[QCWA] QCWA and the OOTC

[Don Tucker]

You first sentance says it all!!

It appears to me that perhaps back in '47 there was good reason for defining different criteria. I don't see that differentation being very relevant today. 

Personally, I see little advantage to me personally to be a member of either organization, but have supported the QCWA as it was not overly expensive, there was an active Chapter in my area, and I knew many of the individuals in the Chapter(and enjoyed sharing lunches the few times I've been able to attend). But it doesn't lobby for me, address band planning issues and those things that make or break how and where I can operate. Good social organization.

There are, as I read, some 6000 active dues paying QCWA members (36000 memberships issued). OOTC provides the number of memberships that have been issued (4600) but does not provide the number which are current in dues, which pays the bills. I would suspect it isn't very large, and would guess at way less than 1000.

And there are the Flying Pigs, FISTS, Ol Miss, and on and on and on, each tailored to a specific interest of the amateur. Some are thriving and I suspect many are not or are hanging on by their toenails through sheer dedication.  All serve a specific purpose and I think it is great to see how amateur radio operators will band together over kindred interests.

I'm still convinced that is more in common between QCWA and OOTC than there are differences today, in 2012. It just seems that accommodations can be made that would serve the interests of both at lower costs to the organizations if joined at the hip. While I was not involved in amateur radio until 1954 and the electronics industry until 1958, I share interest in what happened prior to that time period. Knowing the history of what precipitated all the changes (and some being no changes) in the communications field is probably shared by most I'd believe. Just hard to believe what it was like back before WWII for example.

Anyway, thanks for invitation but I'm spread thin enough now, not just in amateur radio, but in organizations allied to my professional interests. And I keep a tighter rein on the ol' wallet today (thanks to all our elected officials).

I'm sure the OOTC is a great organization.

I'm sure, again, that both would benefit from joining together and that

 growth would be better enabled. But I'm just one voice out of a few thousand!!!

Don W7WLL




----- Original Message ----- 
  From: TroyW6HV 
  To: Don Tucker 
  Cc: Bert, W5JNK 
  Sent: Monday, January 07, 2013 1:51 PM
  Subject: Re: [QCWA] QCWA and OOTC


  Don, W7WLL

  Yes, the two organizations have similar goals. However, neither are "spinoffs". The Old Old Timers Club was founded in 1947 by a group of amateurs who 
  had played a part in laying the foundations of electronic communications (see http://www.ootc.us/whatootc.html). Therefore, membership is based not upon when first licensed as an amateur operator, but when first participated in wireless communication. The Quarter Century Wireless Association began on the evening of November 14, 1947. The founders decided they should form an association of amateur radio operators who have been licensed for twenty-five or more years (see http://www.qcwa.org/founders.htm). Most OOTC members also are members of QCWA.

  Both organizations are struggling for a number of reasons, I expect. One reason is what you expressed "I see an ad in the QCWA Journal (Winter 2012) for an Old Old Timers Club?. I am not familiar with it." I would guess that publicity would help both. 

  You were licensed in 1954, why not join us in OOTC?

  73,
  Troy, W6HV