[QCWA] My thoughts

[Dave Heil]

w2icw at juno.com wrote:
> Boy all this talk on the reflector. 
> Many Chapters talked about associate members for years.
> When the FCC started to issue ten year licenses I tried to get the
> Officers  to consider this arrangement. When someone had 15 years in and
> then renewed for the 10 years I thought about associate memberships. This
> was shot down. 

I'm not keen on the idea of associate members and it isn't just about 
QCWA.  I feel the same way about "Sons of the American Legion".  An 
organization is what it is.  Someone can start a club for radio amateurs 
which has membership requirements that say a full member must have a 
General Class or higher license, be able to play "Herando's Hideaway" on 
the accordian, hold DXCC and be a volunteer fireman--then that's the way 
it should be.

Anyone who wants to, can start a SDWA (Single Decade Wireless 
Association).  There'll be a great potential for new members.  Our QCWA 
is never going to be a large organization.  Actuarial tables define our 
group.  Most of my old timer pals are gone.  At 57, with 42 years in the 
game, I'm starting to *be* one of the old timers.

> I was not new to recruiting members. In New York City in
> order to find members for the Founders Chapter I matched an old callbook
> with a late one and tried to get all those who had 25 years in to join
> up. It was not an easy task let me tell you. 

That's because most folks just aren't joiners.  If they do join, they 
may not attend.  I don't belong to a great many organizations but I 
could hardly wait to join QCWA.  I sometimes participate in the QSO 
parties and I like reading the magazine.  I'm enjoying George Hart's 
reminiscing.

> The original start up of
> QCWA was more social than what is going on today. It really starte with a
> group that had lunch together in NYC,

I think that's what it still is in many places, Hank.  It was really the 
only thing which interested me.  Oddly, when I joined in 1988 until I 
came back to West Virginia in mid-2000, I never attended a single 
chapter meeting anywhere.  You know what?  I still haven't.  Before 
coming back here, I was in various African spots and in Finland so I 
didn't run into other QCWA members as a rule. I'm now about
2 1/2 hours away from the West Virginia Chapter meetings and a couple of 
hours away from the Pittsburgh gang.  Attending those meetings isn't 
very practical.

73,

Dave Heil K8MN