[EIDXA] DXpedition support (e.g. VP6DX, etc.)

[David J. Schmocker]

Everyone:
Steve, thank you for your perspective toward good discussion.   
Typically I support lowest taxes and low dues.. however, with regard to 
the latter, who are we as EIDXA?    What is our identity?   Why do we exist?

As a DX club EIDXA membership directly benefits from DXpeditions just 
one of which is VP6DX at a cost of $330,000; at the same time I seem to 
be hearing reluctance to budget perhaps $12-$13 (half of $25/year 
proposed EIDXA dues) per year per member as a club to support such 
operations through the EIDXA, a DX club.   I support fiscal 
responsibility; I don't understand extreme-frugality in a core area 
about which we're passionate.

If we honestly measure and total the individual contributions, I would 
be surprised to find that they exceed (on an individual contribution 
basis) what we could collectively offer as the EIDXA as a group.
 
Perhaps this indicates our true level of interest in DXing.. in which 
case I wonder if we should consider re-visiting our true purpose and 
consitution/bylaws for EIDXA.  Do we want to be a DX club or something 
else? 
 
Dave KJ9I

P.S. If we get to a point where there is an EIDXA operating budget of 
several hundred dollars per year (easy to reach through the above 
proposed dues level), then I suggest we form a voluntary or EIDXA 
officer-appointed DX committee.   With less DXpedition support budget 
than that, a DX committee would hardly be warranted. (consider a 
cost/benefit analysis of people's time).    If we get to the point of 
the group supporting DXpedition funding as part of our core operating 
budget, then I volunteer to be one of the members on this committee.  At 
the same time, if there is EIDXA sentiment that my DX passion makes me 
not well suited for such a role, I am OK with other EIDXA members taking 
on this role; I would just like to see us show our support for DXing 
because our membership stands to gain from such direct support. 


Steve Miller wrote:
> Dave et al,
>     The club has given fairly generous support to expeditions it 
> believes have merit though a simple request for  donations at the 
> meetings.  This has allowed the dues to remain very low and is never a 
> hardship on anyone and allows each to determine how valuable the 
> expedition to them.   Most members have given generously and at the 
> odd occasion where the amount has been low, the club has chipped in an 
> amount to bring it up to a respectable level.   I see nothing wrong, 
> however, with having a committee to be the advocate for the various 
> expeditions.  Steve N0SM
>
>
>
> David J. Schmocker wrote:
>> Rich and everyone:
>> I agree with the idea of supporting worthy DXpeditions.   A primary 
>> purpose of a DX club is to help fund and support worthy DXpeditions 
>> such as VP6DX.
>>
>> I have seen this arrangement work well in several DX clubs just like 
>> EIDXA where dues are allocated per a budget earmarking a substantial 
>> portion of the operating budget to support DXpeditions toward helping 
>> us all work new one(s).
>>
>> Typically, there would be an EIDXA committee of two or three (A 
>> DXpedition funding pre-selection committee, named the DX committee) 
>> which would pre-filter and recommend "worthy" expeditions (on their 
>> merits) to the overall membership for a yes/no vote at a recommended 
>> funding level which would take into account the total yearly EIDXA 
>> available DXpedition support funds.  Of course the input on which 
>> prospective expeditions warrant EIDXA support could/would come from 
>> any EIDXA member through the DX committee.  Because our EIDXA 
>> meetings are quarterly, we'd need to use an electronic communication 
>> vehicle such as this reflector to have discussions and authorized and 
>> get funding to appropriate groups in a timely manner (before waiting 
>> until the next quarterly meeting).
>>
>> I believe EIDXA dues should be approx. $25/year per member with over 
>> half of that earmarked to support DXpeditions as EIDXA is a DX club.
>> Just my $0.02 worth.. or maybe with the current dollar devaluation, 
>> it's now $0.05 worth?    :-)
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Dave KJ9I
>>
>> rhaendel1030 at inabc.net wrote:
>>> Hello all,
>>>
>>> The Ducie Island expedition beginning 6 or 7 Feb, 2008 is soliciting 
>>> funds
>>> to help cover the shortfall they have. They have planned a significant
>>> expedition with many operators and many bands to cover in several 
>>> modes.
>>>
>>> Some of us may wish to support this expedition by making individual
>>> contributions or possibly EIDXA may wish to make a group 
>>> contribution. The expenses appear to be about $330,000 US.
>>>
>>> For individuals the URL is
>>> http://ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/howtohelp/paypal/index.php
>>>
>>> I made my own contribution already
>>>
>>> Rich W3ACO
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> EIDXA mailing list
>>> EIDXA at mailman.qth.net
>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/eidxa
>>>
>>>   
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