ARRL vs RSGB membership fees
Andy Foad
£51 for the RSGB.
I've not seen a modern QST for some years, any good ?
mm0fmf
> Ł38 a year for non US member, QST delivered.
> Ł51 for the RSGB.
>
> I've not seen a modern QST for some years, any good ?
Good in what way? Still lots and lots of adverts, many with no price
shown. Same inane letters and articles about ambulance chasing
(emergency preparedness). Regular repeats of some kind of digital
interface with isolated inputs or emergency grab box project.
I feel it's better than RadCom but I haven't seen RadCom for a while so
RadCom may have improved.
A good buy is QEX as that does have a high technical content and I find
it worth the money. Of course magazines can only print the articles
people submit. If nobody bothers then there's not much point complaining
about content.
The bigger problem is general interest magazines have to appeal to a
broad spectrum and niche magazines are often much more worthwhile.
That's why GQRP and Dubus are worth their weight in gold.
Len GM0ONX
And what is the US member subscription as a matter of interest?
Len GM0ONX
You wouldn't happen to know how much they charge US members as a matter
of interest?
Len GM0ONX
> On 07/03/2011 19:39, Andy Foad wrote:
>> Ł51 for the RSGB.
>>
>> I've not seen a modern QST for some years, any good ?
>
> You wouldn't happen to know how much they charge US members as a matter
> of interest?
Sorry, I though the first posting got lost!
Andy Foad
Andy Foad
with the ARRL guys.
They usually start by apologising (!) that it has taken
them two hours to answer, and to please accept
their apologies.
As we all know for a FACT, the RSGB *never* reply
to anything.
So the ARRL get off to a good start in my book.
Andy Foad
> Andy Foad wrote:
> > 38 a year for non US member, QST delivered.
>
> > I've not seen a modern QST for some years, any good ?
>
> Good in what way?
Anything is good so long as it's not pages full of
bl%%dy stories titled "XXX club scored another
100% FL exam success" (yawn) ;-)
Chris
It's on the website although there are many different levels of membership.
Oddly I was thinking today about joining then saw this thread.
It's $39 for a US amateur and $49 for Canadians, $62 for overseas. One nice
thing is that you can download all the back issues of QST from about 1920
or something to 2007 FOC when you join.
Vince
<punkb...@googlemail.com> wrote:
>=A338 a year for non US member, QST delivered.
>=A351 for the RSGB.
>
>I've not seen a modern QST for some years, any good ?
Brian is on record as saying that the ARRL is a better deal.
Len GM0ONX
A big diference between first and second class post ($39 v $86). I
wonder how different the delivery times are.
Len GM0ONX
Well its a personal opinion, I like QST but I prefer RadCom. I wonder if
that comment was made during its very brief 'Woman's Own' period, thank
god they fired that editor quickly.
When I worked in Glasgow I used to 'freeload' QST as the Mitchell
Library used to get it. I was never impressed enough to cough for the
membership fee.
John
"Len GM0ONX" <gm0...@gooooooglemail.com> wrote in message
news:il3knt$mi7$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
Dunno about internal US distribution.
However the ARRL send out QST internationally as bulk airfreight to the
members country, and then they are put into the local post.
I seem to receive my QST about the same time as they are received in the US.
GM4DHJ/A
> When I worked in Glasgow I used to 'freeload' QST as the Mitchell
> Library used to get it. I was never impressed enough to cough for the
> membership fee.
I did that as well until they moved everything about....
Len GM0ONX
I was more meaning in the USA as its a BiG difference in the membership
costs and wondered it the second class post was so slow that it was
worth the difference. Personally I'd pay the $39 and wait.
John
"Len GM0ONX" wrote
>>> A big diference between first and second class post ($39 v $86). I
>>> wonder
>>> how different the delivery times are.
>>
>> Dunno about internal US distribution.
>>
>> However the ARRL send out QST internationally as bulk airfreight to the
>> members country, and then they are put into the local post.
>>
>> I seem to receive my QST about the same time as they are received in the
>> US.
>>
>>
>>
>
> I was more meaning in the USA as its a BiG difference in the membership
> costs and wondered it the second class post was so slow that it was worth
> the difference. Personally I'd pay the $39 and wait.
