[CW] CW Clubs

[David Ring]

Dick,

Thanks for the update and correction on FOC dues.  If they are only
$40 a year, they haven't gone up very much in the over 30 years since
I was a member - FOC 1271.  FISTS is a great value.  Look at the
amount of work that goes into the Keynote and other FISTS publications
and activities.  A modest amount of dues and much volunteer work (QSL
Bureau, Awards checkers, etc.) makes for a great club.  Likewise for
FOC, SKCC, SOC, CFO and other great CW clubs.  I'm not against
volunteering or paying modest dues (they are all modest) - but one of
the biggest selling points of a club is its past and present
membership and who they are.

FOC and A1-Operator's Club (of ARRL) both publish lists of all who
have been a member.  In the case of A1 Op Club - it is lifetime, in
FOC if you don't pay, you don't play - but still there is a historic
list - and a very interesting one at that.  Lots of very interesting
people participated in that club.

Same with FISTS - lots of great members - some of whom are lapsed.  If
a list of ALL the members were published, it could not help but get
some of those thinking:  "Hey this is a great club, I should re-join
and support it."

The "forever" A1 Operator's Club list is here:
http://www.arrl.org/awards/a1-op/

Lots of great CW operators as well as great operators of other modes
on that list.

I don't think I'm alone in joining clubs that have "the good guys"
belonging in them, a historic FISTS list is a great idea.  I
understand that there is a prohibition of giving out addresses and
other contact information - but other clubs have just put down call
sign and membership number.  That seems to be legal.

73

David N1EA


On Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 12:14 PM, Dick Bentley <k2uft at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Not an expert on FISTS, but with other organizations my take is you get what you pay for.  I tried to generate some interest from ARRL HQ regarding the A1-OP club, did get a list of members from them but no apparent interest in making it anything more than a one-time award.
>
> FOC is now $40 a year but you do get monthly newsletters, a pretty decent Quarterly Magazine, not to mention reflectors, access to several data bases and program sources, etc.
>
> Many organizations seem to drop dead once the bureaucratic types get their fingers in the pie.  One of the best organizations(?) I'm involved in is the South East Contest Club whose rules we designed when W4AN, K4BAI and I drew up the constitution:  2 meetings a year, each not to exceed 15 minutes in length unless extended by popular vote. The reflector facilitates decision making and voting on any issues that need to be thrashed out.  Even better is the North Georgia QRP Club, no officers, no dues, $1 voluntary donation per meeting to pay for the room rent, whoever feels like it gets to run the monthly meeting!  Again, a reflector suffices as a forum and facility for decision making.  What is it Outback Restaurant says?  "No rules...just right" or something to that effect.
>
> 73
>
> Dick  K2UFT
>
>
>
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