AOPA

[G. Sylvester]

I've been an AOPA member since I got my license about a little over a
year ago. Is it just me or do you also get sick of their incessant
'internal' advertising. It seems like you can't read one of their
headlines on their website or mags without it being preceeded by
"AOPA helps win....." On top of that, I feel like I get a mailed
letter to me advertising their insurance at least twice a month.

I realize they are very important for general aviation and that
is why I am a member. But they sure sound more like an
infomercial business than a lobbying group at times.

Gerald

[Larry Dighera]

On Thu, 03 Feb 2005 01:53:59 GMT, "G. Sylvester"
> wrote in
>::

>On top of that, I feel like I get a mailed
>letter to me advertising their insurance at least twice a month.

Wait until you start getting telephone solicitations. :-(

[Jay Somerset]

On Thu, 03 Feb 2005 01:53:59 GMT, "G. Sylvester"
> wrote:

>
> I've been an AOPA member since I got my license about a little over a
> year ago. Is it just me or do you also get sick of their incessant
> 'internal' advertising. It seems like you can't read one of their
> headlines on their website or mags without it being preceeded by
> "AOPA helps win....." On top of that, I feel like I get a mailed
> letter to me advertising their insurance at least twice a month.
>
> I realize they are very important for general aviation and that
> is why I am a member. But they sure sound more like an
> infomercial business than a lobbying group at times.
>
> Gerald
>
Yup. Right up there with the "Fraternal Order of Police" but not as abusive
when you decline to contribute.
--
Jay.
(remove dashes for legal email address)

[houstondan]

no bother to me. i want them to be as big and powerful as they can be .
if pushing that stuff helps 'em build the warchest then i'll survive
the irritation.

as far as claiming credit for what they do...do you really want a lobby
and advocacy group that's shy???

dan

[Helen Woods]

Most non-profits can flag you in their data base not to receive internal
advertising. I suspect AOPA is the same so I'd recomend you give them a
call and ask them to do so.

As for their "propaganda e-newletter," you can unsubscribe to that. I
recomend subscribning to AvWeb's newsletter (www.avweb.com) instead.
They have extremely good reporting and it is impartial to the alphabet
groups.

Helen

[Larry Dighera]

On Thu, 03 Feb 2005 20:48:16 -0500, Helen Woods
> wrote in
>::

>I recomend subscribning to AvWeb's newsletter (www.avweb.com) instead.
>They have extremely good reporting and it is impartial to the alphabet
>groups.

Both AvWeb and AOPA e-publications contain considerable advertising
content. Fortunately they make it easily recognizable, so it's easy
to overlook if you choose.

[Peter Duniho]

"Larry Dighera" > wrote in message
...
> Wait until you start getting telephone solicitations. :-(

Just tell them you don't want them to call. I did, and never heard anything
more from them on the phone. That was well before the whole "do-not-call
list" thing.

It's amazing what people will do if you just ask them nicely.

Pete

[Rosspilot]

>But they sure sound more like an
>infomercial business than a lobbying group at times.


Whatever the perceived shortcomings of AOPA are (and I don't stipulate to any
that you observe) they are a tremendous asset to GA, a powerful advocate of our
right to fly. If you don't want them calling, just tell them and they are
quite cordial about it.

They have a substantial staff that needs to be paid . . . dues have not risen
in years.
Solicitations for donations to the PAC, for in
www.Rosspilot.com

[Rosspilot]

>
>They have a substantial staff that needs to be paid . . . dues have not risen
>in years.
>Solicitations for donations to the PAC, for insurance, etc, are efficient ways
to generate revenue. I do send them money from time to time, because you gotta
"put your money where your mouth is" sometime. Without AOPA's work, Washington
would be COMPLETELY closed off, along with plenty of other airspace. Aside
from their political activity on our behalf, they are a wealth of technical
help, highly responsive to member inquiries, and in my view, the BEST money I
spend in aviation.


www.Rosspilot.com

[Blueskies]

"Rosspilot" > wrote in message ...
> >
>>They have a substantial staff that needs to be paid . . . dues have not risen
>>in years.
>>Solicitations for donations to the PAC, for insurance, etc, are efficient ways
> to generate revenue. I do send them money from time to time, because you gotta
> "put your money where your mouth is" sometime. Without AOPA's work, Washington
> would be COMPLETELY closed off, along with plenty of other airspace. Aside
> from their political activity on our behalf, they are a wealth of technical
> help, highly responsive to member inquiries, and in my view, the BEST money I
> spend in aviation.
>
>
> www.Rosspilot.com
>
>

I don't understand the article about "How low do they go?" in the January 05 AOPA pilot. According to the article the
pilot was flying at 1000' in the Farmville MOA, but according to the chart with the article, the "MOA EXCLUDES AIRSPACE
AT AND BELOW 1500' AGL." Then the article goes on the criticize a GA Cessna that is spotted flying in their area. There
was no mention of the height of the Cessna.

