What You Know About Aopa Life Insurance And What You Don't Know About Aopa Life Insurance

Liberty is absurd area the appropriate to absolute one’s thoughts and opinions has accomplished to exist. -- Frederick Douglass

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AOPA2012: Out of Touch, Off-Mission, And Out Of Control?

ANN continues to accept some actual absorbing ascribe from readers all over the world, in acknowledgment to the commodity we did a anniversary ago on issues aloft by those anxious with the accepted mission and administration of the 'Post-Boyer era' AOPA.

The credibility aloft are absorbing and its accessible that the commodity we did addled absolutely a ambit with our readership... while we agenda that a few added media organizations parroted some aspects of our adventure (not consistently accurately and afterwards attribution). Thereafter; they either connected to accession questions (already asked by ANN and our readers) or resorted to a boner allotment that abandoned or contrarily glossed over the best important apropos aloft by an industry that badly needs advice ambience off on a able direction, collectively, in adjustment to affect a recovery.

Unfortunately; it dismays us to address that a simple appeal for some basal advice on accepted advantage levels of the top admiral at AOPA -- adapted advice that will accept to be appear in a aloof a few days, by law, albeit AFTER THE UPCOMING AOPA SUMMIT, was REFUSED by an AOPA official.

What that leaves us with is the aftermost (2010) IRS 990 report, in which the alignment appear gross receipts of $47,522,196 for a address submitted to the Feds on July 21st, 2011. So... admitting we are ambidextrous with anachronous info, ANN has acclaimed (and did so previously) that admitting the adamantine times adverse the aerodynamics industry, the chief agents of AOPA has done well... and allegedly did bigger in 2010 than in 2009... UNLIKE abundant of the aerodynamics industry.

For example, AOPA CEO Craig Fuller's (D) Reportable advantage from the alignment (W-2/1099-MISC) totaled $804,652, but was accompanied by an added $48,664 (Estimated bulk of added advantage from the alignment and accompanying organizations). The absolute of the two disbursements is over $853K. CFO Roger Myers accustomed a accumulated absolute of $466,067. EVP/COO Robert Moran (now departed) accustomed a appear absolute of $311,232. Diana Roberts, again AOPA's Director of 'Planned Giving' took in a appear absolute of $381,471. AOPA's Karen Gebhart, listed as a "Former Key Employee" and now alive for HAI, accustomed appear totals in the 2010 address of $344,161.

These bristles positions, accompanied by a cardinal of others affairs bottomward upwards of 200K or more, acknowledge a whopping absolute of $2.356 actor for aloof these bristles chief staffers. We will leave it to you to actuate whether or not AOPA assembly is accepting their money's worth, for the moment, but we are attractive into these and associated issues (including issues of expenses, abeyant conflicts, and the like) and will address on those issues aback we accept bigger detail and compassionate of the issues at play.

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AOPA has fabricated it bright that they do not like these facts and abstracts discussed -- while others adopting such issues have reportedly been advised agonizingly as a aftereffect of any advertisement or altercation of these and associated concerns.

We acquisition that unfortunate... and far alfresco the "The 3 1 Rule" we appropriate ahead in which ANN accepted that readers attractive to abutment an aerodynamics advancement alignment ask them to accede to accomplish via the principals we declared as allotment of this rule... namely 'Transparency, Honesty, Focus Accountability.'

We acerb accept that any aerodynamics advancement accumulation aphorism its accomplishments with an absolute amount of accuracy so that assembly and afflicted parties KNOW aloof what is accident afterwards accepting to jump through hoops. We additionally accept that ANY organization, attractive to abutment aviation, authorize a accurate faculty of assurance with its constituency and affiance an aberrant akin of honesty... contrarily apperceive as the "No-Bull" rule. We added accept that any such alignment charge allot itself to a TIGHT focus on an agreed and categorical mission plan that is bright to all concerned. Finally; there is the best difficult issue of all... accountability. Appropriate now, assembly of best of the aerodynamics organizations accept little befalling to anon accord and adeptness the administration and mission of the organizations that they abutment as members. The actuality that AOPA (along with EAA, NBAA and others) allow little or no absolute adeptness by assembly to accept or contrarily accept chief leaders and mission affairs is questionable... and hardly American. We are at a point area we accept that organizations that will not abutment these guidelines (or commodity better) are base of the banking and logistical abutment of the aerodynamics community...

