[QCWA] 14 POINTS:
Bob Peters
rwpeters at swbell.net
Thu Apr 6 07:33:22 EDT 2006
What great ideas Gene. Brother do I agree with you. This is the first
time I have seen someone stand up and be seen. I sure do hope that all
members take a long look at your points. The Convention and the Journal
are right on. As far as I am concerned it is a trash item. Some of the
write ups are interesting but most are boring and not well written. Just
think how much money could be saved.
Most local Ham clubs have done away with Life Memberships and most have
a discounted rate for gift memberships. The only reason I keep my
membership in QCWA is for the scholarship program. That is one fine idea
and reason to give the $$$. Just think how much more could go into that
program without the journal....
Keep it up Gene Keep your efforts going and just maybe the board will
stand up and take notice. I doubt it as they enjoy the Convention
cruises HI !!!
Best 73's
Bob W1PE
-----Original Message-----
From: qcwa-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:qcwa-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Gene A. Nailon
Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 8:40 PM
To: qcwa at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [QCWA] 14 POINTS:
FROM: Gene Nailon K5DLE k5dle at juno.com
Edmond, OK.
2 April 2006
TO: ALL 2006 CANDIDATES
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.
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