NewMoon Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 With all of the drama going on with AOPA, my subscription's coming up and i'm wondering if other folks are renewing or just dropping out. Over the past 20 yrs of being a member i've had mixed results in using them as a resource. 1
ArtVandelay Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 I don’t understand why they haven’t lost even more members (400k->300k), if you feel you need to donate I think EAA might be a better option. 3 1
redbaron1982 Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 41 minutes ago, ArtVandelay said: I think EAA might be a better option I came here to ask about EAA. The only benefit I found in AOPA is fighting against things like ATC privatization, or restricting access to certain airports to GA traffic. How good is EAA lobbying for GA in congress?
Rick Junkin Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 TLDR: I've been an AOPA member for 41 years and will continue my membership and Pilot Protection Services subscription at least through my current membership term. I've paused my additional monthly contribution to the AOPA Foundation, as have a number of other Hat in the Ring Society donors, and may resume them at a later date depending on what direction the trustees decide to go moving forward. They have a monumental task ahead of them to gain my trust. Out of curiosity I took a look at my membership history and discovered I've been supporting the organization since 1985. I've been a Hat in the Ring donor for a number of years as well. I was inactive in GA for a period of 15-20 years but maintained my membership solely for the small contribution my dues made to the lobbying efforts. In more recent decades I've made great use of the educational resources on the AOPA website and have been assisted greatly by the legal and medical guidance benefits of the Pilot Protection Services. I practice continuous self-guided proficiency and recurrent training and AOPA provides great resources to support me in this. My perspective has been one of not looking only for what I tangibly receive from the organization but also for what would not be happening if the organization didn't exist. Politics is, from my perspective, a filthy business in which AOPA is able to engage to our benefit in ways that aren't always visible to us. And most things don't happen quickly in our bureaucracy so it makes the effects of long term lobbying efforts even less apparent. But it's one of the things AOPA does at a level and scale most other aviation organizations can't or don't. EAA has been very effective in focusing on singular issues and contributing to successful enactment of things like MOSAIC and BasicMed, and I'm a Lifetime Member. But EAA doesn't have the lobbying power (yet) that AOPA is afforded by the associations of its members and donors in positions of influence outside the organization. These are the intangibles that only exist because of membership. Now, folks say AOPA doesn't need their money to pay exorbitant salaries, and they cancel their memberships. I can't argue with that. At the same time I'll ask if there's an alternative organization with the broad reach and impact of AOPA? Again from my perspective, it's a matter of picking my poison. I don't like that past compensation has been extreme, but I DO like that the folks doing the grunt work of AOPA are competent people doing good work and have been very helpful to me personally when I needed assistance. Others here have had a different experience, and perhaps that's to be expected for a number of reasons. So I'm maintaining my membership and PPS subscription for now. I've paused my Hat in the Ring donations to help contribute in a small way to put financial pressure on the organization as a message to the trustees that their behavior is hurting AOPA. It remains to be seen what impact any of this will have. 4
toto Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 3 hours ago, NewMoon said: With all of the drama going on with AOPA, my subscription's coming up and i'm wondering if other folks are renewing or just dropping out. Over the past 20 yrs of being a member i've had mixed results in using them as a resource. I’m a member of both AOPA and EAA and I plan to continue. These membership fees are such a tiny drop in the bucket compared to other expenses in aviation, and both organizations do some meaningful and important things. I pay for PPS from AOPA and I don’t think there’s a real competitor to that program. I volunteer for Young Eagles flights with EAA. None of that is to say that we shouldn’t hold these organizations to account for their behavior. The nonsense at AOPA this past month is messy and draws attention away from promoting and defending aviation interests. Seems like a housecleaning is in order. 1
GeeBee Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 Here is the thing about AOPA. It can be fixed. To start something new from the ground up is way more difficult than fixing AOPA. If we don't have AOPA we have little lobbying in Congress to get things done like ending ADS-B landing fees etc. My view to the OP is re-up and participate in the fix. May 12 is the next annual membership meeting and we can drop a bomb on the board. After facing down ALPA back in the late 90s and getting much needed changes, this is actually easy. 2
Shadrach Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 I rejoined AOPA this year after canceling years ago over the direction of the organization. I have now canceled my auto-renewal. No one has ever been able to fill John Baker's shoes but some have been better than others. Pleasance seemed promising and was a huge factor in my renewal. The fact that the board has been so blatantly dishonest and political regarding his ouster makes me uncomfortable.
