[QCWA] Associate Membership

[Lyeal Amos]

This is a well thought out proposal which has merit, yet avoids
the controversy of National QCWA membership before 25 years as an
amateur.  I voted NO on National Associate Members, but I could
accept this.

Lyeal Amos, W5SJC (WN0NRZ licensed in 1953, W0NRZ about a year
later, and W5SJC since 1970)

-----Original Message-----
From: qcwa-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:qcwa-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Pete
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 4:19 PM
To: QCWA List
Subject: [QCWA] Associate Membership

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
     ------------------------------------------
     de NL7XM  ..Callsign Historian..


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