[Lowfer] Future of LWCA (Short)

Tue, 5 Feb 2002 12:08:46 -0500

I very much appreciate Les' understanding and all his hard work for the good
of the LowFER community, and hope I haven't overstated my own case.  It's
definitely _not_ my intention to say that a loosely organized volunteer
group, whose principal (though I hope not "only"*) output is a magazine, is
the only workable model for the LWCA.  I have no particular interest in
maintaining the status quo, apart from wanting to preserve what's good about
it if the group at large decides something more is needed.

I agree with Les that feedback from non- and ex-members would be of immense
value in determining what an ideal longwave club should be like.  We could
have that discussion here, though it might be easier to deal with in a list
of its own, where I could basically lift the monthly digest and publish it
in its entirety for benefit of the non-Internet-connected members.

If it is indeed time to revitalize the organization and give it some formal
structure again, then I suggest that trying to generate member interest in
the idea--and dealing with all the details that would have to be worked
out--is best done through the organization's own publication.  I caution
that it will be neither easy nor fast.  There is a lot of inertia, and there
are a lot of members who will fear that an emphasis on activism in one
aspect of the hobby will cause their own specialty to be overlooked.  And,
it's just plain harder to come up with acceptable details to reactivate a
formal organizational structure than it is to create a new one sometimes.

That even leaves open the possibility of an affiliation of separate
organizations, something like the subset of ARRL members who make up AMRAD.
Even if LWCA remained principally the magazine and Web site, that's still a
valuable set of communication tools that's available to all LowFERs.  Just
as in the early days of BPSK, for instance, it provides a forum to get new
ideas to a reader base BEYOND those who are currently already active on a
day-to-day basis, such as the folks here on this list.  Some of those other
readers will catch the bug, too, and join in.  (As any home handyman knows,
you can never have too many tools. The LOWDOWN may not be the ideal wrench
for all jobs, but sometimes there's no subsitute for a good Crescent
wrench.)

As a central organization, even a loose one, LWCA has always been in a good
position to leverage publicity to generate new interest in the hobby.  This,
to me, is its greatest value.  Even if some members become frustrated by
lack of organized activity within the club, they tend to remain in the hobby
and make it stronger by doing useful things...such as organizing this
reflector, just for one example.

 (*We also, through our relative visibility, had significant impact when
ARRL came to us for help and comments before petitioning for LF ham
allocations.  It might not have been as much impact as if there had been
formal structure, but I believe it ended up better than it would have been
if they'd had to hunt down fragmented clusters of individual experimenters.)

So, I think there's value in change and growth, but even more value if we
can also maintain what has been good for the hobby so far.

73,
John

-----Original Message-----
From: Les Rayburn <[email protected]>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 7:47 AM
Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Future of LWCA (Short)

I have responded to John Davis off list, but will summarize my
response here:

1. I was not aware that the LWCA functioned only as a publication now. Since
it is in fact, just a magazine, then my comments about it's structure, role
in shaping the future of the spectrum, etc. clearly are not relevant.

My only remaining criticism of how the publisher is handling the magazine is
that I do think it should be made clear, in the form of a disclaimer that
there is no "club", but rather only a magazine.

My own membership lapsed from 1987 until 1999, and I was totally
unaware of the change.

2. I do find some benefit in having a central publication devoted to
LF...however, I think (fear) that many experimenters will choose to
publish their articles elsewhere esp. in regards to 1750 meter
experimentation.

I will continue my subscription to the Lowdown, at least for the
time being, and urge other lowfers to do the same.

3. I will also follow through on my three commitments to the
magazine:

a. Continue to help keep it's web site updated.
b. Offer to volunteer to head up it's awards program, if it should
decide to go forward with one.
c. Allow the video documentary to be included in a CD-ROM
collection of back issues. I think the issue of a collection
of reprints is very important, as it represents the real "treasure"
of the LWCA.

Thanks to John Davis for clearing all this up.

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
Navy MARS NNN�HSI
"Proudly Serving Those Who Serve"
------------------------------------------------------
4919 Cox Cove
Helena, AL 35080
Try the 1750 Meter Band:
http://www.highnoonfilm.com/xmgr

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