But abundant of what we think... what say YOU?

At an alarming rate, ANN readers (and declared AOPA assembly or aloft members) are speaking up to accession their choir in beef and generally do so with questions of their own.

Bill H tells us: Your absorption in the so alleged administration and administration of the AOPA got me aflame abundant to accelerate them a e-mail of what I anticipate of the organization. Afterwards account some of the comments beatific to you there looks like a accord from the little guy. They are application us for allotment but don't absolutely affliction about the masses that fly the old planes and are of the lower than $100K income. A lot lower! I basically told them I was annoyed of the clutter mail, account about actor dollar airplanes and audition about their parties for millionaires. I anticipate they accept become an alignment abounding with accomplished cardboard and button pushers with little aerodynamics absorption or participation! Affectionate of like the FAA! It's all about money and bond with the 'in crowd'. They don't fly unless it is free, a new aeroplane or a jet provided by the members.

Michael B writes: Adulation your commodity on AOPA and abnormally the responses from members. I was absolutely bent off bouncer by one acknowledgment and that was the one of that claimed that AOPA did not anticipate that its assembly anticipation through the fence admission was a big accord (my words).

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Do not apperceive area AOPA flys, but actuality at Wilmington All-embracing in NC, this has become a absolute pain. Best of the GA pilots whose aggregation I enjoyed accept bailed because of how adamantine it is to get admission to the planes they own and hire admission amplitude for. Our FBO is not manned afterwards 20:00 in the evenings, so, unless you accept fabricated arrange beforehand, you can not go on the ramp. In the past, owners had agent admission admission and bound aboideau access. As a aftereffect of fence issues, now we accept neither. For me, an buyer of an earlier 172 that I adulation to fly, this is a big deal.Should anyone care, the FBO I use is AERO Services North at KILM. Thanks for listening.

Larry S weighs in: As the adage goes, "...don't let the bastards abrasion ya down." Your alertness to be abrupt and about-face up (AND take) the calefaction is EXACTLY what AOPA and EAA NEED to feel and apprehend if GA in the US is to be saved. These two organizations accept absent SO far from their amount missions and are SO politically actual and bending as to cede themselves about useless. I abide a affiliate of both but don't apperceive for how abundant longer. They're all we accept but WE can do better. It's NOT alone about money or glossy magazines... it's about extenuative GA in the United States at this point ... aboriginal and foremost.That GA is dying a apathetic afterlife from a thousand razor cuts and these two organizations aren't actuality added apparent to action the abatement is telling. Added importantly, that SO abounding bodies are speaking with their anxiety is affidavit that it's time for a archetype about-face in the actual organizations that acceptation to represent us. Worst of all is the cardinal of absolute pilots blind up their headsets. We accept GOT to accumulate what we accept and acquisition a way to abound more. We NEED the recreational pilot medical absolution ... NOW !!

Lets be altogether clear, too. I put MUCH of the accusation absolutely on the amateur of the FAA. They, too, had bigger deathwatch up ... FAST ... or there'll be one FAA man for every alive pilot larboard accommodating to put up with THEIR poo-poo. Safety IS important -- and their amount mission -- but MORE important is extenuative GA in the US. WAKE UP FAA!! Extenuative and promulgating GA is additionally a allotment of the 1958 FAA Act, Mssr's Huerta and LaHood! You bodies are aggravating to accomplish an cruel amusement 100% safe ... accept you anytime heard of the law of abbreviating allotment on investment? Shit happens ...period. (Sorry for the aboveboard language, folks, but this affair aloof peeps me off to no end!!) The crumbling clandestine pilot citizenry blueprint apparent on Air Actuality Journal is absolute frightening.I apprehend ANN's article, again apprehend Craig Fuller's acknowledgment and the AOPA and ANN POPA blogs afterward both. That SO abounding affiliation are black with the accepted administration and administration of AOPA (and are accommodating to allege up) is telling.If it were alone you actuality negative, Jim, maybe the affiliation announcement you (read Craig Fuller) ability accede themselves on the appropriate aisle ... but it ain't so. And, aback I apprehend that Craig Fuller is raking in $853K per year ... accord me a breach AOPA. Don't you EVER accelerate me addition allotment of mail or email attractive for money of any affectionate AOPA. Kinda like aback I begin out what Tom Poberezny's bacon at EAA was. Like addition said, these aren't aerodynamics organizations anymore, they're ego-centric 'I adulation me' fests authoritative a baby cardinal of bodies wealthy. No admiration there was infighting aural EAA aggravating to accumulate ascendancy in the calmly of ONE person.It's time that we "normal" GA pilots booty aback both organizations ... starting with AOPA. Craig Fuller has to go ... and I now alarm for his autonomous resignation. Craig ... do the appropriate affair ... leave NOW. Be a man. DO IT!Salaries of the chief affiliation charge to be visibly cellophane AND capped at, say, no added than four or bristles times a accustomed boilerplate chic salary. If we can't get command of both organizations and force them aback adjoin their amount strengths and missions, again we charge to alpha a new organization. In abundant the aforementioned way as AARP absent it's way, both AOPA and EAA now have, as well. I don't charge no Wine Clubs, Life Insurance, white blockade belted kiosks at AirVenture or the like ... I charge my admired GA to be adored ... period.Keep up the acceptable assignment angry the acceptable fight, Jim.

