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Yeah.. But...... The employees stated are making 6 figure incomes at AOPA and are now getting damn worried about their jobs...
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It is clear there is major dissatisfaction with AOPA and members are bailing in droves...... To cut the bleeding, the staff is in a full court press to try and stem the tide........
I usually adopt the cynical viewpoint too, however, I don't believe that's what I experienced. I can usually spot CYA stuff a mile away. This is not what this was. Their interest and concern was genuine, and their answers were too quick and too helpful for them to have been insincere.
Also, I'm not sure that focusing on the income levels is a really reasonable position to take around here. I would think that this forum would have a higher percentage of 6 figure earners than a typical forum. It kind of goes with our hobby, which isn't inexpensive by any measure.
If there is a tide to stem, I guess I'm happy they figured that out and are here trying. What difference does their motivation really make? We need AOPA as much as they need us. Someone or something has to advocate for this hobby. All we have to do is remember what happened in the middle of the night in Chicago 10 years back. Could some other organization do it? Probably, but are they? And who are they? EAA?
I think one of the reasons you 'got connected to the right person' is that there was plenty of exposure here on POA. You had the same illness, you are the same person, and you contacted the same AOPA the first time. Why didn't they get you to 'the right person' back then? I've found it's quite interesting how smoothly things go when the eyes of the public are on someone.
Also, I didn't say it was the only reason, but I think there are forces at work in AOPA that grease squeaky wheels which you became after you posted right here.
Well, I won't beat this horse anymore, glad you got what you needed from AOPA and are happy with the resolution, or continuing assistance.
I understand your point. But it assumes that if I had merely PM'ed Tom instead of public posting that he wouldn't have had any interest in helping me. I don't think that would've been true. I actually thought about a private message first, but in the end I really didn't expect a response so I just posted what I thought. I think in this case, my impressions were wrong, and I believe I'd have been helped in the same way that I was with a PM.
Also, I'm reluctant to overly criticize the assistance I received initially. Even in my initial post, I went easy on that part. The person I spoke with was very polite. She answered the questions that I asked, and offered to call the FAA on my behalf. She did that and called me right back with what they told her. It wasn't much info, and she told me that she usually was able to get more information.
Please remember that I'm new at this, never been sick before, and only have basic information as to what I'm doing. In fact, when I went in for my medical before I learned to fly, I didn't even know what class I needed, and didn't know what to ask. I felt almost that stupid on the phone with her, and had I known more of what to ask, I might have received more information. So, I can own some of it, and like I said, I didn't expect any help, as I'd been turned away by my local AME, and another person in Arizona that I called for advice. Would I have hoped for more? Of course. But, it wasn't bad customer service either.
I do appreciate your kind words. I'm hopeful that one day soon I'll actually have a medical back. But, we'll see.
. That magazine has so much content and so many distinct editorial voices that I'm not sure how to classify it.
