[QCWA] Saving money

[Lloyd Colston]

On the QCWA net last night, there was some discussion about QCWA
versus QCWB (but not in that verbiage).  I offered two points:

1.  More and more hams with computers are becoming eligible for
membership in QCWA than those who are members who lack computers.
It's time to upgrade the web page to offer a forum with an RSS feed to
Google+, Facebook, LinkedIN, Twitter, etc.  It's time to begin
marketing to the "new" folks.  Social media is, after all, social.  If
you don't like Facebook, fine, but the organization is missing the
potential of more than 800 million active users because there's no
presence there.

For example, the American Radio Relay League advocates for over
700,000 radio amateurs licensed in the USA, yet only 157K have chosen
to join.  The League has Facebook and a number of Sections do as well.
 The League Tweets.  Sections have blogs and other tools to promote
amateur radio.

When I looked for QCWA on Google+, I found ONE chapter with a page.
When I mentioned that to the hundreds of amateur radio operators in my
circle, I got a reply from Russia stating that chapter was too far
away from him.  Is he interested in starting a QCWA chapter?  Is there
an online chapter he can join?  Can't he check into the Echolink net?
In other words, why would he WANT to join QCWA?

If we don't meet member needs where they are, I suspect our membership
will continue to decline.

2.  Members need to be more vocal in talking about QCWA.  Using an
analogy without intending to offend anyone, it's like Jesus.  You will
talk up your experience with Him, if you have a relationship with Him.
 Otherwise, it's just a social club with dinner on Wednesday night and
music on Sunday.  IF QCWA means something to the membership, they will
have something to talk about.

I'm too far away from any chapter to have anything to talk about.  The
local guys get tired of hearing me talk about QCWA and Ten-Ten AND
ARRL.  There's no interest in having a local chapter.  I am
encouraging a Facebook 10-10 group form as a chapter because it would
meet my needs and be a positive something that could be done to
attract new members, for 10-10.

Sorry if the two points seem similar.  They are different in my mind.
Endorse new marketing methods and get the membership excited about
having a reason to join, besides they put in their time.

Digital distribution of the periodical is the way to go.  10-10 does
it.  The League will likely do it.

Be blessed.






-- 

Lloyd Colston KC5FM
Altus, OK USA http://wx5em.us
Straight Key Century Club #5676
Croatian Telegraphy Club CTC # 1.931
CARF #294 Ten-Ten #10231 NAQCC #4408
Southcars #8276 QCWA #31935 ARRL #8037325
http://www.carf.net http://www.ten-ten.org http://norcars.net/
http://kc5fm.blogspot.com  http://doodle.com/kc5fm