[Qcwa] Re: QCWA Members duties

[qcwa@mailman.qth.net]

to QCWA members,

One thing hams seem to forget is the large pile of equipment that they have 
picked up over the years.

Some years ago a radio club was havinig a little internal auction to raise 
some funds and let the members "swap" goodies.  While it was going on a widow 
of one of the silent keys came in and had a cardboard box and asked if they 
could help her get rid of a piece of radio gear. She said she didn''t know 
what it was or what it was worth but her late husband had told he paid 
"almost $300.00 for it"  and she wold be happy to get maybe one-hundred 
dollars because it was used..

When the club officer opened the box he saw a practically brand new top of 
the line transciever that still retailed for more than $4800.00.

Had he been like some of the vultures I've seen, he could have given her the 
$100.00 and she would have gone away happy...    HOWEVER, he told her that it 
was worth a bit more and they would not sell it right then but would see if 
they could get her a better price...   [most hams have brought a new item 
into the shack and have "forgotten" how much they paid]

Well the club was able to sell the radio and the widow got more than $2500.

So while you make out that list of organizations - make a list of your better 
equipment and be honest about what it cost, when you bought it, and an 
estimate of present value.  Don't let your widow be ripped off by some of the 
sharks out there..

Jerry
W3DMB     "Doing My Best"
Butler PA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Several military organizations have a publication called "Help Your Widow 
While She's Still Your Wife".  It's filled with blank forms and blank form 
letters for filing with various organizations - for benefits, etc.  Also 
for notification to various groups (QCWA?, ARRL? RAC?).  I think they are 
probably updating the title to "Help Your Spouse..." but you get the 
idea.  It's a considerate thing to do.  No one likes to think about dying 
.. but that's life!  Anyhow,  why make it any tougher on anyone than you 
have to?  Sometimes it acts as a reminder to keep the will up to date 
better also - it's easier to get at a folder or a workbook if it isn't 
hidden in a safety deposit box or some lawyer's office (the original will 
should be carefully protected, but doing so can make it easy to forget 
sometimes).

Enough ... make a list or a folder full of letters ready to sign and check 
it once in a while to keep it current.

73,

Augie

  At 20:56 5/23/02 -0400, you wrote:
>Yes, being irritated at you for not knowing, when the fault is with the
>family for not getting the word to the right people. As one member
>pointed out, he is going to make it a point in his will that "the
>following organizations be notified......." I think that would be a very
>useful idea! May do so myself when I re-write mine. (Long overdue).
>Harvey
>