[Dx-qsl] Re:ARRL?? Vol 37, Issue 4

[Ron Notarius W3WN]

Hi Don, good to hear from you again (I miss your touch on the BARC
newsletter, haven't seen it for quite some time, and yes, I know you don't
edit in anymore!).

I took some heat from a few list members for my comments the other day in
support of Pete, including a few from DX ARRL members basically telling me
to shut up since the ARRL is good for us.

What most of these folks fail to realize is that those of us who ARE long
term and loyal ARRL members (I've been once since shortly after my first
license came... 1972... I still wish I had convinced my dad to let me become
a life member way back when!) have a right and a duty as members to start
asking questions when funny or unusual things come to light.  Asking what
the heck is going on is not anti-League -- it is being a responsible member.

Having said that, I'd suggest writing to NN1N (since he's basically the
successor to N7NG) and tell him exactly what you told us about the renewal
and the book.  I'm just a touch surprised. I wasn't at Dayton last year
(couldn't justify the shekels for the trip when we were scrapping pennies
for the down payment and closing costs on the new QTH), for the first time
in almost 15 years, but I have renewed my membership in years past at
Hamvention, and usually they handed me the bonus book or whatever right then
and there.  So, I'd emphasize in the letter that you didn't get anything.
Also, I'd cc: your Division Director, as it's part of their job to make sure
that you get responses from the HQ staff on things like this.

My guess would be that your letter fell through the cracks.  There was a
time, many many moons ago, when the League had a promotion going on; if you
recruited so many new members within the time period, you were supposed to
qualify for a book and some other things.  I managed to do that, but never
got my book until I wrote a few letters and asked... and it finally came (no
apology, just the book).

Also, the last renewal letter you'll get (usually on yellow paper), right
before your membership expires, should also offer you a book on renewal.
There's a code printed on the sheet.  You can either send the form in, or
renew on-line (entering the code will get you to a screen with your choice
of books).  Still, if you didn't get what you were supposed to, write them
and continue to write them until someone responds.

Getting back to Pete's post for a moment... I know that it costs shekels to
run the programs, and that membership alone no longer helps cover it.  When
an organization (be it the League or anyone else) is up front as to what the
additional costs are and why, I don't have a problem.  When you start seeing
the "nickel and dime" extra charges, unannounced "stealth" charges if you
will, which quickly add up... then I have a problem.  That's when my
eyebrows go up and I start wondering where the shekels are going, and I
start asking questions.

The current buzz word in Newington seems to be "fiscal responsibility," and
anyone who (like me) is in favor of the Logbook of the World project should
pay attention to that.  I have it on good authority that WJ1B, the ARRL COO,
has commented that he is not in favor of the project, presumably because it
is not generating enough revenue to pay it's costs.  This would be a major
mistake on more levels than I want to go into at this time... suffice to say
that LotW should be considered a long-term project that will pay off over
time, especially in costs savings besides revenues generated, and shutting
it down for a short-term cost savings would be (IMHO) a major blunder.  I
HAVE had a long telephone conversation with Bill Edgar N3LLR, the Atlantic
Division Director, on that very subject, and will have a follow-up with him
at WASHFest 2007 in a few weeks.  Now maybe I'm lucky in that I know Bill
very well and have for a long time, nevertheless, it behooves all League
members to start contacting their Division Directors and do what I did.
(Note that "revenue generating" doesn't mean "make a profit," just "cover
it's costs" -- at least that's what Bill told me.)  I understand that part
of WJ1B's job is to make sure the bills get paid... but I'm not yet
satisfied as to how the current reorganization(s) are going to do that.

The contesters have taken a big hit in the recent past with the loss of QST
(ie public) column space for contest results, in part because of the alleged
financial costs involved.  I'd sure hate to see us DX'ers take the next hit
(especially in programs like the Incoming & Outgoing QSL bureaus, DXCC
awards, and Logbook of the World) without knowing more about where the money
is going and why.

After all... the League is supposed to be Us, it's members.  So it's up to
us to ask questions and expect answers.

73

-----Original Message-----
From: dx-qsl-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:dx-qsl-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Donald McCoy
Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 7:35 PM
To: dx-qsl at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Dx-qsl] Re:ARRL?? Vol 37, Issue 4


Right on Pete, NA2P! My dues are up in June. I was at Dayton last year
and thought it would be fun to renew there which I did do. When I wrote
and asked for the ARRL book they offered if you paid promptly they not
only have not bothered to answer me or send the book. In June (2006)
they sent me two letters asking me to renew adding insult to injury! I
have paid dues since 1963, only skipping the two years I was working in
Saudi Arabia. I have about 200 QSTs I have not read yet! Maybe I don't
need to "belong" anymore either.

73,

Don   WØDM
Littleton, CO    (But born in The Bronx)