Perhaps a member ought to raise an agenda item for the next meeting, to suggest that the association should be divorced from the back slapping and award giving "business" that has evolved into this mess.
The statutory requirement to be aligned with a body which provides technical expertise, should not compel an owner to be party to political and
PR based events.
As a driver, I can decide whether or not I join the AA, but I have no choice in complying with the rules laid down by the DVLA. That means I can drive my vehicles, without being part of the business that sells books on every subject under the sun, and wants to pester the membership with offers for holiday insurance.
I see nothing wrong in the LAA giving scholarships and awards, apart from the legislative requirement for being part of that, simply because I want to fly a Permit aircraft.