So who is really willing to do the work?
Interesting post, Jeff. I was thinking along parallel, but different lines earlier today.
Where we agree: This is serious work. A professional organization is the only kind that is likely to succeed. It will take real money.
Where we differ: I have no interest in declaring war on the FAA or fighting anybody else. I absolutely am not interested in using the contemporary NRA as a template for anything (altho the NRA of decades past, that was devoted to the sport and education/training, would be fine). And unless there is somebody willing to write a check for millions of dollars right out of the gate, an offensive strategy is hopeless anyway.
In my view, the most promising approach is one where the new UAV Association works on at least five initiatives simultaneously:
1) Get organized quickly and claim a seat at the table. Leave the tin foil hats at home and be prepared to conduct yourselves in a professional fashion. Come with solid ideas that are fleshed out in well-argued position papers, because that is how the bureaucracy works.
2) Have an experienced public affairs director who can get in front of policy makers at all levels of government and pro-actively spread a positive view of UAVs, especially those operated by ordinary citizens and small businesses.
3) Create a membership program that offers real value for the dues paid. At minimum, the new Association will need at least 5,000 members to be relevant, much less have the resources to do anything meaningful. A few will eagerly step up, but most will need to be enticed with benefits.
4) On the side, create a PAC (political action committee) that can receive and spend money for the purpose of lobbying. There are strict limits to political activities by nonprofits and an affiliated PAC is the usual workaround.
5) When all else fails, there needs to be a legal team in place to pursue remedies in the courts. I deliberately put this last because if it is the first resort, it will consume all the resources and likely accomplish very little. In my view, based on nearly forty years in the Real World, if you must sue and go to court, you've probably already lost.
I realize that breaking this down into actual goals and operational processes isn't as emotionally satisfying as railing against the system, but when I say this is serious work, this is what I mean.