[QCWA Hotlist] Changes taking place in QCWA
Dale Svetanoff
svetanoff at earthlink.net
Sun Nov 11 00:14:27 EST 2012
Dick,
Good to hear from you. It's been awhile since the last time we had an
eyeball QSO, back in one of the Sioux City Hamborees, as I recall.
I have certainly received some detailed and thoughtful replies to my
original message, attached by you, Dick, below. In particular, I want to
thank you, WA9JMO, W4VIC, W8EK, and K1ER for their comments. Since all are
on the hot list reflector, I am actually addressing the following comments
to all of you. I apologize for the late reply today, but this was a nice
warm (nearly 70 degree day) here in eastern Iowa, and I put in a fair
amount of late fall yard work time today, following the Ch 123 weekly net
this morning, of course!
First, as an outsider looking in at the BoD's actions, I perceive a lot of
hand wringing and head scratching thought evolving into a short-sighted,
knee-jerk reaction that just happened to be right for most of the QCWA
membership. The fact that it effectively eliminated some percentage of the
membership from following the activities of the organization seems to not
have been given a second thought. My questions: A) Did the BoD actually
evaluate the membership roster so as to KNOW what percentage (or what
actual numbers) of current paid-up and Lifetime Members do not have e-mail
capability prior to making the final "Journal" decision? B) If not, why
not?
Someone has mentioned shifting the responsibility for printed "Journal"
copies to the chapters. Well, let it be known that at least 2 offers to do
that have come forth in recent weeks within Ch 123. But ... then again: On
this morning's net, one of our long-time members, who is without computer
or e-mail, knew about the offers to send out printed copies to those
without e-mail access. He made the on-air comment, TODAY, that he regards
the HQ situation as "garbage" (his word, not mine) and that he wants no
part of copies made within the chapter. His dues expire sometime in 2013,
and he intends to not renew. I have no idea how many other of our
chapter's members feel in a similar manner, but I think the BoD should know
that not all is warm milk and cookies with the membership.
I belong to several professional and hobby-related organizations. Only one
(1) organization to which I belong has made the insistence that all members
have computer access and e-mail capability; that organization is the IEEE,
the world's largest engineering society. Now, QCWA becomes the second such
organization, and I think it would behoove the organization to make it
clear on the web site and on the membership application that computer
access and e-mail are required for active membership participation.
One reply to me mentioned those who "take away" but do not contribute to an
organization. Yep, I belong to a few of those. In business, it's called
the 20/80 rule: Twenty percent of the people in an organization do 80% of
the work. That situation is very prevalent in many radio clubs, for
example, in which the geezers (like me) have done too much for too long and
now want the "young blood" to start doing their part. Great idea, good
luck getting anywhere. The doers (whether they are geezers or not) will
still be the doers. In the case of QCWA, I think it is legit for members
who are 75+ in age to "take a break" and let the other guys do something
(I'm 65). That same situation should also apply to the physically and/or
mentally handicapped, those who are shut-ins due to health issues, and
those who just don't want to mess with newfangled gadgets. Why do you bug
them? Trust me when I say that you are doing them no favors, and they
won't be thinking kindly of the BoD, either.
There is little time to waste before many members end up closed out from
QCWA news and happenings. I'd like to suggest the following actions:
1. Take an actual count, using the existing records, of just how many
members do not have e-mail. Let's not guess - let's go on facts. Maybe
the situation in Ch 123, with 33% having no e-mail, is extreme. I don't
know. Please, somebody run real numbers.
2. If the actual numbers are small, as in maybe 100 to 200 or so, then I
would be fine with working out some arrangement with the local chapters
providing hard copy to the disenfranchised. However, that will get pricey
for those chapters over time. If personal ink jet printers are used, the
cost per document copy will easily exceed $2.50 per each, if color is used.
If some volunteers have laser jet printers, the cost is a lot less, but the
copies will be monochrome.
