[QCWA] Corespondance to the Board and Canidates
Larry McCalvy
wa9jmo at wi.net
Wed Apr 5 17:08:32 EDT 2006
Gene (KA5CNT),
Since you asked, I have attached the entire response I made to Gene Nailon's
inquiry, at the bottom of this email you started.
If anyone has any specific questions or wishes clarification, please send me
an email on it, and I'll do my best to answer,
73,
Larry McCalvy, WA9JMO
Candidate for Vice President.
----- Original Message -----
From: " Gene Hawkins" <ka5cnt at sbcglobal.net>
To: <QCWA at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 11:38 PM
Subject: [QCWA] Corespondance to the Board and Canidates
>
>
> Gentlemen,
>
> Their has been a lot of correspondence between the currant Board and the
> Candidates running for office about the e-mail that Gene Nailon K5DLE sent
> to the currant officers and the candidates running for office pertaining
> to changes he feels necessary to keep QCWA a viable organization.
> However, no one has offered to make Gene's (K5DLE) letter or their
> personal comments available to the QCWA list, so the membership could have
> an opportunity to read what was presented to the Board and Candidates, and
> to here the replies that are circulating around between the Board members
> and Candidates.
> Doesn't anybody think the membership might want to see the letter Gene
> (K5DLE) sent all of us, and further more I am sure, the membership would
> like to here the candidates responses, as they are the people that will be
> voting in the up coming election.
> Whether you agree with Mr. Nailon or not is not an issue with me, but Mr.
> Nailon has brought some input for change and food for thought for the
> currant Board and the Candidates in the up coming election.
> I want to take this opportunity to ask Mr. Nailon if his input is not
> posted to this list in 24 hours for him to please post his letter to the
> Board and the Candidates.
> Board members and Candidates, post your responses to this list
> for the membership to see, stop telling each other what you like or
> dislike and tell the membership how you feel, their the ones that
> will be voting on YOU.
> Remember, QCWA will change, from the status quo or it will die
> a slow agonizing death.
> Please, communicate with the membership, if we are elected to
> office THEY are the ones that we serve, and remember what
> the member perceives is the way he or she believes.
> This is an election year, get your comments in front of the membership
> and let them decide.
> I realize that this list represents a very small percentage of the QCWA
> members but it is a start.
> Be open with your comments, let the members know how you feel,
> and above all LISTEN to their responses.
>
> Ralph E Hawkins (Gene)
> KA5CNT
> Candidate for Director
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> QCWA mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/qcwa
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html
> Post: mailto:QCWA at mailman.qth.net
>
(Larry McCalvy, WA9JMO wrote in response to Gene Nailon's inquiry)
Good Evening Gene and all of the other readers,
First let me commend you Gene on taking the time and making the effort to
bring forth an interesting topic and some thought provoking questions.
As a candidate for Vice President, I agree we could use some changes in how
QCWA goes about doing it business. First on a positive note and in my
opinion, we are quite fortunate that Chuck Walbridge, K1IGD, our former QCWA
Secretary stepped forward and assumed the duties as General Manager when Jim
Walsh became a Silent Key. When during the same period our Journal Editor
Gerry Wentz became a Silent Key, Chuck was saddled with those duties as
well. While moving the QCWA Headquarters from the West Coast to the East
Coast, Chuck managed the day to day organization's business and we did not
miss a Journal issue. The first two were a bite late, but considering how he
scrambled to gather enough material to even resemble a journal was itself an
arduous task. And Chuck has always given prompt responses to my telephone
calls and emails inquiries.
I personally feel the Journal is necessary as it is the only reliable
(quarterly) method Headquarters and the board of directors has of
communicating with the entire membership. Yes it could use some changes; but
if I and any of you would propose these changes, we must be willing to put
our time and effort into bringing these changes about.
As to the questions posed:
1. "Get the board down to 4 officers and 5 directors": I am not in favor of
this, there is enough work to do for 4 officers and the current 8 directors.
2. "Do away with Life Membership": Again, I am not in favor of this move.
Just check a listing of members by Membership Number and you will find
almost all of the first third are life members. They provided their money up
front allowing QCWA to function during the early years and provide QCWA now
with a membership numbering into the thousands; most helpful when making a
statement concerning Amateur Radio back with a large membership. Is it
important, who is to say; but I think it is.
3. "Drop the initial registration fee ($3.00) and lower the first years
dues to $18.00": I would like to look at this also. I could drop the $3.00
as it is often waived. And look at our yearly expenses to see if this is
feasible. If so, I would recommend a restructuring of dues to a lower amount
if we could.
