Seems to me EAA cannot afford to support homebuilding/restoring as its
primary activity. It's made itself into a commercial money machine,
and not doing too well at that. Significant net losses in recent
years, per their IRS From 990. They now hide losses from members by
consolidating the income statement with the Foundation, which is
good-faith contributor money and bequests in wills for the museum and
education programs.

Membership has been flat for some years now, and may now be declining.
# of chapters declining, with their relevance declining as internet
email lists now provide better builder support than any chapter of old
duffs who no longer fly. % of dues spent on member services has been
on the decline. There is a necessary disclosure in the IRS forms
about who it is who controls the printing company which prints the
magazine, someone long associated with EAA. And what's the deal with
Zaug's, who has been the food vendor at the convention for as long as
I can remember? Are they getting the best deal for these services?
And they continue the big lie about 750,000 attendance at the
conventions. And the huge amount of money spent on the Wright Flyer
was an embarrassing flop. And Poberezny's compensation does not
appear to be performance based, just same as last year plus a good
COLA.

I am still a member. Only EAA can keep FAA from imposing stricter
rules on homebuilts, with onerous examples in some other countries.
But the financials suggest to me they gotta get their act together
soon, or the house of cards....

Fred F.