[QCWA] ASSOCIATE Membership

[Fred Atkinson, WB4AEJ]

         It is not a 'great dream' to join QCWA.

         However, we did join it to associate 
ourselves with more experienced amateur radio operators.

         The [debatable] mission of the ARRL is 
to encourage people into Amateur Radio and 
encourage hams to work their way up the 
ranks.  They achieved it by compromising the learning process IMHO.

         The mission of QCWA is to associate 
those with many years of experience in Amateur Radio.

         Associate memberships [as I understand 
them to be from members that have less than 
twenty-five years of experience] would mostly 
draw newbies who would try amateur radio for a 
short time and then drop out of the hobby.  They 
are only looking for a little instant 
gratification and not the full, deep meaning of 
the experience of Amateur Radio.

         It is sad that an organization like ARRL 
or QCWA has to be so concerned with finances that 
it must compromise its mission to resolve those 
issues.  I believe ARRL has fallen deeply into 
that trap.  I would not like to see QCWA do the same thing.

         Perhaps the best approach is to start 
trimming the fat in the budget.  Stop spending 
money on things that return very little.

         The 40% of the membership that won't use 
computers should be rapidly dwindling as the 
years go by.  They either pass away or realize 
that they need to become computer 
literate.  As  highly experienced hams, they  do 
have the aptitude to do become computer literate in very short time.

         If they choose to bury their heads in 
the sand, that is their choice.

         To that end: I would support changing 
over to an electronic (possibly PDF) version of 
our journal.  If the ones who don't want to 
become PC literate insist upon a printed copy, 
they should cover the costs of the printed copy 
and postage with a small surcharge on their 
annual membership or a small yearly fee for life 
members to get printed copy.  I imagine it would 
cut our operating costs significantly.

         We could also offer for sale to members 
a CD with all of the previous issues of our 
journal on it.  I imagine that would sell quite 
well.  It would be up to date as of the date the 
CD was purchased and burned.  Then they could 
receive all subsequent copies separately.

         It might not be a bad idea to sell the 
CD to non-members (and I emphasize that they 
would not be dues paying members).  Money could be raised from that, too.

         Let's not compromise our mission to 
resolve economic issues.  There are other ways.




                                                                                         Fred, 
WB4AEJ


At 07:21 AM 11/12/2011, you wrote:
>It is a sad state of affairs when an 
>individual’s great dream in amateur radio is 
>to join ANY particular organization. It may 
>upset the thought of some, but QCWA is NOT a 
>growing and thriving organization.  The facts , 
>and I mean the cold, hard truth that is only 
>reflected in the NUMBERS ( both membership and 
>financial) will support my position. Request the 
>financial report for the last 10 years and the 
>membership statistics and invest the time to 
>become better acquainted with FACTS ! I have 
>been licensed and active on the air since 1971. 
>I have visited other chapters and have listened 
>to what the members are talking about, 
>especially the concept of associate memberships. 
>Attendance is dwindling, finances are growing 
>tighter and more and more members are asking 
>questions.     Just what do You or I get for our 
>membership ?? A quarterly magazine and the right 
>to call ourselves QCWA members. Sure there are 
>awards and a convention ( but for how much 
>longer will that be ?)     The arguably most 
>successful amateur radio organization, ARRL, has 
>long had Associate AND ASSOCIATE LIFE 
>MEMBERSHIPS ! Has it harmed the League or 
>denigrated a Full Member’s status?? No  one 
>has ever said or demonstrated this to my 
>knowledge. Just what do you think will be the 
>‘benefits’ afforded an associate membership 
>?? The Journal cost = membership. If an OM and 
>XYL are members, do they both want their own 
>copy?? Associates would not be qualified to vote 
>or hold a National Office, but what about serve 
>as a secretary or treasurer of a 
>chapter??  Perhaps the role of a non voting 
>associate member is not appealing to those that 
>COULD participate at tis level! What do your 
>guests say, after all it is that group we are 
>talking about...     Now that I have a great 
>number of fellow gray haired hams agitated 
>against my thoughts, today is my chapter meeting 
>and monthly luncheon attended by a lot of GUESTS 
>and QCWA members. Also please give some thought 
>to what was on everyone’s lips yesterday , 
>‘Veteran’s Day’ where we honor those of US 
>( including myself)  that swore to defend the 
>Constitutional  Right’s of every 
>American..among which is that of the Freedom of 
>Speech ..     Steve WF2S 
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