[QCWA] 2010 Membership

Wed Aug 11 11:38:07 EDT 2010

Hi Joe & Larry,

What can I say?  This should never happen, but it obviously does from what we've 
heard!  It's even attested to by one of our Directors who sometimes visits 
different chapters unannounced.  So, it's sad but true!

In a generally unfriendly world, QCWA should be an oasis of friendliness, 
friendship & courtesy.  This is so fundamental in RETAINING members as to be 
almost without saying.  However, we obviously have to state the obvious: each of 
us has to do our part in creating a friendly and welcoming atmospere in our 
chapters such that members and visitors are made to feel a part of something 
special.  Isn't this spirit of camaraderie all part of the amateur's creed, not 
just of QCWA?

Thank you for emphasizing this point again.

Dave VE3JX.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe" <nss at mwt.net>
To: <qcwa at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 10:59 AM
Subject: Re: [QCWA] 2010 Membership

> This couldn't have been said any better!
>
> The Original Rolling Ball Clock
> Idle Tyme
> Idle-Tyme.com
> http://www.idle-tyme.com
>
> On 8/11/2010 10:32 AM, Larry Essary wrote:
>> This too is a problem I see all too often in the local ham
>> clubs including our own local QCWA chapter.
>>
>> A new person shows up and wants to be part of the group.  He
>> is ignored; treated with indifference.
>> Why is it surprising to anyone that this new person just
>> disappears after a few meetings if members just ignore him ?
>>
>> For the life of me I don't get how people can do this.
>> Every member should go out of their way to meet and shake
>> hands with the new person and TALK to him.  Find out his
>> expectations of the group and let him know what the group
>> expects of him.
>> Introduce him to members with similar interests.
>>
>> Is it they we are all too set in our ways or just too lazy
>> to make an effort to greet new members ?
>>
>>
>> I think we need to get some visibility in QST.  I'm sure a
>> phone call to the league would result in having a PSA type
>> ad placed in QST on an ongoing basis.  I would be glad to
>> make that call if no one else desires to do so.
>>
>> Larry K5XG
>> Chapter 41
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Dave - VE3JX"<ve3jx at sympatico.ca>
>> To: "QCWA - Reflector"<qcwa at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 8:00 AM
>> Subject: Re: [QCWA] 2010 Membership
>>
>>
>>
>>> Hi Larry,
>>>
>>> I think we might be missing the point:  We can get, and
>>>
>> are getting, people to
>>
>>> JOIN QCWA.  The problem seems to be in RETAINING them.
>>>
>>> It's like we're catching the fish, but they're jumping out
>>>
>> of the boat later.
>>
>>> The lure seems to be working; the creel isn't.
>>>
>>> Sponsoring does not involve paying for the new membership;
>>>
>> the new member still
>>
>>> has to drink on his own, does he not?
>>>
>>> You're absolutely right about many eligible not knowing
>>>
>> anything about QCWA.
>>
>>> QCWA does advertise its existence in most ham magazines, I
>>>
>> believe.  Perhaps the
>>
>>> most effective way to advertise, aside from hamfests,
>>>
>> might be through
>>
>>> presentations made to local clubs?  (I'm guessing here;
>>>
>> and I'd like to hear
>>
>>> your experiences with this.)  Or, perhaps individual
>>>
>> members' word of mouth?
>>
>>> One thing for sure: our President is a "joiner".  Did you
>>>
>> see the list of
>>
>>> credits after his name, hi hi?
>>>
>>> Hi Bob,
>>>
>>> Great to see your comments.
>>>
>>> I'm afraid I'm partial to cruises.  But, I do agree that
>>>
>> they should be used
>>
>>> sparingly as a convention venue.  Actually, I don't think
>>>
>> they've been overused
>>
>>> up to this point, nor do I see that ever being the case.
>>>
>> However, they seem to
>>
>>> attract negative comments. Why?  I wonder if those who
>>>
>> complain about their
>>
>>> being convention cruises are regular attenders of the
>>>
>> land-based conventions?
>>
>>> Cruises can be a nice venue for enjoying a relaxed slate
>>>
>> of convention forums,
>>
>>> and they have been well-attended.  I plan to go on the
>>>
>> next one, if any.  (Mind
>>
>>> you, I also plan to be at the land-based ones as well.)
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Dave VE3JX.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Larry Essary"<larry at pulse.net>
>>> To: "Bob Roske"<broske at hutchtel.net>; "QCWA - Reflector"
>>>
>> <qcwa at mailman.qth.net>
>>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 2:47 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [QCWA] 2010 Membership
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Bob...
>>>>
>>>> The times we are living in are far different than 20 or
>>>>
>> 30
>>
>>>> years ago.   People, for whatever reason, no longer seem
>>>>
>> to
>>
>>>> be "joiners".
>>>> Its not just QCWA or ham radio in general, but in all
>>>> groups.    Be it less disposable income or certainly
>>>>
>> less
>>
>>>> time... getting people to do something that isn't in the
>>>>
>> top
>>
>>>> 3 things on their list to do is difficult if not
>>>>
>> impossible.
>>
>>>> I'm more concerned that there appears to be a whole
>>>> generation of hams that have no idea or knowledge of
>>>>
>> QCWA.
>>
>>>> There are a significant number of hams that have be
>>>>
>> licensed
>>
>>>> over 25 years that don't know about QCWA.
>>>>
>>>> It's a great idea to sponsor any number of hams...  but
>>>>
>> it's
>>
>>>> like the saying, "You can get a horse to water....".
>>>>
>>>> I think that we, as multiple generations of hams, need
>>>>
>> to
>>
>>>> figure out just how to get people to be "joiners" again.
>>>>
>>>> It's going to take all of us nationally to address this
>>>> issue.   One more member is one more member.
>>>> Let's all do our best for  QCWA.
>>>>
>>>> Larry K5XG  Chapter 41
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: "Bob Roske"<broske at hutchtel.net>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi Everybody,
>>>>
>>>> This topic has slowed to a crawl and I think everyone
>>>>
>> that
>>
>>>> wants to, has responded.
>>>>
>>>> My thoughts in no particular order.  If I disagree with
>>>> something you said, good for you!
>>>> If we all agree, it would be a dull and boring world.
>>>>
>>>> For those that don't realize it, the members already
>>>>
>> have
>>
>>>> the power.  It was member power
>>>> that insured my election in 2008, it will be member
>>>>
>> power
>>
>>>> that saves this organization.
>>>> The Board Members can (and do) sponsor dozens of members
>>>>
>> a
>>
>>>> year.  During his 4 years as
>>>> President, John, W3BE sponsored 78 members.  I guess
>>>>
>> leading
>>
>>>> by example doesn't work.
>>>> I've sponsored as many as 5 during a year, not counting
>>>> Dayton.  It takes time, and
>>>> effort, and money.  Every member needs to sponsor
>>>>
>> someone.
>>
>>>> Val, W5PUT suggests by
>>>> the end of the year.   I suggest an easier approach,
>>>>
>> sponsor
>>
>>>> one new member every 5 years.
>>>> Yes, 1 every 5 years.  That would be 3 or 4 times the
>>>> current annual number of new
>>>> members.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>> ____________________________________________________________
>> __
>>
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>>>>
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>>>>
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>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>> ____________________________________________________________
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>>
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>>>
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>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>
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