AOPA Membership Dues increase

Pay up they are our only voice, well only real voice, well one of our only measly voices...
 
Odd, considering the war chest AOPA is already sitting on. Any explanation?
 
Good morning everybody - if you haven't yet had a chance to read Mark Baker's message to the members, I would encourage you to do it: http://www.aopa.org/Membership/Memb...k-Baker-letter-to-members-regarding-dues.aspx


As a reminder, this is just the second AOPA dues increase in 24 years. In addition, AOPA has cut its operating budget to its lowest level since 2006. We did that by cutting our direct mail postage costs by close to 50%. We’ve also reduced staff travel and changed the way we use GA aircraft to maximize our efficiency. And we’ve reduced our staffing expenses, cutting payroll in 2014 and permanently eliminating four executive positions.



To address the question about cash surplus, you may be thinking about our reserve. Our reserve is set aside to serve members, but that doesn’t mean we should use it for everyday operating costs—that’s not a sustainable strategy. The reserve exists to support programs and major issues outside of typical operating plans. Right now, we are using reserve funds to pay for legal representation in our efforts to preserve the historic Santa Monica Airport. It’s important to keep the reserve funded so we’re prepared to fight for our members whenever major issues arise.

I'm happy to answer additional questions any of you may have!
Thanks,
Katie

Katie Pribyl, AOPA
 
Katie Pribyl said:
Good morning everybody - if you haven't yet had a chance to read Mark Baker's message to the members, I would encourage you to do it: http://www.aopa.org/Membership/Memb...k-Baker-letter-to-members-regarding-dues.aspx


As a reminder, this is just the second AOPA dues increase in 24 years. In addition, AOPA has cut its operating budget to its lowest level since 2006. We did that by cutting our direct mail postage costs by close to 50%. We’ve also reduced staff travel and changed the way we use GA aircraft to maximize our efficiency. And we’ve reduced our staffing expenses, cutting payroll in 2014 and permanently eliminating four executive positions.



To address the question about cash surplus, you may be thinking about our reserve. Our reserve is set aside to serve members, but that doesn’t mean we should use it for everyday operating costs—that’s not a sustainable strategy. The reserve exists to support programs and major issues outside of typical operating plans. Right now, we are using reserve funds to pay for legal representation in our efforts to preserve the historic Santa Monica Airport. It’s important to keep the reserve funded so we’re prepared to fight for our members whenever major issues arise.

I'm happy to answer additional questions any of you may have!
Thanks,
Katie

Katie Pribyl, AOPA
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Katie,
Instead of showing up on our board to justify the increase of fees, how about AOPA takes a more inter-active approach with us instead of just the almost daily emails and letters showing us how important you are and asking for money?
 
Katie Pribyl said:
Right now, we are using reserve funds to pay for legal representation in our efforts to preserve the historic Santa Monica Airport.
Click to expand...

If this battle ends up being lost, I propose that reserve funds be used to purchase these four Lear 24s for the bargain basement price of only $295,000.

These Lears will then be used to conduct middle of the night land surveys of the Santa Monica community at 1000' AGL. After all, if there's no longer an airport, there's no longer a curfew, correct?

Sorry, I know it's OT. It's just those asshats in Santa Monica really bring out the worst in me. ;)
 
Thanks for your reply, Josh. I hope you can join us at one of our regional fly-ins - designed to do just what you have suggested: getting out to our members where they fly and interact and engage with them. We are also at Sun 'n Fun and AirVenture and Mark has been speaking at user group conventions and other aviation gatherings nearly every week.

Come see us at AirVenture if you can and ask for me. I'd love to sit down and talk with you! I'll be there all week.
Thanks,
Katie
 
kayoh190 said:
These Lears will then be used to conduct middle of the night land surveys of the Santa Monica community at 1000' AGL. After all, if there's no longer an airport, there's no longer a curfew, correct?
Click to expand...

Perfect!

:D
 
Apache123 said:
It's a small increase, but it bothers me given the constant begging as well as their annual reports always state a huge surplus of cash versus operations expenses.
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Compared to other memberships I have, its not small and is out of line.

David
 
flhrci said:
Compared to other memberships I have, its not small and is out of line.

David
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I cancelled my AOPA membership a few years back because the value I received was not worth the price I was charged - and that was before they took a 30% hike.

