[CW] CW Clubs

[David Ring]

Hello Bill,

Most of the money goes to printing and postage.  Those FISTS Keynotes
are usually quite thick.  With the increased postal charges for small
2nd class mailers like FISTS, I'm sure that a great economy exists to
get 4 issues out in the mail for $15.00 a year.  If these had to be
printed by letter press like the one Ben Franklin used - the cost
would be $150 a year, but there are still a very few web offset
printing houses that will print small run jobs like FISTS.  For how
long is quite another matter.

I have no problem with giving $15.00 to such great organizations.  I
understand that others might.  I also know that I can't belong to them
all - and I've rotated membership in some of them.  I renew for a few
years with one, then drop it, then pay for another club for a few
years, etc.  I try to cut my total "memberships, books and
subscriptions" costs to about $200 a year.  But that means choices:
OOTC but no QCWA, VWOA but no MTC (this year), SOWP but no RNARS.
ARRL but no RSGB, etc.

Perhaps some clubs should have an "Association Fee" - like a
initiation fee - you get listed as a member, get a membership
certificate, membership club pin, and from then on you can subscribe
for an additional fee.

Or maybe a "no subscription" membership.

Since about thirty years ago, "QST" has become just an advertising
book with junky articles.  I'd rather have "QEX" instead - but ARRL
says "No".

I want to belong to ARRL but my "QST" makes the round trip from the
paper processing plant, to the printer, to Newington, to my house via
the post office, and then when I receive it, it gets put into the
"recycle can" within about 2 minutes.  Such a waste.

If I had "QEX" at least there would be something to learn and study and keep.

73

David N1EA

73

David N1EA


On Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 12:55 PM, Bill Ellis <wb9cac at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I used to have a paid membership in FISTS, but after the first year, why 15.00 again? Perhaps a lesser fee after the first year. I have nothing against FISTS, but I can't see why it requires 15.00 every year.
>
> Bill, WB9CAC
> FISTS # 11256 (can't verify it, however, it's not on the list any longer)
>