[QCWA Hotlist] potential member issue

[Carolyn Harrison]

Hello QCWA Chapters,

This question was presented to the incoming Board of Directors.  Now we 
would like to hear from as many chapters as possible for your positive 
solution on how to deal with this issue.


QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

Feedback: The question for our BoD was, how would you have answered this 
verbal grenade?  It is tossed into our hamfest booth from 
time-to-time.  Let's see if you have a better answer than the one I have 
been using.


Dear W3BE:
   I wanted to be a member of the QCWA on my 25 anniversary of holding a 
ham ticket but when I attended several meetings of local chapter I found 
they don't do much of anything that bothered me and I didn't join.  Why 
would I want to be a member of a do nothing chapter?  Again I did not join. 
All the BS at club meeting, minutes, treasury, etc.  It seemed invalid and 
a waste of my time.  Still haven't joined.


 From Director Pasternak:
   The answer MUST be the truth.  What is the truth?  In this case it is 
admitting that the main purpose of QCWA has been preserving the traditions 
on which the Amateur Radio Service -- both here in the USA and around the 
world -- is predicated.

Our very name -- "QUARTER CENTURY WIRELESS ASSOCIATION" equates to the word 
"TRADITION" as applied to our organization.  We should explain that we, as 
an organization, have to make certain that -- as the service itself change 
and evolve based on new technology -- that "WE" as "QCWA" will do all we 
can to keep alive the VERY basis and purpose of the service -- regardless 
of what mode of operation a station chooses to utilize.

We must also stress, that the social aspect of the hobby is as important of 
a tradition as is working DX or providing emergency communications.  And 
that socializing does not always mean talking on the radio nor always 
talking about radio.  Rather, that Amateur Radio equates to "friendship" 
and even ham radio friends talk about things other than Amateur Radio.

Then, you hold out your hand and say "Welcome."  Maybe adding the 
words:  "...you are our future..." That last simple act could bring a new 
member into our fold and keep QCWA alive another generation..



 From Director Erwin:
   Sir, based on what you have told me, I would tend to agree with you; 
however, you need to understand that every Chapter takes on its own 
"personality" just the same as any club or organization. Since each Chapter 
operates basically independently, it may not totally reflect the 
thoughts/ideas and enthusiasm of the National organization.  Remember, any 
Chapter is only going to be as good as it's Members and what they are 
willing to put back into that Chapter. Many seemingly dormant Chapters have 
been turned around by New enthusiastic Members such as you by being 
proactive and making changes for the better. That is why I encourage your 
Membership and active participation in the local Chapter.

 From Director Harrison:
My thoughts are that's it is great we have someone wanting to join QCWA but 
there may be obstacles in his way that we need to help him remove.

Several options might be available to this person:

          1. If he talked individually to members of the local chapter, 
there could be more common ground than he first suspects. Sometimes it 
really is a small world, so they could end up having mutual hams friends, 
going to the same hamfests, same travel interests, other common hobbies 
besides ham radio, liking old movies or any number of things that makes 
relationships click. Sharing with him the fact that this group might be 
doing all they can because of age, health or mobility problems and their 
gathering may be the highlight of their week or month might ease his 
criticism of what he has perceived. He might be surprised by the wealth of 
experience and knowledge his "new" friends could share with him and vice-versa.

        2. He might check to see if other members of this chapter were not 
attending for some of the same reasons he finds objectionable. Possibly 
there are other more like-minded members and he would fit in with this 
group and they could meet at a different time agreeable to the new group.

        3. Any metropolitan area surely has other amateurs in reasonable 
travel proximity licensed 25 years who don't belong to QCWA yet or a 
chapter.  Maybe some research of the ham population would yield good 
results. If he joined QCWA and had 4 other QCWAers (new or long time 
members) available, he could form a new chapter immediately. The new 
chapter could find a new focus of common interest and have a great 
time.  The established chapter and his expectations may be so different 
that there is no middle ground and forcing a blending of very diverse 2 
viewpoints often doesn't work well, but rather can cause resentment. He may 
need to realize "their" chapter may be happy with the status quo.

For the person who sees having been licensed 25 years as a milestone, I 
hope he doesn't let one chapter deter him from becoming a QCWA member and 
miss out on a lot of good times with friends who share common interests and 
enjoy each other's company. His efforts to find a chapter where he fits in 
can definitely be rewarding.



 From W3BE:  I am highly encouraged by the above responses.  Thank 
you.  You can rest assured that Ill be incorporating your ideas into my 
response.  At a hamfest table, I usually have a display board of action 
photos on the table along with copies of our JOURNAL. When the grenade 
lands, I am determined to stay positive: Thanks for your 25-years of 
valuable contributions in helping make amateur radio the greatest hobby in 
the World.  Thanks for stopping by and telling me about that Chapter, 
because it is very unusual.  I've visited with many of our Chapters and, 
although each has its own way of promoting friendship and cooperation among 
amateur radio operators who were licensed as such at least a quarter of a 
century ago, I've always enjoy their gatherings.  For instance, this photo 
from Chapter X shows: etc.

73,
Carolyn Harrison, WB0OUM
Chair of Chapter Relations Committee