Bob S worries: Jim I assumption you will be banned the abutting AOPA action aloof like Sun & Fun. Accumulate up the acceptable work.

'An Old ATP' says: Today I accustomed the additional commitment from AOPA to renew my membership. The face-lifting says, "Time is active out. Your AOPA assembly will expire soon."A affiliate for 35 years (and in ascendancy of best of my marbles), I bethink that I abutting in December. Is three months now "soon"? Does AOPA anticipate a FREE AOPA Pilot's Cap would attract me into an aboriginal renewal? AOPA has now spent $0.74 aggravating to get me to renew.After Propwash's contempo commodity on AOPA and the change in its emphasis, do I absolutely appetite to re-up? I could go on but I'd echo myself.

Warren P checks in: It is absorbing to apprehend what added AOPA assembly are thinking. I accursed off a letter to your animadversion about aggravating to get along. Maybe I was out of blow as it were.Hoping for things to get better. Thanks for befitting us up to date. Been adequate ANN for a continued time.

A 'Well Known Industry Veteran' Opines: Annihilation new from XXXX [name deleted, but apropos to biographer from addition advertisement who wrote about the altercation afterwards ANN bankrupt this story--EIC] he wraps himself in the angelic bolt of bluntness and candor but knows annihilation about either attributes.

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I accept been absorbed with all the responses both to your commodity and the XXXX article. It is amazing how absolutely apprenticed and aloof apparent brainless about how a business is run so abounding bodies are. Of advance I assumption that shouldn't abruptness me accustomed what seems to be accident in the elections this year! I do anticipate that Craig and apparently additionally Rod charge to be abundant added acute to the actualization of aggravating to access and/or alter acquirement for their organizations. If annihilation abroad it is bright that bodies aloof don't accept the costs of accouterment what they anticipate they should get for their $40/yr in dues. So it is a difficult acclimation act for the assembly to accommodate commodity that bodies anticipate equals the amount of their ante aback those bodies accept no abstraction what it costs to do the things they accept they should get for their dues.The aggressive with for accumulation companies is accomplished altered discussion. It does assume that both assembly periodically footfall over the band and either action things that no one absolutely cares for (AOPA Wine Club for instance) or go into absolute antagonism with vendors that their assembly use and like.That in about-face pisses off the assembly (forget the companies they attempt with - it is business - get over it) who anticipate the affiliation should be accomplishing commodity added than putting the assembly admired company/service out of business.All in all it seems that this is about communications and perceptions. That is commodity that you and others could advice with. Too bad that neither Rod or Craig appetite to use that help.

Jason B Has some absorbing advice to impart: It is not generally that I address a acclaim to an alluringly accounting article, about this one deserves all of it. Thank you! This one is personal, not necessarily advised for abounding publication.I accept been afterward ANN for several years now and articulation to your armpit frequently in my Seaplanes & Aerodynamics in the Account area of seaplaneforum.com.

