Ron,
Been to Mentone three times, and Bensen days once. I've liked all the members I had the luck to have met.
And this makes you a professional about PRA history because of what ?
While I don't get to attend Mentone every year, I do see the advantage of having an airport the organization can meet at which doesn't arbitrarily restrict, outlaw, or force gyro pilots to sign liability waivers to fly there.
Mark, Following your theory we should have to buy General Motors or Ford, THE ENTIRE CAR COMPANY, because we want to be able to drive one vehicle, once a year. AND you WILL NOT OWN IT, YOU WILL PAY FOR IT BUT SOME OTHER GROUP WILL ACTUALLY OWN IT AND ENJOY ALL THE BENEFITS OF OWNERSHIP YEAR ROUND. YOU ONLY GET TO ENJOY IT ONE DAY OUT OF THE YEAR Oh and I almost forgot, you can only drive it in Mentone. Sounds like a great deal. Additionally if pilots that flew at such events were. Polite, Professional, Respectful, AND Safe. No airport authority would be looking to ban you ! Having a dumb stupid mouth, hot dogging like a silly jackass and splattering yourself like some rank amateur all over the tarmac gets you an invitation to leave....Hence the fake need to have an airport you wont be banned from.
Case in point: our Shelbyville fly-in, which has been ongoing for 29 years, was forced to have every pilot sign a liability waiver this year. That was due to a change in the board president. Not sure whether we're going to be able to continue there next year. And it was quite a damper to be threatened with legal action by not signing the waivers.
What year are you living in ? People sue over spilled cups of coffee. Waivers may help some situations but You cannot rent a car at an airport without signing a waiver, you cant rent a 2 dollar video without a waiver. Whats the fuss ?
Watched Scott in action at Bensen days, and he was almost fanatical about making sure everything was done right, and that the visitors felt welcome, and were comfortable there. While Scott may not be perfect, he's doing things that, in my mind, will eventually make the PRA a stronger and better organization for all of us. Just because I don't agree with everything he does, doesn't make him a bad board member.
Bensen Days as it was explained some times ago IS NOT THE PRA. It is put on by the Sunstate Rotor Club. It is no more PRA than EAA is involved with SUn n FUN. If you do not understand what I just wrote do some reading and EDUCATE YOURSELF ! .
Yes, I'll miss a hard magazine. But, in the big picture, I understand that my membership fee is not about the subscription, it's about promoting gyros to others who haven't yet been exposed to the sport, or for a knowledge base for those just getting into the sport.
Well Mark, I guess you have never given an old issue of the magazine to someone. At least in the future you wont be able to... A professionally clad magazine looks a lot better than some consumer print offs from an overpriced ink cartridge..
I do feel badly about the situation with Roy. I thorougly enjoyed the PSF magazine, and know Roy from his attending some of our club meetings. The magazine thing does seem to be a personality conflict between Scott and Roy, but at the end of the day, I still respect both of them for doing something to promote our sport. It would be nice if they did work things out personally.
Lets call it what it is. AGAIN. The PRA was looking for something for nothing. Hence, Roy will not be doing any "FREE" advertising. Roy has just gotten wise to the PRA and how it uses people up and then moves on to the next well intentioned fool. People who always ask for something for free and do not want to pay for it are soon excluded from things, they are also called "freeloaders".
Being chump change in the FAA's eyes, I really don't expect the PRA to be very influential with them. A special thanks is necessary to Greg G, who goes to great frustrating lengths to try to reason with them.
Again, you underestimate the small number of individuals within the large number of special interest groups that lobby the government and its agencies for changes or additions to its rules. Learn something about YOUR GOVERNMENT ! and how it works...
And for all the people on here who bitch about the $50, if you can't afford that, you shouldn't be flying, plain and simple. We have guys in our club who gripe about the $15 annual membership fee, and why we can't give them a credit if they join after January! It's friggin $15, not $1500!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark, I would spend 150.00 if the org was actually dedicated to doing something....other than promoting and preserving an airport for a small number of individuals.
I will continue to support the PRA with my membership fee as long as I fly. I look at it as investment in some future gyro pilot's flying career, just as all the PRA members ahead of me who paid their dues did, so I had the resources the PRA did provide for me.
What "resources" ?
As far as Jonathan goes, he's permanently on my ignore list. Anyone who isn't paying dues to the PRA has no voice with me regarding the PRA.
Yes Mark, Ignore people that do not align with your very shallow and narrow views about things. It is exactly the brainwashed, ignorant people like you that have allowed things to be the way they are and why the PRA for over 10 years continues to spiral downward.
.