4. "Put the Hot Line Report on the WEB Site every 90-days -- every 30-days
if possible.: I support this; if it could be accomplished
5. "Chapter Reports." Personally I like them as it gives me a little
insight in what other Chapters are doing. Missing chapter reports had been a
problem, but one I thought had been corrected. If each chapter would sent
their reports via email to the General Manager, before the deadline dates,
Chuck could just hit the reply button stating he received your material
(Sorry Chuck for trying to pile more work on you) would be, in my opinion,
one workable solution.
6. "Getting feedback from the membership". I am 100 percent in favor of
this. Our organization is for the membership and needs membership input to
the board. I would like to see a letters to the editor section in each
Journal. And any other workable vehicle to accomplish this.
7. "...make some changes or we may be loosing too many members". I agree,
we need to make some changes, but we need to agree upon which changes are
needed and how best to implement them.
8. "Quit calling the cruises - conventions". The two cruises - 2001 and 2005
were QCWA board approved conventions. Not one penny of QCWA membership money
was used or spent on either cruise. The 253 folks on the 2001 Caribbean
outing and 110 folks on the 2005 Alaska adventure paid all of their own
expenses. I know as I was the Convention Chair for both events.
9. "Why are you having convention at all?". Good point! Perhaps have the
annual membership meeting where the board makes a direct report to the
membership as required by our Constitution and By-Laws and usually coincides
with a convention, could be accomplished as a QCWA Forum at the Dayton
Hamvention. There will be more QCWA members at Dayton than at any other
function; and might be considered as a solution.
10. "Quit acting like a ARRL wanta-be". I do not see this in our
organization.
11. "Fix the QCWA QSO parties". I agree something needs to be done. The most
important I feel is to get more participation. According to the results of
last September' party, there were only 25 members submitting logs for that
event. If we can not Garner more membership activity in these events, it
might not pays to host them in the future.
12. "Fix the Journal or get rid of it....Large numbers of our membership say
it goes directly from the mailbox to the trash can". Credibility appears to
be lacking here. One member of a Chapter 63 HF net stating his Journal goes
directly to the trash does not make for "Large numbers of our membership". A
large number from a membership of 7,000 would seems to be at least 1000
possibly more. Is there that kind of support to back up your statement? Fix
the journal was addressed earlier.
13. "Stand up for standards!" I need specifics in order to adequately
respond to this statement.
14. "Our membership is falling". It would be nice if everyone worked to
promote QCWA! We might be able to do so by volunteering our time and make
positive suggestions to the board of directors. Share with other eligible
Hams in your areas the positive reasons you joined and remain a member of
our International Organization. It is often easy to complain, but very
difficult to work toward improvement.
You now have my feeling on the 14 items listed. I believe strongly in the
concepts and fellowship I believe QCWA stands for and have work to further
these ideas in my local chapter and all my endeavors and discussions
associated with QCWA
In my dealing with folks, I am straight forward, if I say I am going to do
something, I work very hard to do it.
If I am successful in my bid to become your Vice President on September 1st,
that is the philosophy I bring to the table.
73 and a very good night to you all,
Larry McCalvy, WA9JMO
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gene A. Nailon" <k5dle at juno.com>
To: <qcwagm at rcn.com>; <ka5cnt at sbcglobal.net>; <broske at hutchtel.net>;
<supina at attglobal.net>; <ve6afo at 3web.net>; <lgbw0ofy at aol.com>;
<johnston.john1 at worldnet.att.net>; <edyoder at comcast.net>;
<w4gxz at admin.umass.edu>; <valerwin at aol.com>; <radioamw8rc at gmail.com>;
<thirsch at ameritech.net>; <matt.tinker at enduroscope.com>;
<fcharris44 at earthlink.net>; <wa6itf at arnewsline.org>; <wa9jmo at wi.net>;
<carolynwb0oum at akktek>; <howardc at macrolle.com>
Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 5:56 PM
Subject: QCWA 2006 AND BEYOND:
> FROM: Gene Nailon K5DLE k5dle at juno.com
> Edmond, OK.
> 2 April 2006
>
> TO: ALL 2006 CANDIDATES (READ TO END-THIS IS LONG)
>
> The following has been up dated.
>
> Gene Nailon
>
> PS: On Chapter 63 HF Net this morning. We asked the following
> question.
>
> DO YOU LIKE THE NATIONAL JOURNAL YES or NO
>
> We had 29 checking, down about 6 most likely due to
> Daylight savings time.
>
> We got 16 responses. 1 Yes and 15 No. Net control forgot to
> ask all checkins. I thought it was interesting the one yes
> said he just tossed it in the trash so he didn't know what
> was in it.
>
> Thats not very sientific, but says a lot.
>
> ========================================================
> FROM: Gene Nailon K5DLE k5dle at juno.com
> Edmond, Okla.
