[QCWA] Associate Membership

[Pete]

Hello, friends.

I usually don't weigh in on these hot-button issues, because someone always takes me to the "Virtual" woodshed for having the nerve to disagree. (Discussion is healthy and American, but please, no flames. Just civil replies.)

I think there is an elegant solution to this issue.

Allow only the local Chapters to admit "Associate Members" into their ranks, (and NOT National) but with the silent blessing of National.

There are many benefits:

•No arguing about watering-down of qualifications to the Parent Organization, which appears to be the chief objection.

•Local Chapters collect modest dues, (~$5 or $8.) from a NEW source, and issue Chapter credentials as may be customary. Once a year, Treasurer's can forward 50% of these new resources to National as part of their "Chapter Accreditation," or "Tribute."

•These Associate Members start to participate and contribute to Chapter functions BEFORE they can't erect antennas for FD anymore, e.g., and are likely more familiar and adept with modern media equipment to deliver program content at local Meetings. (A main reason Clubs everywhere are dying. Who wants to hear ONLY about the "Good Old Days" every month over coffee? Not younger hams, if you ever want to attract and recruit them.) Look at the photographs in the Journal and see our demographic in eateries whose captions hardly depict Programs or Events, but mostly celebrate longevity milestones.

•This gives hundreds of young and middle-aged guys who aren't licensed quite 25 years, a chance to associate with those who have that coveted National Membership and get to wear that pin of Honor. It becomes truly something to aspire to. But I guarantee you, the best way to alienate them forever, is to not make them feel welcome until they "qualify," or label them as perpetual "Guests." Where would our regular Amateur Radio Club's be if we didn't welcome guests until they had their tickets? Think about that for a minute.

•They will already know all the friends and the mission of the QCWA when they reach that celebrated milestone, and can relish in the limelight when proudly sponsored by a colleague for National Membership when the time comes.

• The likelihood of staying UNTIL you hit your 25 years and joining National is a million percent easier than attracting a 25 year ham for the first time. By then, he's been a member of the League and a few Amateur Radio Clubs, gets several expensive magazine subscriptions, etc., so by then it looks like just another group after his cash. Today's economy forces us to compete against each other for membership dues. If you don't consider accepting folks earlier than their 25th year on an introductory level, you will have a harder time attracting them when others rolled out the red carpet the day they got their tickets and were still excited about it.

•These are the future leaders of the Chapters and QCWA National. They should be groomed now for the privilege.

I joined my local QCWA Chapter 17, Allentown-Bethlehem, PA as an Associate Member around when I was licensed for 20 years. I wasn't permitted to run for office, but I was included in every event and meeting, and respectfully treated as an equal, and my opinions were welcomed and heard as any other Member. As soon as we were eligible, two of us were sponsored by the Chapter President, W3TDF, and admitted to National with great fanfare from our friends who were very proud of us. That does not happen to you unless you were an Associate first.

As proof of what the Associate Class means to the QCWA's big picture, I am today a proud Life Member, #33775, and attended the Annual Banquet at Dayton this year for the first time.

Allow the Chapters to accept Associate Members. No one will get their underwear in a bunch over it, because they still must earn their wings to join National, keeping the objective pure. If the bylaws must be amended to allow for such a provision, so be it.

Respectfully,
Pete Varounis
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