[CW] did anyone get this poll ?

[N7DC@cs.com]

"Anthony W. DePrato" <wa4jqs@mikrotec.com> wrote:

>I just read this and i do not recall being polled by the arrl . does anyone 
>else ?
>73 Tony
>
>27. 


Yes, I received a direct envelope from the company who ran the poll.  It was mentioned that a small percentage of the membership was being polled.  This is a typical way to poll members of an organization, and "saves" lots of money by not sending mail to everyone, nor to having to handle tens of thousands of pieces of mail/computer files.  Its the same way that phone polls are taken: just allow a computer to arbitrailry select a certain number of membership names/numbers and poll those members only.   Its not perfect, but it does apparently get very close to totals which would be counted if they were to poll everyone.   

The failure arrives, when not everyone turns their poll paperwork back in.  Why do that?  Who knows.  Maybe they are not interested in the subject at all.  If only those who are interested, return the mail, then that shifts the results somewhat, thus you have the +/- 5% numbers that they often give.