[Elecraft] ESTATE SALES

[K9ZTV]

Someone wrote ...

"Neither I nor the club are making anything on this. It's unfortunate, but this is the third one of these instances that we've been called upon to do in the past year."

Over the last decade or so our club has been involved in the disposition of seven silent key estates of varying sizes.  

For one we merely suggested fair market prices to the commercial company handling the estate and made the sale known to area amateurs.

For another (a long-time member and former club officer with no immediate family) we provided security and assistance during the two-day sale of household goods and home showing.  His modest radio station sold quickly to local club members.

For a third we arranged for the donation of his equipment to the local American Red Cross chapter.

The club charged nothing and received nothing for the above tendered services.

However, the remaining four estates involved stations of substantial size requiring considerable time, labor, and risk of injury.  Knowing this, the three widows and, in the fourth instance, the ham's parents, stated beforehand that the club could keep all such proceeds.

As a result, the club's current treasury stands at $18,000 and would be considerably higher had we not recently upgraded our VHF/UHF repeater system.

Clearly, estate sales will be more numerous over the coming years with fewer hams available as buyers.  We have discussed the need for, but not yet decided upon, a club policy regarding remuneration for such services to those estates wishing us to provide the labor while they retain the proceeds.

Community service may be our middle name, but there is a degree of legal liability, risk of personal injury, and assumption of fiducial responsibility when handling other people's assets.

73,

Kent  K9ZTV