AOPA Renewal

[TWinter]

I had let my AOPA Membership laps and really wasn't sure I was going to renew. I do keep my MAPA current.

AOPA sends me a reminder about every other week along with emails. Finally I cave and decide to continue the AOPA support and renew. First time I called with credit card in hand I get a recording saying they are ALL at a staff meeting and for me to call back the next day. I'm thinking, okay..put the ole' credit card back in the wallet and try it again tomorrow. How big of an organization is AOPA?..Everyone is in a staff meeting? Okay,  whatever.

I call back and get very polite young lady who gladly took my CC info. She said they would be sending me a packet and hat for renewing (I'm thinking great another AOPA cap). I guess you can never get enough AOPA hats though.

On a much happier tone I do admit I proudly display my AOPA and round MAPA stickers on my vehicles. I've recently swapped vehicles and needed some new AOPA stickers so I asked, "I really would appreciate some new AOPA stickers for my vehicles, could you please send me some with my renewal?,  she says sure!!.

Today in the mail..I'm excited. I see a packet from AOPA. Inside is exactly one hat, one small sticker. No thanks for renewing, no thanks for supporting AOPA, no magazine, nothing else, zero. Just the hat and one lonely little sticker. I guess the hat and sticker are my confirmation..Kind of anti-climatic IMHO.

 

-Tom

[Marauder]

I had let my AOPA Membership laps and really wasn't sure I was going to renew. I do keep my MAPA current.

AOPA sends me a reminder about every other week along with emails. Finally I cave and decide to continue the AOPA support and renew. First time I called with credit card in hand I get a recording saying they are ALL at a staff meeting and for me to call back the next day. I'm thinking, okay..put the ole' credit card back in the wallet and try it again tomorrow. How big of an organization is AOPA?..Everyone is in a staff meeting? Okay,  whatever.

I call back and get very polite young lady who gladly took my CC info. She said they would be sending me a packet and hat for renewing (I'm thinking great another AOPA cap). I guess you can never get enough AOPA hats though.

On a much happier tone I do admit I proudly display my AOPA and round MAPA stickers on my vehicles. I've recently swapped vehicles and needed some new AOPA stickers so I asked, "I really would appreciate some new AOPA stickers for my vehicles, could you please send me some with my renewal?,  she says sure!!.

Today in the mail..I'm excited. I see a packet from AOPA. Inside is exactly one hat, one small sticker. No thanks for renewing, no thanks for supporting AOPA, no magazine, nothing else, zero. Just the hat and one lonely little sticker. I guess the hat and sticker are my confirmation..Kind of anti-climatic IMHO.

 

-Tom

After meeting with George Perry for breakfast at Chester County, I elected to renew my membership. What I got in the mail was a small wings pin and a leather ID tag for a suitcase. I wanted the hat!

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[carusoam]

The value usually kicks in after some small detail like a heart attack or something similar...  That's when you become really interested in their point of view towards the class III medical.  The guidance you get about the SI is worth ten years of membership.  Things your primary CFI never knew to tell you about. 

You get all that and a hat.

I really like AOPA.  Knowing an important person at AOPA makes it even better. Knowing that important person really has important GA skills at his core is the best.  Plus he is the kind of guy that modernized an old Mooney.  Plus the old Mooney guy come back from serving his country oversees and goes Long Body.

 

Briefly...

AOPA guy with deep Mooney experience, has a bunch of shamu-looking plane and F/A18 experience, chooses an LB Mooney as his personal steed.

I feel really well represented by AOPA.  If I don't, I send a pm...

 

what a country.