Good luck with that.
 
airguy said:
It's so easy to spend other peoples money...
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Oh come on guys. 30% or not, it's still relatively small amounts ($1 to $2 increase is a whopping 100%, so what?). I'm sure lawyers and lobbyists aren't getting cheaper. AOPA took a PR hit from members and cut back some. I may not agree with everything, but AOPA is our only significant national advocacy group. While we may potentially lose the SM fight, we should fight it tooth & nail. It's bad enough we got p!ssed on by Daley in Chicago, and now getting p!ssed on by Obama & his Gestapo, this has to stop.
 
Katie Pribyl said:
As a reminder, this is just the second AOPA dues increase in 24 years.
Click to expand...

It's also the second AOPA dues increase in 4 years. :rolleyes:

It's also still not enough to pay for the amount of crap you send me in the mail. Cut that out, it'll save you way more than the $14 you want from me now.

I'd be much more willing to give money to AOPA if AOPA weren't competing with small aviation businesses that they should be representing instead. Because of that, I view AOPA as a necessary evil rather than being a proud member. :(
 
slavinger said:
Oh come on guys. 30% or not, it's still relatively small amounts ($1 to $2 increase is a whopping 100%, so what?). I'm sure lawyers and lobbyists aren't getting cheaper. AOPA took a PR hit from members and cut back some. I may not agree with everything, but AOPA is our only significant national advocacy group. While we may potentially lose the SM fight, we should fight it tooth & nail. It's bad enough we got p!ssed on by Daley in Chicago, and now getting p!ssed on by Obama & his Gestapo, this has to stop.
Click to expand...
Not a fan of that guy, but understand it is a bipartisan problem, both sides agree their thugs should step on your neck. Funny New Murica finally trickling up to rich white people. I love it. Should have stopped New Murica a couple decades back before it trickled up, now it is too late. Suckers.
 
airguy said:
I cancelled my AOPA membership a few years back because the value I received was not worth the price I was charged - and that was before they took a 30% hike.

Good luck with that.
Click to expand...
:yeahthat:
 
JB1842 said:
Katie,
Instead of showing up on our board to justify the increase of fees, how about AOPA takes a more inter-active approach with us instead of just the almost daily emails and letters showing us how important you are and asking for money?
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

What's more, I don't mind so much that you have millions in the bank, but like all socialist organizations, you're squandering it on crap that makes NO DIFFERENCE in the flying lives of your ever-dwindling number of supporters. This new THIRTY PERCENT rate increase will cut out some of those hangers-on so that your total revenue will change very little. I can only hope this pushes many folks over the fence to finally put a stake through the heart of the current management so that we get some responsible people with 'nads who will finally fight back against the usury and mismanagement of our 'crats.
 
Like an idiot, I'm on autopay. I really, really want a hat too.

Dear AOPA, please send me a hat, with love, ChrisK.
 
ChrisK said:
Like an idiot, I'm on autopay. I really, really want a hat too.

Dear AOPA, please send me a hat, with love, ChrisK.
Click to expand...

Autopay will get you nothing. Get off autopay and for a month lapse every year if you want swag.
 
So all you AOPA naysayers out there - who else is going to lobby to congress for us? We are a huge minority that is easily ignored if we don't have proper representation.

AOPA certainly isn't perfect, but it's pretty much all we've got in Washington so we should probably support them.
 
dans2992 said:
So all you AOPA naysayers out there - who else is going to lobby to congress for us? We are a huge minority that is easily ignored if we don't have proper representation.

AOPA certainly isn't perfect, but it's pretty much all we've got in Washington so we should probably support them.
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Aopa does squat in congress.
 
LDJones said:
It's not the absolute amount but the percentage increase that's interesting. Most organization do a bit smaller increments.
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Which is what they should have done, but then you'd get people b1tc4ing about the "constant dues increases."
 
slavinger said:
Oh come on guys. 30% or not, it's still relatively small amounts ($1 to $2 increase is a whopping 100%, so what?). I'm sure lawyers and lobbyists aren't getting cheaper. AOPA took a PR hit from members and cut back some. I may not agree with everything, but AOPA is our only significant national advocacy group. While we may potentially lose the SM fight, we should fight it tooth & nail. It's bad enough we got p!ssed on by Daley in Chicago, and now getting p!ssed on by Obama & his Gestapo, this has to stop.
Click to expand...
:yes:
 
ChrisK said:
Like an idiot, I'm on autopay. I really, really want a hat too.