Looking at the USPS website
http://faq.usps.com/eCustomer/iq/usps/request.do?create=kb:USPSFAQ&view()=c%7B12adaeb0-57e2-11dc-51b6-000000000000%7D,
their First Class is 2 to 3 working days.
I assume that second class is what USPS term as "Periodicals" which has no
stated delivery time. It gets delivered when it gets delivered and not
before!
Len GM0ONX
> "Len GM0ONX" wrote
>
>
> I assume that second class is what USPS term as "Periodicals" which has no
> stated delivery time. It gets delivered when it gets delivered and not
> before!
>
>
Ah, just like the Royal Mail then! :-)
Mild&Bitter
>
> As we all know for a FACT, the RSGB *never* reply
> to anything.
>
Oh come on Andy stop gilding the lily! As a secretary of a club I have
had replies to all my queries and when I have sent information for the
RSGB news and club news for Radcom it has always been acknowledged.
Perhaps it the non-member moaners and whiners that get ignored.
Charlie.
--
M0WYM
www.radiowymsey.org
Sales @ radiowymsey
http://shop.ebay.co.uk/gnome7763/m.html?
Jim GM4DHJ ...
"Vince" <microfa...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:4d75558f...@news.albasani.net...
That MUST be true then .......
David Taylor
> On 07/03/11 20:31, Andy Foad wrote:
>
>>
>> As we all know for a FACT, the RSGB *never* reply
>> to anything.
>>
>
>
> Oh come on Andy stop gilding the lily! As a secretary of a club I have
> had replies to all my queries and when I have sent information for the
> RSGB news and club news for Radcom it has always been acknowledged.
>
> Perhaps it the non-member moaners and whiners that get ignored.
>
>
> Charlie.
>
Andy is spot on.
I too was a chairman, secretary and RSGB Club Contact Officer of an RSGB
affiliated radio club. I was also a member of RSGB for 31 years until
2005, when I resigned in disgust. It isn't just the moaners and whingers
that get ignored - it's anyone who doesn't concur with the GMs take on
things, and who ask awkward questions about the Annual Accounts or
GB4FUN, for example. RSGB are the servants of the members - not the
masters, and even moaners and whingers - members are not, are those who
RSGB purports to represent. It isn't for RSGB to ignore and fob people off.
Over the years I became increasingly dismayed at RSGB's profligacy and
financial incompetence on such ill conceived frolics as DIY magazine,
which it had to kill off, but from which losses RSGB learnt nothing, and
blundered into the purchase of a flopped magazine Ham Radio Today.
Within months it had dropped 'Ham' from the title, re-naming that rag
'Radio Today' and changed its editorial policy so that the content would
be 80% non-amateur radio, but would focus on such things as scanners,
SWLs, CB, model control - anything but the main reason for which RSGB
claimed to have bought it. It didn't want to admit its error, and
blundered on trying to breath life into a corpse. In the end, with
unsustainable mounting losses it had to kill off 'Radio Today'. RSGB
never did admit how much money it lost, but I believe it was in excess
of £200k. Subs went up the following year to compensate for it.
RSGB remained in Potters Bar at least a decade after it should have
moved out, and have adopted modern business practices. Again, it wasn't
a proactive decision - it was forced upon RSGB to pull out, with ever
mounting unsustainable costs.
Then there's the nonsense over GB4FUN, supposedly to promote amateur
radio, and attract new RSGB members, which it singularly failed to do.
At no time was an evaluation carried out to ascertain whether many or
indeed any, new members came into the hobby and joined RSSGB as a result
of GB4FUN.
A charity was then formed to fund and deploy GB4FUN and get it off the
books of RSGB members, namely, the Radio Communications Foundation
The Radio Communication Foundation (RCF), which - to use RSGBs words, is:
Quote:
A charity set up by the RSGB to promote education and training in the
art of radio communication.
The objective of the RCF is to advance the education of the public in
the science and practice of radio communication and electrical
engineering and to promote wider benefits to the public resulting from
such education and training. The RCF provides funding for key projects
such as GB4FUN, teacher training courses run in liaison with STELAR,
educational bursaries and the promotion of radio communication and
electrical engineering as a career opportunity to the benefit of the
UK's skills base.
End quote.
Notice anything? Not a word about amateur radio.
And it's abject nonsense to refer to radio communication as an 'art' -
it's a skill.
The horrendous cots of GB4FUN can be seen in RSGBs annual accounts over
the years prior to the RSF being set up.