3. If the actual numbers are large, say 500 or more, then I think it falls
upon the BoD to come up with an equitable solution. I, for one, do not
accept "no other way" as a reason. It's an excuse, but not a reason. To
take the mainline means of member communication and throw it out the window
for people who are otherwise members in good standing is inexcusable
-period!
To recap, I believe that the BoD owes the membership a review as to the
actual extent, in numbers, of the "Journal" problem. I then believe that
some sort of solution can (and should) be reached that precludes cutting
off members without "modern" upgrades. (Please, think about those with
disabilities and/or living on fixed income and/or living in an institution
of one sort or another.) You can employ all kinds of "must have the right
gadgets" thinking on new members and those renewing on an annual basis, but
the life members and those who paid for multiple years had no such
requirements set before them when they joined and/or paid.
I do not mean to be a source of pain and/or indigestion to the QCWA
leadership and BoD. However, if this morning's comments from one of our
members is any indication of how some people feel, you could be in for much
worse indigestion down the road. In any event, it is, IMHO, imperative
that some solution be reached by the end of December so that the good folks
without electronic access can have some confidence that they will, in fact,
have regular access to QCWA news and happenings, as they have had for all
these years. If the BoD fails to do that, then they have failed to be true
leaders and innovators for ALL of the membership.
All 3 of the Ch 123 officers participated in this morning's net, and I
might add that all 3 of us rotate as NCS. As before, my comments are mine
alone and do not necessarily represent the comments of other officers or
members. I do assure you that the "garbage" quote is actual and correct,
however.
73,
Dale Svetanoff, WA9ENA
VP Ch 123 & Former Director Ch 2
Member #23,985
iNARTE Certified EMC Engineer
E-N-A Systems, LLC
Specializing in shielding applications, system grounding, and lightning
protection
> [Original Message]
> From: Dick Newsome <w0hxl at cox.net>
> To: <svetanoff at earthlink.net>
> Cc: <W8EK at flham.net>; <qcwahotlist at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: 11/10/2012 3:37:32
> Subject: Re: [QCWA Hotlist] Changes taking place in QCWA
>
> Hi Dale,
> Omaha Chapter 210 had a QCWA Director at our September meeting and he
> gave us the bad news, "QCWA is Broke" . They are running day to day to
pay
> the bills. They cannot afford a manager or to print and mail the
Journal.
> These are the hard facts of the organization. No one was minding the
store
> and managing the financials. The Board of Directors have taken over the
> task of running the organization and its business. Lets all help support
> them to assure that QCWA survives as an organization.
>
> Chapters with members who do not have computers or the skill's to use
one
> could print out the Journal for those members. These are tough times and
> will require some sacrifice on everyone's part. If everyone pitches in
we
> can get through these tough times and persevere. Please have patience and
> lets support are Directors to make QCWA a strong and viable organization.
>
> Dick Newsome W0HXL
> Secretary/Treasurer Omaha Chapter 210
> w0hxl at cox.net
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dale Svetanoff" <svetanoff at earthlink.net>
> To: "Ken Simpson, W8EK" <W8EK at flham.net>; "Qcwahotlist at Mailman.Qth.Net"
> <qcwahotlist at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Friday, November 09, 2012 11:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [QCWA Hotlist] Changes taking place in QCWA
>
>
> > Ken,
> >
> > Thank you for putting out this informative message. Chapter 123, here
in
> > Iowa, will have its weekly net tomorrow (Saturday) morning on 75m and
this
> > provides a good update on what's happening.
> >
> > I have a major concern over the "new" QCWA and its operating practices.
> > As
> > of now, it appears that about 33% of our Chapter 123 members will become
> > disenfranchised with the move to all-digital distribution of the
> > "Journal".
> > These are members who either do not have a computer (and don't want
one)
> > or
> > who do not have access to a computer due to their physical situation or
> > other circumstances. There was no stated requirement in the past that a
> > computer (or access to one) was necessary for QCWA membership.
