Out of what I pay my club for membership, which includes mast up storage, a beach, changing rooms, a somewhat social scene, a wednesday night series etc. etc. about one dollar goes to the national sailing assoc. Without a strong national sailing assoc. the local club would probably not be there.

You in the USA have a different view on central organisations than most in Europe. Some of these large and central organisations are rotten apples, but many do good work. Not everybody here have to be a member, but if you want to race, you are a member.