[Dx-qsl] Bureau

[kc5lk@bellsouth.net]

   I have not read all the reply to this thread and perhaps someone has mentioned it already but if we are talking about US manager and if he is not a member of the ARRL he can use the services of the Incoming Bureau but not the Outgoing Bureau.  I am not sure how the national societies operate, but I believe that some require membership it use either bureau.  So in some cases it may not be a matter of money, but a matter of personal choice of belong or not belonging to the ARRL.
  I am not absolutely sure but I from what I see on some returned QSL cards sent "via the buro" many national societies require membership to use the Incoming and Outgoing Bureaus.  So once again if membership is rquired and if a manager chooses not to belong then why be critical when we do not know all the facts.
  Finally, many years ago I heard the experssion, "You have to pay to play".  I do not enjoy the paying and paying and paying, but when you really want a card then you had be will to pay the bucks.  If you are not willing to pay then be like the little dogs and stay off the porch.  I do not own a big gun DX station but I love to try to play like a big dog and it costs me dearly to play, but when the ARRL  finally finishes entering my latest DXCC submission and they tell me I am eligable for 5 Band DXCC and the DXCC Challenge Adwards then all the paying will be worth it. When that day arrives then maybe I can sleep on the porch with the big dogs, but until that happens I will have to be like the little dog and sleep under the proch.
                                    John Bergman, KC5LK
> 
> From: "Bill Hawkins" <w5ec@bellsouth.net>
> Date: 2003/02/26 Wed AM 08:08:00 EST
> To: "Jim Zahradnicek" <kd0s@pie.midco.net>,  <dx-qsl@mailman.qth.net>
> Subject: Re: [Dx-qsl] Bureau
> 
> 
> snip>   I have been reading with interest about QSL managers not willing to
> pay out of their own pocket to return cards via the bureau.
> 
> Good day all--
> I have been chasing dx QSLs for about 45 years now and I guess I am old
> fashioned, but I always thought  (until the past couple of years!) that a
> manager was a volunteer who helped "poor" dx stations get out cards faster
> than the dx can. If the dx can afford to pay for card printing and other
> expenses, so much the better but if not, the manager would be responsible
> for the cards, shipping to bureaus, time required, etc. This meant answering
> direct sase cards direct-not by bureau and keeping any money-and bureau
> requests are answered by bureau. Extra money (a good idea) sent with
> requests would go to offset the "volunteered" expenses, not to buy groceries
> and cars!
> If the volunteer can't do this, he shouldn't volunteer!
> 
> QSLing for big buck dxpeditions are another ballgame.
> 
> Oh well, the world is changing but I am slow to adjust.
> 
> Bill W5EC
> 
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