> 1 Oct. 2002
>
> Subject: QCWA
>
> TO: Bill McGrannahan, N0ZL, CC TO: Gary Harrison K0BC
>
> You get all kinds of excuses for not becoming a member. It costs too
> much money. I don't join anything. I can't attend meetings. Why
> should I join, what will they do for me. Mostly just excuses!
>
> Once they join and it comes renewal time, you get a different set of
> excuses. I would like to be a member of the chapter but to hell with
> that national group. Why is National dues $20 and chapter dues $5?
> I don't like their Journal, I don't give a damn about what somebody in
> Timbuckto is doing, it's just a waste of time and money. I shouldn't
> have to tell you this, I'm sure you have heard it before.
>
> The board seems to forget that QCWA is looking for people that were
> first licensed 25 or more years ago.!! You need to quit catering to
> the new comer. People first licensed 25 or more years ago have an
> entirely different outlook on Amateur radio.
>
> When I say get out of bed with the ARRL, keep in mind I have been a
> ARRL member for at least 45 years. For years I was sure they could do
> no wrong. In the last 2 or 3 years they have made sure I can't trust
> them to look out for Amateur radio. They are now of by and for the
> ARRL, and nobody is looking out for the poor ham anymore.
>
> It looks like the QCWA is going the same way and the old timers don't
> like it. ARRL does not give a damn about QCWA, it does no good to
> keep supporting them, go public and state that you do not agree with
> what they are doing. Give the old time hams some place to go. Look
> out for QCWA members instead of the BOD for a change. The worst two
> Presidents of QCWA have been Harry Daniels and Lou McCoy, both ARRL
> biggies.
>
> I stay a member of both because it is easier to effect change from the
> inside.
>
> One more thing you need to keep in mind. A large number of QCWA
> members have a limited budget. Those on the board are in a much
> higher income bracket and don't look at the dues like someone on a
> fixed income might. This is a larger factor than you might think.
>
> Ok, you want some suggestions. I don't know where this is going to
> end, it seems to be growing faster than I had thought.
>
> 1. Get the board down to 5 members! I don't care who you have to
> shoot, hang or drown to do it just do it. Just so we understand
> each other, that is the 4 Officers and 5 board members. I was on
> the Board of a volunteer fire department for about 20 years. The
> first couple of years we had the regular Pres, V. Pres, Sec. and
> Trea. plus 12 board members. We almost had to commit mass murder,
> but got it down to 5. Things worked a lot better!! You will get
> a lot more done and save money in the process. Just do it!!!
>
>
> 2. Do away with the Life Membership!! It is costing you a lot of
> money with the interest rates so low. Even with high rates it
> still cost QCWA money. It does not mean a thing, except you had
> enough money to buy it. Of course you will have to honor the ones
> you already have out there. Just don't sell any more. It would
> mean a lot if you gave away 2 or 3 a year to deserving members.
> As officers it would help, if you quit listing your life
> membership.
>
>
> 3. This one is going to be rough, but I believe it is absolutely
> necessary to get the membership going in the right direction.
> Drop the initial registration fee, for all new members! This next
> is going to be a dandy. Lower the membership dues to $18.00 the
> first of the year. (I said it would be rough!)
> Initiate a gift membership. Let a regular member give a gift
> membership to a new person who has not been a member before. Let
> the one time gift membership go for $16.00, and let a regular
> member give away as many as they like. When it becomes due it
> will be at the regular rate.
>
> 4. Get the damn HOT LINE REPORT on the Web site, and on the
> reflector at least each 90 days. It would be better if it came
> out every 30 days. However, just getting it on the Web site and
> reflector would be a big help.
>
> 5. The Journal.... Chapter reports.... This is a tough one. Most
> people have some idea what goes on in their own chapter, or at
> least I like to think they do. Chapter 63 has been trying for
> about a year now to get a report in the Journal with no luck. So I
> guess you would say at this point we don't give a damn! Do away
> with the chapter reports. (I can hear the screams from here, shut
> up and listen. I know you think they are sacred.) Head line a
> couple of chapters in each Journal. Ask (4) four chapters each
> quarter to do it and let them do all the work. Pick the best (2)
> two and see that they get published. Save the other (2) two and
> run them when you get in a bind. You can publish a memorial to
> the old style chapter reports. They really won't be missed. It
> would be nice to have a QCWA member as Journal Editor.
>
> 6. Getting feedback from the membership. If you want to know what
> the membership thinks about something, ask the question in the Hot
> Line Report. As I understand it, the Hot Line Report is mailed to
> each chapter President and Secretary each time it comes out. Get
> it on the Web site and reflector, in addition to being mailed, put
> a time limit on when you need the information. I think you will
> get it. The membership will know, at least, you tried.
>
> 7. If you don't get off your butts and make some changes, in another
> 20 years, QCWA will have 5 members and the dues will be $5000.00 a
> year. At this point in time, everything QCWA has been doing
> should be on the table for evaluation, EVERYTHING. Ask yourself
> why you are doing some of the dumb things you have been doing.
