|  |     They both provide liability insurance.  
    
    Often, the deciding factor (usually towards AMA) is what the club
    requirements are for the club that you intend to join.  If the club
    requires AMA, then the rest of the discussion is moot.
    
    Also, if you intend to compete, you will probably need AMA.  Even our
    NH Gremlin contests are "sanctioned" by the AMA and require that all
    contestants have AMA.
    
    If the club allows SFA in place of AMA insurance, then you can start
    researching the actual differences.  I (and I suspect 99% or more of
    the readers here) fall into at least one of the above catagories and 
    therefore "elect" AMA coverage.
    
    In the rec.models.rc, there is a discussion about the two...
    
    cheers,
    jeff
    
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|  |     The AMA has had sort of a monopoly on providing liability insurance
    protection by sactioning events and requiring AMA membership.  I do not
    believe it is possible to belong to the AMA without purchasing
    their liability insurance.
    
    It seems everything was fine until the cost of AMA membership kept
    increasing along with purchasing land, moving the AMA headquarters,
    etc.  This caused some to suspect that they were subsidizing an AMA
    organization that was behaving irresponsibly.
    
    Enter SFA- insurance protection at lower cost($25 vs $40, I believe).
    
    From a liability protection standpoint, I believe either will provide
    adequate coverage.  Jeff's points about club sanctioning and
    AMA sponsored competition must be considered.
    
    My personal opinion is I wish AMA had kept its headquarters in
    Washington, D.C. where they could more effectively lobby for our
    interests.  I also would have preferred no land purchase or the
    purchase of several regional sites as opposed to the big single land
    purchase in Indiana.  This I feel would better serve the average
    modeler.
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|  |     Jim,
    
    Call me at dtn 445-6577.  I am a charter member of a new club that is
    under SFA charter.  I don't have the time to put a lengthy dissertation
    in notes right now.  If you get voicemail, leave a message; I'll return
    your call.
    
    Regards,
    
    Chris
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