NewMoon Posted February 16 Author Report Posted February 16 3 hours ago, Rick Junkin said: TLDR: I've been an AOPA member for 41 years and will continue my membership and Pilot Protection Services subscription at least through my current membership term. I've paused my additional monthly contribution to the AOPA Foundation, as have a number of other Hat in the Ring Society donors, and may resume them at a later date depending on what direction the trustees decide to go moving forward. They have a monumental task ahead of them to gain my trust. Out of curiosity I took a look at my membership history and discovered I've been supporting the organization since 1985. I've been a Hat in the Ring donor for a number of years as well. I was inactive in GA for a period of 15-20 years but maintained my membership solely for the small contribution my dues made to the lobbying efforts. In more recent decades I've made great use of the educational resources on the AOPA website and have been assisted greatly by the legal and medical guidance benefits of the Pilot Protection Services. I practice continuous self-guided proficiency and recurrent training and AOPA provides great resources to support me in this. My perspective has been one of not looking only for what I tangibly receive from the organization but also for what would not be happening if the organization didn't exist. Politics is, from my perspective, a filthy business in which AOPA is able to engage to our benefit in ways that aren't always visible to us. And most things don't happen quickly in our bureaucracy so it makes the effects of long term lobbying efforts even less apparent. But it's one of the things AOPA does at a level and scale most other aviation organizations can't or don't. EAA has been very effective in focusing on singular issues and contributing to successful enactment of things like MOSAIC and BasicMed, and I'm a Lifetime Member. But EAA doesn't have the lobbying power (yet) that AOPA is afforded by the associations of its members and donors in positions of influence outside the organization. These are the intangibles that only exist because of membership. Now, folks say AOPA doesn't need their money to pay exorbitant salaries, and they cancel their memberships. I can't argue with that. At the same time I'll ask if there's an alternative organization with the broad reach and impact of AOPA? Again from my perspective, it's a matter of picking my poison. I don't like that past compensation has been extreme, but I DO like that the folks doing the grunt work of AOPA are competent people doing good work and have been very helpful to me personally when I needed assistance. Others here have had a different experience, and perhaps that's to be expected for a number of reasons. So I'm maintaining my membership and PPS subscription for now. I've paused my Hat in the Ring donations to help contribute in a small way to put financial pressure on the organization as a message to the trustees that their behavior is hurting AOPA. It remains to be seen what impact any of this will have. Appreciate your perspective
NewMoon Posted February 16 Author Report Posted February 16 I think I will renew fir an additional year and see what happens. If no meaningful changes, take place and the board continues to go in the wrong direction, I won't renew after that. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for one more year. Darren and I were hangar mates (right next door to each other and neighbors at home). He was a huge step up for AOPA and clearly a loss. But like I said, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt for another year. 1
PT20J Posted February 16 Report Posted February 16 When Phil Boyer was heading AOPA he had one all consuming goal -- increase the membership. The reason is simple: The main benefit of AOPA is to lobby the FAA and Congress on issues affecting GA. Politicians respond to lobbying when an organization such AOPA represents a sizeable number of constituents. Clearly, AOPA currently has some leadership issues. But, there are still a lot of hard working staffers that are doing good work. The membership cost is modest, and AOPA needs membership numbers to be effective. I am a lifetime member of AOPA, EAA, CalPilots and Seaplane Pilots Association, because I want to support organizations that are working to preserve my ability to fly when and where I wish. 4
Paul Thomas Posted February 17 Report Posted February 17 10 hours ago, redbaron1982 said: I came here to ask about EAA. The only benefit I found in AOPA is fighting against things like ATC privatization, or restricting access to certain airports to GA traffic. How good is EAA lobbying for GA in congress? EAA has delivered; the last win being MOSAIC. It's fought against privatization and have been a good voice for GA as a whole, not just the experimental side. 3
hammdo Posted February 17 Report Posted February 17 EAA has over 300,000 active memberships, I believe AOPA has ~340,000. I’m sure there are members with both (like me). I’m up for renewal with AOPA but waiting to see what the board does. -Don 1
midlifeflyer Posted February 17 Report Posted February 17 I used to do things like quit organizations when I didn't like something going on internally, but, somewhere along the way, I figured out that if I quit an organization solely because I didn't like it's internal politics, I wouldn't be a member of anything. 2 5
N201MKTurbo Posted February 17 Report Posted February 17 40 minutes ago, midlifeflyer said: I used to do things like quit organizations when I didn't like something going on internally, but, somewhere along the way, I figured out that if I quit an organization solely because I didn't like it's internal politics, I wouldn't be a member of anything. I quit LinkedIn in 2016 because of their politics. I had hundreds of links to some of the highest executives in the biotech world. I miss the links, but it really hasn’t hurt me. I’m trying to get out of the biotech biz, not get ahead in it. It pisses off my CEO that I don’t have a LinkedIn. He wants me to post ads. BTW, I have a 50 year pin from AOPA. No use quiting now. 1
Jeff_S Posted February 17 Report Posted February 17 Unless you're a close friend of Darren Pleasance (which apparently one poster is!) I don't see what all the fuss is about. I didn't think he was bad. Didn't really think he was exceptional either, although this is because I know it takes some time to have an impact on an organization and I don't think he had that time. But still, the measurement stick for me isn't what one CEO does or how the Board reacts to any one situation. The bigger picture is what the organization has done, and continues to do to support GA and my ability to fly my airplane like I want. And in this regard AOPA has been a huge positive force. So yes, I will continue to support the organization. 1
Pinecone Posted February 20 Report Posted February 20 I am a member of AOPA and EAA and have been off and on for close to 50 years. I drop them when I am out of flying. They have issues, but as others have said, the larger they are, the more Congress listens.
PBones Posted February 20 Report Posted February 20 I like both AOPA and EAA and I am a member to both as well as NAFI and a host of other online forums and clubs. As far as aviation goes, being a member of all of these is cheaper than some of the bolts we need to buy for these Mooneys, BY FAR! The EAA is geared to the experimental aviators, of course, so the magazine is interesting but I am not going to build an airplane. They are GA advocates so hence my membership. NAFI is a good safety organization with very good online seminars and classes for FAAST Wings program. AOPA is GA information and support with very good articles and education. I agree with Midlifeflyer when he says, if you are going to worry about politics, we would not be members of anything!
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