Dear AOPA, please send me a hat, with love, ChrisK.
Click to expand...

I really wanted the hat, but all they kept offering me was that flight bag so I canceled.
 
I am on autopay as well...I guess I'll be buying someones hat this year...which is OK as long as AOPA keeps shining a light on the flagrant abuse of rights being perpetrated on pilots by homeland security and local police forces.
 
mnewb1 said:
I am on autopay as well...I guess I'll be buying someones hat this year...which is OK as long as AOPA keeps shining a light on the flagrant abuse of rights being perpetrated on pilots by homeland security and local police forces.
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Even if the cost went up to *gasp* $100 a year (which is what, the cost of one hamburger? :rolleyes2:), I'd still pay it. The benefits to me outweigh the negatives. But to each their own. P.S. The FT and AP mags in themselves are worth half the membership fee, IMO.
 
Katie Pribyl said:
Good morning everybody - if you haven't yet had a chance to read Mark Baker's message to the members, I would encourage you to do it: http://www.aopa.org/Membership/Memb...k-Baker-letter-to-members-regarding-dues.aspx


As a reminder, this is just the second AOPA dues increase in 24 years. In addition, AOPA has cut its operating budget to its lowest level since 2006. We did that by cutting our direct mail postage costs by close to 50%. We’ve also reduced staff travel and changed the way we use GA aircraft to maximize our efficiency. And we’ve reduced our staffing expenses, cutting payroll in 2014 and permanently eliminating four executive positions.



To address the question about cash surplus, you may be thinking about our reserve. Our reserve is set aside to serve members, but that doesn’t mean we should use it for everyday operating costs—that’s not a sustainable strategy. The reserve exists to support programs and major issues outside of typical operating plans. Right now, we are using reserve funds to pay for legal representation in our efforts to preserve the historic Santa Monica Airport. It’s important to keep the reserve funded so we’re prepared to fight for our members whenever major issues arise.

I'm happy to answer additional questions any of you may have!
Thanks,
Katie

Katie Pribyl, AOPA
Click to expand...

Katie,

This exemplifies my position and why I don't support AOPA anymore, the wrong issues are being given priority and often on the wrong side of the issue. I realize that jets are sometimes operated GA, but they have their own representative organizations with members that have finances rivaling small countries. SMO has a large base of very wealthy users, Let Angelina, Brad, Kurt... and the rest spend their money keeping SMO open. Heck, it would likely be as simple as limiting SMO to recip traffic and limiting the hours of high horsepower/decibel operations. The main qualm the neighborhood has had for a long time is jet traffic anyway. Does it serve the majority membership better to negotiate a restricted use facility, or try to protect jet traffic into SMO when there are other fields not far off?

AOPA shouldn't be prioritizing the membership money to save SMO, there are many more dollars available from other sources who have a direct vested interest in SMO, let those dollars get spent there.

AOPA should be getting behind the rapid enactment and enforcement of the GA Revitalization legislation and the implementation of the Experimental Non Commercial rules, and pushing to raise the applicable inventory to all recip aircraft <6000MGW.

This is the issue of greatest import to light GA, the body of people that made AOPA happen, and the organization that is supposed to represent us.

You sold us all down the river for the money that flies the shiny jets and I resent the hell out of you all for it. Get your acts together and start fighting the fights that matter to us, the small guys operating light planes for personal use outsides the extremes of what rational budgets would allow. We need this new category of operations in order to modernize our fleet otherwise the costs are greater than most planes are worth and carry no value forward in a sale. With this category we can put FADEC with electronic injection and timing with real time knock detection and elimination. This is the key to improved operating economy and reliability eliminating 'top overhauls' and all the cylinder and valve work expenses related in running leaded fuel and rich mixtures. Our airframes are doing just fine thank you, what we need is to be able to upgrade our engines from a 1950s technology and bring our panels up to date and ready for when ADS-B comes into effect, cost effectively all using tried and true multi generation technology that started development in the 1970s.

Why don't I see or hear about AOPA fighting for this?
 
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