While I get it that the fighter jocks have to have a place to train, what was the point of this article? MOAs are joint
use airspace with see and avoid rules in effect (VFR of course). It sounds like the AOPA is recommending ceding this
airspace whenever the hot rods are flying....

[Andrew Gideon]

G. Sylvester wrote:

> It seems like you can't read one of their
> headlines on their website or mags without it being preceeded by
> "AOPA helps win....."

I have to admit, I too find it boring. I'm interested in what's going on -
I read the Aiport Support blurbs with interest, for example - but there's
definitely too much self-hype.

From my limited experience, this is something specific to aviation. The
only other place I consistently see this is at a regular aviation-related
meeting I attend. The person running the meeting is constantly taking
something interesting that is occurring and pointing out that this is the
sort of thing that makes the meetings so useful.

Of course, the people to whom he's speaking are all at the meeting. Why?
Because we already value it.

Now, if he took those experiences and wrote them up into ad copy for people
not [yet] attending, he'd be right on track.

[In fact, that's so good an idea I think I'll do it myself. Next meeting is
ad fodder. Thanks!]

- Andrew

[Helen Woods]

Yes, AvWeb has advertising, but they don't have the terribly biased
slant that AOPA does.

[Casey Wilson]

I guess my question is did you join AOPA for its benefits to general
aviation, or for the magazine?

If NOT for the magazine, then throw it away without reading it. I think you
can still file a request with the US Postal Service so they will stop
delivery for you.

If you joined for the magazine, drop your membership and go get a mag that
suits you. Try "FLYING" magazine. Then, you can read all about the fabulous
exploits of Richard Collins.

[Terry Lorz]

What benefits?



On Sat, 05 Feb 2005 03:00:25 GMT, "Casey Wilson" <N2310D @ gmail.com>
wrote:

>
>I guess my question is did you join AOPA for its benefits to general
>aviation, or for the magazine?
>
>If NOT for the magazine, then throw it away without reading it. I think you
>can still file a request with the US Postal Service so they will stop
>delivery for you.
>
>If you joined for the magazine, drop your membership and go get a mag that
>suits you. Try "FLYING" magazine. Then, you can read all about the fabulous
>exploits of Richard Collins.
>

[Terry Lorz]

I don't buy that. Where do you get the information that Washington
would be completely closed off. I think sometimes the AOPA's big mouth
causes more problems than it solves.


On 04 Feb 2005 17:36:25 GMT, (Rosspilot)
wrote:

>>
>>They have a substantial staff that needs to be paid . . . dues have not risen
>>in years.
>>Solicitations for donations to the PAC, for insurance, etc, are efficient ways
>to generate revenue. I do send them money from time to time, because you gotta
>"put your money where your mouth is" sometime. Without AOPA's work, Washington
>would be COMPLETELY closed off, along with plenty of other airspace. Aside
>from their political activity on our behalf, they are a wealth of technical
>help, highly responsive to member inquiries, and in my view, the BEST money I
>spend in aviation.
>
>
>www.Rosspilot.com
>

[Peter R.]

Terry Lorz > wrote:

> I don't buy that. Where do you get the information that Washington
> would be completely closed off. I think sometimes the AOPA's big mouth
> causes more problems than it solves.

"More problems" implies multiple examples, so please site a specific
example.

--
Peter







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[Steve.T]

The interventions to stop the closure of airports by bringing to the
locals the understanding of the AIP grants. Then there is the
renters/owners insurance, help in purchasing aircraft, tech answers by
phone, how to deal with this or that legal issue, aero-medical help,
etc.

I've used them to help me with a heart problem that is just a situation
that I have - an irregular heart beat not caused by disease. I've also
used them to help me in the purchase of an aircraft. I've also used
them in the case of a legal problem involving the incorrect maint on an
aircraft.

How are all of these for starters?

Meanwhile, yes, I do get a bit tired of the chest thumping.

Later,
Steve.T
PP ASEL/Instrument

[Gig Giacona]

"Andrew Gideon" > wrote in message
online.com...
> G. Sylvester wrote:
>
>> It seems like you can't read one of their
>> headlines on their website or mags without it being preceeded by
>> "AOPA helps win....."
>
> I have to admit, I too find it boring. I'm interested in what's going
> on -
> I read the Aiport Support blurbs with interest, for example - but there's
> definitely too much self-hype.
>
> From my limited experience, this is something specific to aviation. The
> only other place I consistently see this is at a regular aviation-related
> meeting I attend. The person running the meeting is constantly taking
> something interesting that is occurring and pointing out that this is the
> sort of thing that makes the meetings so useful.
SNIP

It is aviation specific. NRA's Rifleman has many articles that are in the
"What we've done for you and our cause" class. Rememeber, AOPA and NRA are
mainly advocasy groups. They assume your joined them and paid your dues to
get them to advocate the cause in question. They use the magazines to show
you that they are doing it.

EAA, PETA, and a host of other do the same thing.