[QCWA] Membership concerns...

[hammond_ham at juno.com]

Jeff,

Well stated. 

To add insult to injury, those who were refused (rebuffed/insulted) before having their 25 years find little incentive to join the organization even once they attain their 25 years. 

The organization's own (out dated, IMHO) rules may be the primary reason for a declining(?) membership recruiting response. 

They say/think, I was not "good enough" when I first got licensed, how does 25 years make me "good enough" now?

The FCC, by their actions, has flooded the airwaves with sloppy, ex-CBers, who bring the CB protocol from 11 Meters to the ham bands.

They are a breed of their own and only, reluctantly, assimilate into
ham radio, much less stiff necked, established national organizations, even the ARRL who has no prerequisites.

I must say, I am pleased to see a good number of newbies learning CW
and generally "fitting in" with the older hams, but far too many are simply VHF-UHF, commercially supplied appliance operators.

Our local simplex and repeater channels have the chatter of CB lingo where "what is your PERSONAL?" is the question of the day.

And, have you monitored the HF bands? They, too, sound like CB channels.

In a recent communication from a well known, high ranking poo-bah, 
it was "suggested" that I resign from the organization, all because he demands support of the 25 year rule and I question its value, then or now.

No, I think that the organization will eek by, but only if and when the old dowder heads assume ambient temperature.

I come to this conclusion after serving a chapter for several years.

My attempts to resurrect long defunct chapters in our north central counties have failed, mostly due to the time requirement.

I have offered, over the past years, to attend local ham club meetings to give presentations concerning the organization and there is no interest. 

Sadly, the current and former leaders simply do not get it and are welded to a fading past.

I no longer attend meetings or "talk up" the organization.

I have better things to do than peddle a dying horse to those who care nothing about the glorious history of our hobby.

Meanwhile, a great number of the members are too old, too senile, too wasted to retain any spark of activity other than sit, eat and recall their past, something that the current generation of "immediate gratification" know nothing about and cannot appreciate.


Steve


---------- Original Message ----------
From: Jeffrey D Angus <jdangus at att.net>
To: qcwa at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [QCWA] Membership concerns...
Date: Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:14:50 -0600

I keep hearing the same complaint, "Declining membership," and
there's always some questionable ideas on how to fix it.

The Board of Directors just took some very difficult steps to
reverse several decades of questionable decisions.

The QCWA is 65 years old now. 25 years ago it was 1987.

You want new members? Stop treating the "new guys" like they
aren't REAL hams because they didn't have to do what you did.
Stop acting like codeless techs are "high band CBers."
Stop acting like Extra class licensees that didn't have to take a
21 WPM code test are "Extra-Lite."
Stop pushing people to get an Amateur Radio license, then as soon
as they do, ignore them because they're inexperienced.
Stop acting like that one old guy in the neighborhood that throws
rocks at the neighborhood kids for looking at his lawn.

Give people a reason for joining the QCWA other than just where
to find the cheapest buffet in town that you don't have to leave a
tip at.

Jeff-1.0
wa6fwi



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