[QCWA] International Growth & Communication
Dave - VE3JX
ve3jx at sympatico.ca
Wed May 6 13:32:14 EDT 2009
Hi Vic,
Please forgive me for being a "cockeyed optimist". I am quite new to the
reflector, joining it only last summer. And I have only been a member for
almost three years now. I also have yet to attend my first QCWA Convention, and
I expressed much sorrow over not being able to attend yours. I loved the whole
setup of forums that you arranged, and I am glad that it was such a success, and
I'm happy for those who were able to attend. In fact, I did a special edition
of our local club's newsletter, highlighting your Convention, hoping to interest
others in joining QCWA.
It sounds like you have done research into the viability of this option before?
My only experience with this is at the local club level, where PDF publishing
and email delivery has saved this club many dollars, and has allowed us to put
out a quality product, not limited in size due to postage weight & subsequent
costs. Therefore, I am reasoning, if we can't cost-effectively deliver the
paper QCWA Journal overseas, can we do so electronically?
Of course, for this to be viable, International members would have to want such.
They would have to provide current email addresses, and, alternatively, be
willing to download the product available. Would they embrace such? I don't
know. That would be part of any exercise to determine feasibility. This is
just the presentation of an idea.
Thank you for your kudos for Canadian participants in QCWA management. However,
it is a sad truth that most Canadian members do not get the Journal, due to the
extra costs involved. However, there may be some sharing going on in local
chapters? (I wouldn't know; I'm stuck up here, all alone as a member, in a
Northern Ontario city.)
Have a great day Vic. It's nice to talk to you again. Sorry if you think I'm
flogging something already thrashed over.
Cheers,
Dave VE3JX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vic" <vic.w4vic at verizon.net>
Cc: "QCWA Reflector" <QCWA at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 1:05 PM
Subject: Re: [QCWA] International Growth & Communication
> Ladies and gentlemen: I tried very hard to contact QCWA members in any
> of the European countries that had e-mail listed for their 'Chapter' as
> I was trying to promote the 2008 QCWA INTERNATIONAL Convention. They
> are not any better at responding to e-mail than are so very many
> 'Chapters' here in the U.S. -- I never heard any word at all from any of
> them.
>
> As amateur radio operators (semi-professional communicators?) I shudder
> to think of our ability to communicate among ourselves. It's NOT GOOD,
> ladies and gentlemen. Proof of that concept is how many times this
> issue of on-line journals comes round. Is nobody paying attention? Or
> perhaps someone thinks that the basic reasons why that is not a good
> and/or workable idea have changed materially? They have NOT.
>
> As for me, our very good friends and fellow QCWA members in Canada are
> enough to make QCWA an international organization. They are
> (thankfully) well integrated into our governance structure and, from
> what I've seen from some of the more prominent VE members, are most
> valuable in the assignments they fulfill and in the support they give to
> QCWA. Merci, Canadiens!
>
> I now relinquish the podium and return the floor for more of .... the
> same-old. 73, Vic, W4VIC
>
>
>
> Dave - VE3JX wrote:
>> DISCLAIMER: The following is an idea that has been bouncing around in my
>> head
>> for some time. It is entirely possible, in fact probable, that others have
>> had
>> the same thoughts, or are studying the feasibility of this suggestion. In
>> fact,
>> I have discussed this with other members who seemed to have the same or a
>> similar thought. Therefore, please recognize that the source of this is not
>> important; only what we can do with it. I only lay claim to originating this
>> blurb.
>>
>> PREAMBLE: QCWA is an international organization in that it has members in
>> many
>> other countries other than the U.S. However, statistics show that U.S.
>> members
>> are the overwhelming bulk of total membership. International members,
>> including
>> Canadians, account for a small percentage of the total. Based on the posted
>> Roster of June 30th, 2008, the US membership was 6469. The total
>> international
>> membership, including Canada, was 442. The obvious question is: How can QCWA
>> improve its international penetration?
>>
>> COMMUNICATION: All US members benefit from the regular reception of the QCWA
>> Journal. Through it, QCWA communicates to its members all sorts of varied
>> information that helps, among other things, to promote a sense of unity and
>> belonging, not the least of which are the Chapter Reports. A member can read
>> about the events and occurences within his own Chapter, and that of others.
>> Announcements of upcoming events, regular nets, Conventions, cruises, etc.
>> are
>> incorporated into its contents. Such communication is necessary for members
>> to
>> feel a part of what's going on. International members are not so fortunate.
>>
>> Due to the cost of international postage, most international members do not
>> receive the QCWA Journal. Even with Canadians, I am told that less than 100
>> out
>> of 245 roster members get the Journal. Again, the blame is on postal rates
>> for
>> going outside the US. (Within the US, I believe QCWA benefits from
>> preferential
>> bulk rates for domestic delivery.) Therefore, for the most part,
>> International
>> QCWA members lose out on the benefits of regular communication from QCWA
>> National. Is there anything that can be done about it?
>>
>> A 21ST CENTURY IDEA: Postage is a big problem for many groups. Local ham
>> clubs
>> face this problem as all these groups do. Their solution has been to publish
>> and distribute their Newsletters electronically, generally using PDF via
>> email.
>> Perhaps, we can learn something from that.
>>
>> First though, I must mention that I am NOT suggesting that QCWA go full
>> electronic publishing for ALL members. The paper magazine format is
>> unparalleled in its usage. You can read it anywhere. Nothing created, so
>> far,
>> has replaced the codex format in utility. Therefore, it is suggested that
>> the
>> paper format of QCWA Journal be maintained, for the US at least.
>>
>> Notwithstanding, would it be possible to produce an electronic publication
>> for
>> the benefit for our International members? This publication need not be
>> identical to the QCWA Journal; it could be a subset of it, or an entirely new
>> creation dedicated to the non-US member. However, with such a publication,
>> whatever its ultimate format & content become, would serve to keep our
>> International members informed and give them an increased sense of belonging.
>> It also gives QCWA the means to regularly communicate with ALL members
>> everywhere, without prohibitive postage costs. If such communication
>> increases "customer satisfaction" internationally, then increasing membership
>> numbers from these other countries may be the result.
>>
>> COMMENTS WELCOME: As you can tell, this idea is pretty raw; it needs more
>> fleshing out to become a viable solution. That's where we can all help.
>> Maybe
>> you have an associated idea that would make this all viable. Remember, the
>> only
>> bad idea is the one not expressed.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Dave Hayes VE3JX
>> QCWA Life #33597
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> APPENDIX: Roster Statistics - Member Totals
>>
>> US - 6469
>> 0 - 632
>> 1 - 488
>> 2 - 668
>> 3 - 524
>> 4 - 987
>> 5 - 752
>> 6 - 697
>> 7 - 577
>> 8 - 704
>> 9 - 440
>>
>> International - 442
>> Australia - 3
>> Austria - 9
>> Belgium - 2
>> Brasil - 1
>> Canada - 245
>> Czech Republic - 1
>> Denmark - 1
>> Germany - 123
>> Honduras - 1
>> Hungary - 1
>> Isle of Man - 1
>> Israel - 4
>> Italy - 2
>> Japan - 26
>> Kroatia - 1
>> Netherlands - 1
>> Norway - 1
>> Paraguay - 1
>> Poland - 2
>> Russia - 2
>> Sri Lanka - 1
>> Sweden - 2
>> Switzerland - 8
>> ------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> QCWA mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/qcwa
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:QCWA at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.12.19/2099 - Release Date: 05/05/09
>> 13:07:00
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> QCWA mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/qcwa
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:QCWA at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
More information about the QCWA
mailing list