 

Best regards,

-a-

 

[Jeff_S]

I recently went to the Aero Club of Atlanta spring luncheon and Mark Baker was the speaker. While it may sometimes be difficult to understand what AOPA is doing behind the scenes, I concur with the above that there is a lot going on in that organization that you benefit from, whether or not you're a member. Mark was very confident that this is the year for 3rd Class Medical Reform, most likely in early summer through the PBOR2. That in itself will save you AT LEAST $95 every two years, and much more if you do have any sort of medical history to deal with. But I realize now more than ever how fragile our freedom to fly is and how it is being encroached from many angles even in this land of the free and home of the brave. AOPA is our barricade against that. So I wouldn't worry too much about the quality of the hats (they do sort of suck, actually) and the various doodads they may send out.  They got some big fish to fry so we can keep flying!

[CWM20f]

I am very glad AOPA is in there fighting for us (I've been a member since the 80's).   However I just received the new issue and on the back page is the "new" Bruce Jenner.  I always enjoyed reading this page as it is usually highlighting a "pioneer" in aviation - someone who has made a big differance in aviation. It seems the only thing he/she has done lately is drop off a few parts.  That's fine - to each his own but highlighted in the section where I usually see astronauts,  new aviation designers, aerobatic champs, etc.  just didn't set well with me.  Are we out of honest contributors to aviation?  I sure hope not!

[peevee]

the first year I renewed I got a nice little headset bag. I never got anything since. Not even a sticker.

[MyNameIsNobody]

I like AOPA & I Like the hat.  It was made in a country that took a pounding from us and eventually kicked our ass... (Not because of our troops)

We should have learned from that ass kicking, but alas we did not.

[TWinter]

Hey guys..Just was just a little tongue and cheek when I was talking about the " Renewal Package".

I do realize they do plenty for GA and I appreciate what they do. I guess I was just surprised it was kind of a void of a package. I was thinking maybe just a form letter or something saying thanks for the support and a update on current events that they have been pressing forward with. The medical reform effort is well appreciated and I hope they continue to push forward. I'm always at comfort knowing they have a legal department available in the event of a unfortunate crisis.

Marauder, I'll trade you a hat for a second sticker... Just kidding fellas. It's a great organization. I'm glad I renewed and I'm sure I'll continue to do so in the future. I'll be sure to specify that I have "two vehicles", maybe two stickers.. 

[Cyril Gibb]

I've never had anything from AOPA, not even a sticker.   This thread prompted me to check my VISA statement. My recent renewal cost me about $120 Cdn.  I'd like to support GA on both sides of the border, but it's time to reconsider.

[Marauder]

Hey guys..Just was just a little tongue and cheek when I was talking about the " Renewal Package".

I do realize they do plenty for GA and I appreciate what they do. I guess I was just surprised it was kind of a void of a package. I was thinking maybe just a form letter or something saying thanks for the support and a update on current events that they have been pressing forward with. The medical reform effort is well appreciated and I hope they continue to push forward. I'm always at comfort knowing they have a legal department available in the event of a unfortunate crisis.

Marauder, I'll trade you a hat for a second sticker... Just kidding fellas. It's a great organization. I'm glad I renewed and I'm sure I'll continue to do so in the future. I'll be sure to specify that I have "two vehicles", maybe two stickers.. 

To be honest, I haven't even opened the welcome pack. I opened the package, the luggage tag and the baby wings fell out. The main letter is still in the "inbox". If I have stickers in there, you can have them. I'm still irritated by the one someone stuck on my plane's rear window 30 years ago.

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[TWinter]

9 minutes ago, Marauder said:

To be honest, I haven't even opened the welcome pack. I opened the package, the luggage tag and the baby wings fell out. The main letter is still in the "inbox". If I have stickers in there, you can have them. I'm still irritated by the one someone stuck on my plane's rear window 30 years ago.

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Just kidding..I'm good with my little sticker. I usually just "sticker up" my work truck and her vehicle, I don't put stickers etc on my garage play toys. My plane has the after market cling tint on it and I don't like putting stickers on the aircraft glass. Someday they will have to be removed and it kind of screws up the plexi on the plane glass.