> >
> > Although I am VP of Chapter 123, I speak only my own opinion, not that
of
> > the other officers or members. Some of them may wish to post similar
> > comments, but with time running short between now and the end of the
year,
> > I felt it necessary to bring this situation to your, and the BoD's
> > attention. Was consideration given to loss of members due to inability
to
> > receive the "Journal"? If not, why not? I suspect that 33% membership
> > loss is higher than many other chapters, but there might be chapters
with
> > even worse potential losses.
> >
> > I say this because here is the story as I see it: The "Journal" is what
> > binds this group of senior hams together. We do not have an
all-inclusive
> > net, although many chapters, such as ours, do have local area or
regional
> > nets. Yes, there are certificates, QSL cards, and other goodies for the
> > members, but it is the "Journal" that brings the news to all. Given
that
> > the "Journal" represents a major "medium" within the organization,
what's
> > the plan for these folks without computers or access? Are they to just
be
> > dropped as victims of "tough times"? Is there any intent to refund any
> > dues to these folks? Again, if not, why not?
> >
> > If these members represent "collateral damage" due to QCWA's financial
> > woes, then why was this situation not brought before the membership long
> > before the past few months? Wiping out one-third of a chapter's
> > membership
> > by cutting them off from the organizational communication is not, IMHO,
a
> > very smart thing to do. Again, maybe we are the exception, but even if
we
> > are, these members deserve better from an organization that, I am sure,
> > they felt as proudly about as I have over the years. I think it's time
to
> > put some consideration back on the table and work out an equitable
> > solution
> > so that non-digital members have some way to stay connected. Lest you
> > think that well, it's just too bad, think about this: we have a very
> > valued, long-time member who is battling Alzheimer's. He has no
computer
> > and certainly can not "learn" to use one now, but he can read a hard
copy.
> > I doubt that he is the only QCWAer with that problem. How about doing
> > something for people like him?
> >
> > My perspective is that the BoD has taken a young person's view of the
> > situation by going all-digital. Well, that would be fine if our
> > membership
> > was primarily 50 or under. While many "oldsters" and "seniors" have
> > embraced and use digital technology, not all have and I don't think it
is
> > fair or reasonable to expect that members who are in their 60s and
beyond
> > will necessarily hop to it and go with the new flow. Many might, but
> > there
> > are likely to be many who can't, for whatever reason.
> >
> > 73,
> > Dale Svetanoff, WA9ENA
> > VP Chapter 123 & former Director Chapter 2
> > Member #23,985
> >
> >> [Original Message]
> >> From: Ken Simpson, W8EK <W8EK at flham.net>
> >> To: Qcwahotlist at Mailman.Qth.Net <qcwahotlist at mailman.qth.net>
> >> Date: 11/9/2012 12:41:38
> >> Subject: [QCWA Hotlist] Changes taking place in QCWA
> >>
> >>
> >> Many of you are aware of some of the changes that are taking place in
> >> QCWA, but some are not. The following will appear on the QCWA web
> >> site in the next couple days, but I wanted to give the chapter
> >> officers a "heads up" on what is going on. The same information will
> >> appear on the next issue of the Journal.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Changes in QCWA
> >> By Ken Simpson, W8EK
> >>
> >> Remember that song from years ago, "The Times, They are a Changing"?
> >> For QCWA the times really are changing. Many changes took place at
> >> the Board of Directors meeting in Reno on September 24. The changes
> >> introduced then have now reached fruition, but more subtle changes are
> >> yet to come.
> >>
> >> At the board meeting, your directors made some "Tough Decisions". We
> >> had no choice. We either made these tough decisions, or we went
> >> bankrupt. It was that simple. Your board made the decision to make
> >> QCWA a viable entity going forward, and to financially move QCWA into
> >> the black in 2013.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
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