[QCWA Hotlist] Ch.17 membership

[Ray Bilger]

My compliments to Pete, NL7XM, for his long, well thought out and sound reasoning.

When Chapter 17 was first formed, with about 50 members, way back in 1988, I became the
Secretary/Treasurer. Those charter members voted to have me write the Constitution and
By-Laws. After various dixcussions regarding the content thereof I subsequently submitted
it to the body at which time it was ratified.  Under Membership there was a Section which
provided for an Associate Membership category.  Later a copy of said C&BL was sent to the
then General Manager, who sent me a scathing letter, ordering the removal of said Section.

I don't recall any specific instruction that the C&BL had to be submitted to National for
approval. Maybe there is? BUT, The State of Pennsylvania, and every other State in this Union,
has it's own C&BL, and I'll wager the farm that the Federal Government had no say in its
content.

Since I am no longer President of Chapter 17, I am going to push for a re-write of our C&BL,
and if approved by the body, (not National), we will have an Associate Membership.  I know
from past conversations, there will be no oppoosition.  Will National insist that we cannot
do that?  Will National be happy with the loss of 30+ members dues going into the coffers?
Does National want to challenge Chapter 17.  So be it !  We'll just change the name to,
'Society Of Senior Hams' (SOSH).  Or, how about, 'Society Of Chapter Seventeen Assn' (SOCSA)?
We could even have a contest to come up with an appropriate name !

I am 87 years young, and I'm not so senile that I cannot change, or support change.  5 or 6 
years ago there was a small movement to change the Full Membership requirement be
reduced to 20 years. That failed, of course. Was it because the QCWA name would have
to be changed. After all Quarter Century means 25 years !  That movement was suggested
so that more hams could be eligible, SO MORE DUES  would insure the continuance of
the organization.  Apparently National has enough in the treasury, that our dues wouldn't be missed.

Sorry I'm so long winded.  We're in the 21st Century for over 10 years now. Let's get with it !

Fraternally,
Ray Bilger, W3TDF (The Grump)