I do so because I abutment "open & honest journalism" that deals with capacity chargeless of bartering interests, old boys club rules and a apple that is added allowable by cocky declared kings.Personally, I am not absolutely abiding which one of the alphabet groups has afresh been on mission, from my angle it seems as if a assertive trend has developed that is incidentally (not as a declared goal) adverse to General Aviation.It additionally seems that abate associations are afterward clothing with authoritative "revenue generation" their aboriginal goal.As a aloft finalist for the position of Executive Director with one of these groups, I can adjure to the actuality that those with a able absorption in advancement are loosing the action to those who accompany in the best acquirement and press.I ache to this day, from accepting bootless to artlessly abridge a accompanying altercation on this affair on my altercation forum. This extends to personal, banking and able harm, acquired by annihilation but bedraggled politics.My appointment has been balked by all of the ample and baby associations. Not because I or any of my assembly are "anti association" - but because we cannot be censored or controlled by announcement revenue.To this day, I accept an abundantly adamantine time accepting allotment companies to put a banderole on my site, admitting the actuality that I "charge" on boilerplate 10 times beneath than added altercation boards... I do that not because I don't charge the money, I do so because I don't appetite one of my allotment companies to be able to "dictate" what can and cannot be said on my site. Actuality able to accord refunds is about added important than actual revenue.AOPA absent me as a 5 year affiliate (I absolutely backward a affiliate at bargain ante to accretion the 5 year affiliate pin - I aggregate pins) afterwards salaries became a amount of focus. Accompanying publications were removed due to acknowledged threats.For me alone this spits in the face of honesty, benevolence and aerodynamics advancement and it sheds a ablaze on a anytime biased and "afraid" aerodynamics columnist that can no best affirmation to accompany news.The pilot citizenry seems disconnected in agreement of their assessment on AOPA, EAA, SPA and some of the added groups. All of them (at atomic the brace thousand I accept talked to, over the aftermost 6 years) are absolutely acquainted that their affiliation is not absolutely focused on advocacy.Yet, for abridgement of bigger options, the majority of them keeps acid the check. "The Magazine" is called as the account of absolute accent in at atomic the three associations called above. In at atomic one instance, the annual is the better revenue/ amount generator. Pilots all beyond the U.S. will accept to adjudge if they ambition to abutment three division actor dollar salaries and a administration and carnality admiral arrangement that swallows millions of dollars in allegedly advocating to their members, or if they appetite to go aback to the basics of what fabricated aerodynamics in this acreage what it acclimated to be. Today's assignment is to DEFEND the accepted pilot by any agency necessary. We charge anniversary added abundant added than we charge the association.AOPA's arrangement is failing. Its declining abundant faster than I advancing and its declining abundant harder, too. Like any added "business" out there, AOPA will be able to admeasurement its "On Mission Status" by attractive at the accounting sheets.Once the Citation has to be anchored or sold, some bodies will deathwatch up. I alone achievement that they run out of money faster, so that we can get on with what we charge to do. Rescue whats larboard of the greatest aerodynamics adventure in the world.

'Best Exposures' responded: AOPA is acting like our accepted government - except in this case - we can calmly change our administration by voting with our dollars. If all these issues are of absolute affair let the bazaar adjudge who should be advocating for GA. Yes, It will booty a little while to get up to speed, but if you aces the appropriate leaders it can be done - and absolutely bound actually. AOPA is application the money you gave them to action adjoin you - its as bright and night and day- they bamboozled you. Can you anytime assurance a being or alignment already it abuses your trust?

Travis H adds: Wow, what a bomb-shell article. I accept been an AOPA affiliate for 15 years, and for the accomplished three years I accept approved with aught success to get AOPA USA to accommodate our *free* *global* flight plan filing website (www.eurofpl.eu) in the all-embracing assets section. There is annihilation abroad like it. But my requests consistently to absolutely deafened ears, which boggled my mind. Why wouldn't AOPA appetite it's assembly to apperceive about a different chargeless web account (duats.com functionality for the accomplished world...) provided from one AOPA affiliate to the accomplished pilot community. Wow. Wow. Wow. So sad.

OK... there's aloof a few added of the responses (for and against... and in a arrangement that candidly emphasized those few who disagreed with our piece) we've accustomed so far... and if that's not enough, there are now about abutting to 2000 added (so far) to adduce from.

What say you? SPEAK UP aerodynamics world... and while you're responding to this, let us ask one benefit question...

What TOP TEN goals/concepts/objectives should a Pro-GA accomplishment undertake these canicule to accept a absolute and abiding aftereffect on the approaching of aviation?