>
> Well, you wanted some suggestions, there they are. If you think
> things have been going the way they should for the past 20 years,
> don't do a damn thing.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Gene Nailon K5DLE
> Member Chapter 63
> ==================================================================
>
> ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: 19 FEB. 2006
>
> 8. QUIT CALLING YOUR DAMN CRUSES CONVENTIONS! A lot of the members
> think they are paying for the Board to go on a cruse. It really
> does not matter if dues is paying for it or not. It's the
> perception that counts.
>
> 9. In fact, why are you having conventions at all? They sure as hell
> don't do the membership any good. QCWA IS DYING and you have to
> have a big fancy convention. All you need is a board meeting for
> a couple of days, to try to get something done.
>
> 10. Quit acting like a ARRL wanta-be. The ARRL is not going to do any
> thing for QCWA and we can't do any thing for them. FIX THE QCWA
> and let the ARRL go to hell! Another thing, we don't need anymore
> ARRL (has-beens) for president.
>
> 11. Fix the QSO partys. Seperate Pho and CW. Forget Digital!!!
> Put the serial number back in. Do this only if you want
> particpitation. Quit trying to kill CW.
>
> 12. Fix the Journal or get rid of it!! Large numbers of our membership
> say it goes directly from the mailbox to the trash can. They don't
> like the Chapter reports no interest to them. They say it's full
> of Convention and Cruse info and thay are tired of it. We have lost
> many members because of this.
>
> 13. Stand up for some standards! Throw political correctness on the
> scrap heap. Grow some gonads.
>
> 14. I joined QCWA in 1982 and received #16194. At that time there was
> about 10,000 members. 6,000 had dropped or become SK.
> At the end of 2005 the numbers were up to 33262 there were less
> than 9000 members.
> In 1982 there were 1169 new members, in 1987 there were 1031 new
> members. In 2005 there were only 431 new members, you have to go
> all the way back to 1970 to get less than 431 new members - 414.
> Check it out!!!
>
> One definition of an Idiot is someone who keeps doing the same thing
> and expects a different result! IF THE SHOE FITS!!!
>
> That's all --- for now,
>
> Gene Nailon K5DLE
> Member Chapter 63
> ==================================================================
> PS: If they had any Gonads they would publish this in the Journal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> QCWA MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS 1947 - 2005
> UP-DATED: 19 FEBRUARY 2006 * = APPROXIMATE
>
> YEAR START END ENROLLED
> 1947 1 - 54 54
> 1948 55 - 148 94
> *1949 149 - 228 80
> *1950 229 - 309 81
> 1951 310 - 385 76
> 1952 386 - 534 149
> 1953 535 - 691 157
> 1954 692 - 888 197
> 1955 889 - 1122 234
> 1956 1123 - 1364 242
> 1957 1365 - 1720 356
> 1958 1721 - 1979 259
> 1959 1980 - 2147 168
> 1960 2148 - 2475 328
> 1961 2476 - 2914 439
> 1962 2915 - 3426 512
> 1963 3427 - 3940 514
> 1964 3941 - 4431 491
> 1965 4432 - 4792 361
> 1966 4793 - 5324 532
> 1967 5325 - 5701 377
> 1968 5702 - 6149 448
> 1969 6150 - 6540 391
> 1970 6541 - 6954 414
> 1971 6955 - 7449 495
> 1972 7450 - 8004 555
> 1973 8005 - 8659 655
> 1974 8660 - 9398 739
> 1975 9399 - 10382 984
> 1976 10383 - 11286 904
> 1977 11287 - 11997 711
> 1978 11998 - 12777 780
> 1979 12778 - 13708 931
> 1980 13709 - 14601 893
> 1981 14602 - 15489 888
> 1982 15490 - 16658 1169
> 1983 16659 - 17488 830
> 1984 17489 - 18362 874
> 1985 18363 - 19239 877
> 1986 19240 - 20149 910
> 1987 20150 - 21180 1031
> 1988 21181 - 22102 922
> 1989 22103 - 22971 869
> 1990 22972 - 23963 991
> 1991 23964 - 24843 879
> 1992 24844 - 25626 782
> 1993 25627 - 26436 809
> 1994 26437 - 27135 699
> 1995 27136 - 27965 830
> 1996 27966 - 28599 634
> 1997 28600 - 29206 607
> 1998 29207 - 29708 501
> 1999 29709 - 30172 464
> 2000 30173 - 30711 538
> 2001 30712 - 31237 525
> 2002 31238 - 31783 545
> 2003 31784 - 32335 551
> 2004 32336 - 32830 494
> 2005 32831 - 33262 431
> 2006 32263 -
>
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