[K3PZN-List] Communications Van

[Alfred Bisasky]

Now You Pissed Me Off



It is a simple fact of life that with any club or volunteer organization
that 80% of the work is done by only 20% of the membership.  It could
probably qualify as a Law of Physics.  If you cannot live with it, then you
might as well not belong.  It is true of the CCARC as it is of any club.
Don't believe me?  Just take a look at your club roster.  You'll find that
the same people hold down two, three, four or even more "jobs" in the club
that entail about 99% of the work that needs to be done.  And this is the
case year after year.



People belong to clubs for different reasons and they belong to the CCARC
for different reasons.  Some are very active and participate regularly
because they want to.  Others belong because they simply want to use the
repeaters or show up for the annual Field Day picnic or limit themselves to
only specific activities.  As long as they pay their dues, they have a right
to participate in as little or as many meetings, projects, events, and
activities as they want.  There are no requirements in the By-Laws that a
member has to make even a minimum contribution of his/her time or perform a
minimum amount of work.  Every member shares the benefits of the club
equally.



I have long since gotten over the fact that whatever I do as a club "worker
bee" will be taken advantage of by the clue "drones".  It isn't fair.  It
isn't right. But, that's the way it is.  Get a clue.  Get over it. I put
into the club what I expect to get out of the club in return.  I do what I
do for my benefit and the benefit of my fellow worker bees.  Those positions
that I hold and those jobs that I do for the club I do because I want to.  I
volunteered for those positions.  No one threatened, bribed, blackmailed or
cajoled me into doing them.  If that had been the case, I'd have gotten the
hell outta Dodge long ago, pardner.



I usually don't complain about what projects the club gets involved in nor
do I really care how much money is spent.  Any member of the club that wants
to do something that she/he is interested in and would be of some benefit to
the club has ever right to use the club's resources to make it happen.  I
may not be interested in it, I may not think that it's a particularly good
idea, but I go along with it and I respect and applaud the member for
his/her efforts.



I was not nor am I now in favor of the (Emergency) Communications Van.  I
think that it is too big a project for the CCARC.  My reason for thinking
this way is because, in my opinion, we do not have the resources to make it
happen (resources = manpower + money).  However, I have bitten my tongue and
while yes I have discussed the issue with a few of my friends in the club, I
have not spoken openly to the general membership against the project.



I don't like the fact that the van project is being funded at the expense of
the other club projects that are still awaiting completion.  I don't like
the fact that the request for funding for refreshments for the Mid-Atlantic
QSO Party at the club station was refused and the participants paid for or
donated their own.  This especially sticks in my craw when the van committee
was allocated club funds for coffee, donuts, beverages, beer, and subs (and,
oh, did I mention BEER) for the van cleanup session this past Saturday.  I
don't like the fact that when I asked the committee chair man about it, he
told me that it was a "bribe" to get members out to work on the van.  And, I
don't like the fact that the club OK'ed the expenditure at the drop of a hat
when I'm still waiting on the Nine Wise Men (Board of Directors) to tell me
if I can have another $100 for Field Day due to the jump in the cost of
gasoline and food and number of participants expected to attend.



No, I don't like any of that.  But, I have a very long fuse.  I was willing
to let it all go in order to keep the peace and not stir up the pot.  What,
me worry?  It's only a club and it's only money.  Why should I even give a
damn about it?



I had resolved myself to contributing some time and effort to the van
project.  Instead of being a part of the problem, I'd become part of the
solution.  I found out about the work session only this past week, but I
decided to attend this past Saturday.  Unfortunately, I had forgotten about
a commitment for Saturday morning to my wife.  Family comes first, QED.



I checked my e-mail this morning and read the message on the club reflector
by the chairman of the van committee.  The following is a quote from that
e-mail:



"As it stands right now, should the vehicle be available for use as a
contesting station, ONLY those club members who put time into the
preparation of the vehicle will be permitted to use it for contesting.
INCLUDING FIELD DAY!"



Well, I've got big fat hairy news for the gentleman who wrote that and any
and all other Officers, Board members, or other club members who agree with
it.  As a dues paying, active member, who also works for this club, there is
no way on God's Good Earth that you or anyone else in this club is going to
keep me from sitting in, standing on, looking at, playing with, operating,
twiddling knobs, or any other goddamned thing that I feel so inclined to do
at my whim short of breaking something on, in, or attached to that van
whether it be during a contest, Field Day, public service event, or the end
of the flipping world!



I consider the statement that you made a threat and I do not react well to
threats.  I have not nor now will I ever lift even a single finger to help
with the project if that is the attitude of it's committee chairman. BUT,
like every other member of this club, regardless of how much or how little
that they do for the club, I will have the use of the van just like any
other club resource.



No, it is not fair.  Get over it.  IT'S FACT!



Al Bisasky K3ZE