It had to happen. There were just too many powerful aviation alphabet groups out in the world feeding on a dwindling number of flying enthusiasts and professionals. Something had to give.
Kev, this is pure gold! 
Okā¦ so, whatās your point???
I agreeā¦ absolute gold!
I bit the bullet and didnāt renew my AOPA membership. This morning will be my first flight as a non-AOPA person, thingy, whatever. Should I be worried? Should my student be concerned? Will the FAA send me a letter?
I feel a bit like James Earl Jones sticking my hand into the outfield corn in āField of Dreamsāā¦
I have to admit, I donāt get it either.
That was a well-crafted allegory, Kevin. And as such, all too plausible.
Like all sibling rivalries, it boils down to competition for scarce resources. Like many of us, I belong to both camps, although the extrinsic benefits I get from AOPA consist of a life-insurance policy that at this point wouldnāt cover the evironmental remediation fees arising from the flaming hole I might leave. Frankly, itās AOPAās proximity to Foggy Bottom and its denizens that I find the most valuable. Like septic wastewater technicians, Iām glad they are there, and I want them to be good at their jobs, but I could not, and would not, ever do them myself. So I proudly wear an AOPA sticker on my airport car, and continue to pay my increasing membership dues.
EAA, on the other hand, is my peeps. I am an EAB and pilot, hang with the EAB crowd, and have attended Airventure every year since 1978 (including the year that it wasnāt officially held).
So frankly, the story was not believable on its face, but it wasnāt meant to be. If it has any effect at all, I would hope that it helps to mitigate the vitriol in AvWeb that mirrors the schism in our national discourse.
I wish I were more sanguine.
This was gold, no doubt.
Will the new AOPA president make what the last one made? Just curious.
I agree. While I am not above making fun of both groups I too am a member of both and have worked for the Foggy Bottom one for a while. I shun wearing either of their hats, which is a shame because they would cover my growing bald spot.
There is probably a level of Oshkosh that I have not experienced yet. I go as a card-carrying member of the aviation media and enjoy the experience but have never been one to shun my air-conditioned hotel room (near a great bar and restaurant) to bask in the glow of waking up wet and bug bitten under the wing of my Cessna 140. Iāll be around this year, schlepping my lawn chair from shade to shade. Find me and Iāll spring for some cheese curds. kg
Bruce, I think I am going to follow your lead and āgo commandoā with my memberships. Of course, I could be like Doc (in the movie) and have to save some random AOPA or EAA member from choking on a hotdog. Then, Iād have to return because my wife was metaphorically waiting with dinnerā¦
I donāt get it either. Iām a member of several of these groups and donāt know of any mass exodus. Obviously itās some sort of parody but āgoldā. Sorry, I donāt even see lead here.
Not sure what the point was but whatever.
Funny. Aināt that the truth! 
Ah, Grasshoppers, Your confusion stems not from ignorance or as we say in the dojo, being āet up with the dumbass.ā The meaning you seek might be an illusion, a miasma brought about from too much time on the iPad and not enough clapping with one hand. Do not worry ā enlightenment may come soon. Until then, repeat your mantra and party on.
Thanks Jason (the system said that saying Thanks was too few characters to work as a real answer and suggested that I include some insipid smiley face thingies) To fight the oncoming Ai takeover, I will instead post a simple analog
I sure hope so! That has to be one tough job ā flying around in a brand new airplane to various fly ins and parties and having people like me make good natured fun of your gig.
No doubt because Iāve had division and conflict so present on the mind with the recent heated discussions on DEI and politics I thought it was a perfect allegory to that, and the last paragraph bringing it all home, using the alphabet groups of our world of aviation to show the futulity of it all.
Ok, Iāve been known to be odd before, but I really enjoyed itā¦
I just buy another T-Shirt at the next Marginal Aviation gathering to keep a spare and that renews my membership. I like Marginal so much that I even donate to them! Iām not telling you where they are though as I want to keep this organization to the few. They are a strong few though with a mighty air force. Beware Laddy Vladdie.
I came close to dropping AOPA because they are coming closer to āunderstandingā big airport management claims and FBO needs and common sense the GA driver needs that fund the FBOs. The only reason mine did renew this year is the renewal is on autopilot. I may switch that autopilot off in the coming year.
Being dense is not like being dead. When you are dead you donāt know you are dead. When you are denseā¦no wait, its the same.
Sorry Milkshake, but thereās no point in explaining humor. Let it go.
Let me 'spain it to you. It is called humor.