[Lowfer] Future of LWCA (Long)

[Les Rayburn]

After reading John Davis's comments in the February issue of the Lowdown,
I'd like to clarify a few points, and ask for comments by other members of
this list both LWCA members and non-members:

DISCLAIMER+ None of this should be viewed as negative comments towards
John Davis, Bill Oliver, or other tireless individuals who give so much to 
this
hobby. Hopefully we can all agree or disagree without damage to personal
relationships. Here goes:

1. I disagree with John that this list is not the appropriate place to discuss
the future of the LWCA. As a member, I'm very interested in hearing from
anyone with an interest in longwave who is not a member.

Do they feel that the LWCA does not serve their interests? Is the content in
the Lowdown not meaningful to them? Why? If we want to see the club
continue to grow and survive, these are key questions.

2. John mentions a survey where the vast majority of the LWCA membership
wants the Lowdown to remain a print only publication. I don't recall seeing the
results of this survey published anywhere. Can they please be made available?

The same survey is said to reveal that members do not wish the LWCA to
become a more political organization representing the wishes of it's membership
to other bodies like the FCC, ARRL, etc. Again, I'd love to read these 
comments.

How many members responded? How does that number compare with the total
membership of the club?

3. John mentions that Bill Olivers is "looking into" using a service like 
PayPal
to accept membership dues. A Paypal account can be opened in minutes...
so I don't understand what there is to "look into". Either we're moving forward
towards the 21st century model or we are not.

If we make it easier to join and/or renew, we'll have more resources to serve
the needs of the membership. Lots of clubs are already using Paypal or
similar services. Lots of shareware programmers too.

4. John mentions the LWCA relationship with AMRAD. I've been very critical of
AMRAD's contributions to the longwave spectrum and point to them as
the best example of what we can expect from amateur radio involvement
in LF, unless the "lowfer" community is involved in those efforts.

Basically, a lot of "reinventing the wheel". To me this is the best 
argument as to
why the LWCA needs to become more active in it's relationship with other
organizations. We have the experience at these frequencies to provide useable
guidance to newcomers.

5. My main point. I still am looking for the following clarifications:

a. A financial accounting of LWCA funds.
b. Knowledge of who is paid by the LWCA and how much.
c. An explanation of how positions of leadership are filled, and who makes
the decisions for the "club". It seems to me that the LWCA is really
just a magazine...and that there is a vested interest in it's remaining so.

If that is the case, then fine. You either subscribe to the magazine, or 
you don't.
A club implies a body, with members who have some say over how the club
conducts business.

Maybe other club members don't think these are issues at all...but when
you speak to former H. John Clements Award winners who had allowed
their membership to lapse, because they don't think the "club" is relevant
to them anymore, I submit it's time to take a hard look at things.

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF




Les Rayburn, director
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