -----------what a job but someone has to do it.