I started in the hobby in early 2011 by playing around with a park flyer I got for Christmas. By spring 2011 I had joined a local flying club and purchased a glow-powered trainer. I enrolled in their flight school and got my wings that summer. Over the course of the winter I put together a gas-powered low-wing sport plane and flew that throughout 2012, participating in my first IMAC competition.
In October of 2012 I purchased my first giant scale airplane, a used Slipstream RC 30% SBach 342 powered by a DA 50R. I spent the winter of 2012/2013 getting her ready for the 2013 flying season and though I didn't compete in 2013 I had a lot of fun flying the plane.
Over the winter of 2013/2014 I upgraded my sport plane to a 32cc gasser. The 20cc engine replaced the glow powerplant in my trainer and my time with slime is done. The trainer got a host of other modifications for 2014. I'm hoping to spend more time practicing IMAC this year so I can enter at least one contest.
And no, I am not a member of the AMA - being Canadian I belong to MAAC instead. :P