[chrisk]

I renewed recently with AOPA.  I often wonder how useful my membership is.  That is, how much of my money goes towards lobbying.  They seem to spend a fair amount on additional mailings, which ask for more money.  I don't need a magazine,  I don't need a hat, and I don't need stickers.  I do need a political advocate for GA.

[Hank]

The last time I replaced a vehicle,mi just opened up my most recent EAA renewal package and chose the sticker size that fit best. When AOPA auto renewal went through, nothing came at all . . . so I called the 800 number and asked for a sticker "to go with the nice EAA sticker that I have so many of." A week or so later, I received an envelope with a sticker, suitable for the outside of the glass only; the other four stickers on my truck are on the inside, where I wouldn't scrape them off with the ice. So I had to scrape carefully until I. Over back to Alabama. Still only have the one AOPA sticker.

But I do renew every year. It's time now, but I think I'm not going to sign up for the auto renew again. And if they start sending me Renewal Notices two months into my annual membership again, I'll exercise that 800 number and ask them to save their money until the ten month point.

[DonMuncy]

I just looked, and apparently AOPA sends me window stickers every year. I have a surplus if anyone would like one or two. I also am flush in EAA and SCCA stickers.

[flyboy0681]

4 hours ago, CWM20f said:

I am very glad AOPA is in there fighting for us (I've been a member since the 80's).   However I just received the new issue and on the back page is the "new" Bruce Jenner.  I always enjoyed reading this page as it is usually highlighting a "pioneer" in aviation - someone who has made a big differance in aviation. It seems the only thing he/she has done lately is drop off a few parts.  That's fine - to each his own but highlighted in the section where I usually see astronauts,  new aviation designers, aerobatic champs, etc.  just didn't set well with me.  Are we out of honest contributors to aviation?  I sure hope not!

I thought that Jenner was an odd profile too. FWIW, s/he didn't drop off anything and may have actually added a couple of things.

[Oldguy]

If you are heading to SNF, you should be able to pick up some swag at their tent. Plus, they usually have a discount code to use on tickets for the event if you call the 800 number and ask. (Note to self: need to do that next week.)

 

[flyboy0681]

1 minute ago, Oldguy said:

If you are heading to SNF, you should be able to pick up some swag at their tent. Plus, they usually have a discount code to use on tickets for the event if you call the 800 number and ask. (Note to self: need to do that next week.)

 

The SnF website shows that AOPA members will save $5 on a one day pass, more on multiple.

[bonal]

I keep my membership up to date and get my insurance through AOPA and I like the service I receive, also like the daily news emails and the weekly ones as well.  really enjoy when I get the magazine one of the things that bugs me about almost all of the GA community and AOPA is no exception is that much attention is on the really high end personalities and not much on the regular folks that barely make enough to do this incredible hobby I think if the aviation community would focus a bit more on this it might encourage more people to look into joining the ranks. I would like to see AOPA and EAA spend some money outside the church of aviation.  (Look at Cessna advertising in NASCAR and NHRA)... Instead, they spend all the promotion budget on preaching to the choir. And lets be honest the only way we will continue to be allowed to fly is if there are enough of us to vote for or against a Politian and as we dwindle in numbers we will also in being able to pressure govt. to not take away our freedom.

[Danb]

Don, do you mean. Sports car club of America  SCCA

[DonMuncy]

28 minutes ago, Danb said:

Don, do you mean. Sports car club of America  SCCA

Yes, I've been a member for 57 years.

[Danb]

Awesome, a dying breed, I joined in 1970, let it lapse recently, the local clubs dying as we do.

[RobertGary1]

22 hours ago, chrisk said:

I renewed recently with AOPA.  I often wonder how useful my membership is.  That is, how much of my money goes towards lobbying.  

My understanding is none is. The PAC side is separate for legal reasons. 

 

-Robert

[GeorgePerry]

All,

Thanks for the feedback and sharing your unique experiences.  I've shared this with the membership folks.  We want both the renewal and membership experience to be a positive one and recognize there's room for improvement.  Thanks again for sharing.

GP