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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tony,I do know, and as voiced by others around at
the time, that Muncie was defined, justified and implemented as a common
location to hold AMA NATS Events. Whatever else it did, or could do, was
secondary. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>That being the case, why isn't the real question
"How do we expand all the NATS and cover any associated expenses".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We have heard these same old complaints about
the NATS for many years, and yet the EC seems to let them fester,
rather than solving them.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I also have heard threats that if "it" don't get
fixed then the NATS will go away. I have news for that position-if AMA takes
that road--they will go away since they could not stand a large
</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>Membership reduction. They could quickly be
replaced by a new viable "service the membership" organization holding all the
NATS! Maybe that is what they want?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Wonder what the Greater Muncie CoC would have to
say about that?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The cost deficit I have heard has always been
expressed based upon Membership $. What about the large $s given to AMA every
year by donations/bequests, and what about Event fees? How about all the
revenue taken in from the family members and contestants on
shirts/caps/whatever, and at the Museum? Don't they all provide additional
resources, or are new tasks/jobs created to absorb them. Maybe the answer
is to reduce overall AMA growth/costs. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The majority of facilities/support items
(tents,tables,trailers,chairs,etc.) used to support the NATS are already
sunk costs-with typical periodic maintenance or replacement
costs.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What is it that "doesn't get done" for the time
when a few staff support the NATS, rather than their "normal"
jobs?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It would be interesting to hear a
candid position of each Member of the EC, to see what they actually
think</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>the role of AMA at Muncie is.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It sounds like they may have in mind a totally
different mission for Muncie than was originally defined. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Looks like that would be a good project for AMA
Members from each AMA District to find out. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In any case it smells like AMA
is moving away from a "service the Membership" mentality, and
towards a "do more-different/create more" growth business mentality, using
complaints/costs as a justification.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jerry</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
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