As to replies to correspondence, when still an RSGB member I was
appalled at the lack of preparedness for the implications evident in the
Communications Act, which was announced in 2003. RSGB was asleep at the
wheel, and when it woke up, said it would oppose ANY form of
de-regulation, and would 'fight Ofcom' urging members to join in the
fight, by spreading semi-literate ranting handbills out at rallies.
I wrote a courteous letter to the General Manager in April 2005 to
suggest how the licence terms and conditions could be revised and
updated. As written, BR68 was unneforced, and in parts, incompatible
with the law of the land, and thus, unenforceable.
No reply - not even an acknowledgement.
For me, the last straw came when RSGB in adverts which breached the
Advertising Standards Authority Code of Practice depicted Ofcom as the
'grim reaper' saying it would be the death of amateur radio within five
years (IE, by 2010).
In Sept 2005 I wrote again to the GM reiterating my previous letter,
seeking answers, and expressing my disappointment at RSGB's lack of
vision and adversarial relationship with Ofcom. I had a scribbled card
back from the GM, saying he was going on holiday and would respond on
his return. He never did. I resigned as I no longer wished to be
associated with such ineptitude.
I then wrote to Ofcom's head of De-regulation suggesting how best the
licence could, in my view, be updated to be consistent with a modern
regulatory environment and legal requirements. I received an email the
next day (Friday) written at 8.30pm. All of my proposals were
subsequently adopted, in spite of RSGB.
Not ranting, not whinging, just saying that with hindsight, I allowed my
feelings that as amateurs we should support our national society, to
override common-sense, and should really have resigned about 1990 when
the rot really set in.
If you think RSGB do a good job, fine - it's your money not mine, but I
suspect that your knowledge of accounting, strategic planning,
marketing, PR, and corporate governance may need honing a little, so
that you can take a more objective view of RSGBs actual performance.
Got a problem - go direct to Ofcom. Amateur radio needs RSGB like a fish
needs a bicycle.
Dire.
File this under burn before reading if you want.
That's what I do with the junk mail I get from RSGB offering me
inducements to re-join. Dream on!
David
Lordgnome
"David Taylor" <cot...@cotters.karoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:L7ednWA3WvJpAevQ...@eclipse.net.uk...
> I wrote a courteous letter to the General Manager in April 2005 to suggest
> how the licence terms and conditions could be revised and updated. As
> written, BR68 was unneforced, and in parts, incompatible with the law of
> the land, and thus, unenforceable.
>
> No reply - not even an acknowledgement.
>
"necessity" for CRB checks even though I never taught kids. I asked for an
urgent reply as I had two guys awaiting a course. Like you I received no
reply, and when in desperation I telephoned, it became clear that they had
no intention of bothering.
Never mind the business case - a bit of common courtesy and communication
would work wonders.
les.
Mild&Bitter
>
> Never mind the business case - a bit of common courtesy and communication
> would work wonders.
>
> les.
>
>
I have to say that I have not had to deal the General Manager or the
office. My dealings have been G4LFM and she has always been swift and
courteous in replying.
It does seem there is some defensiveness at play from what you and
others are saying.
However I don't see a useful way forward, no one else is stepping up to
replace the RSGB and mass resignations will only harm the hobby more.
Spike
Mild&Bitter wrote:
>However I don't see a useful way forward, no one else is stepping up to
>replace the RSGB
Why would that be necessary?
These days the world is network-centric, and the Regulator can and has
cast more widely than a narrow-view national society.
>and mass resignations will only harm the hobby more.
How?
It will certainly harm the RSGB, but they aren't Amateur Radio.
--
Spike
Brian Morrison
Mild&Bitter <mas...@radiowymsey.org> wrote:
> However I don't see a useful way forward, no one else is stepping up
> to replace the RSGB and mass resignations will only harm the hobby
> more.
What makes you say that? Supporting a poor institution simply leads to
longer drawing out of pain before sense creeps in.
--
Brian Morrison
Mild&Bitter
>
> Supporting a poor institution simply leads to
> longer drawing out of pain before sense creeps in.
>
So what do you suggest is done to improve the situation that upsets you
and others here so much?
Brian Morrison
Mild&Bitter <mas...@radiowymsey.org> wrote:
> On 09/03/11 16:15, Brian Morrison wrote:
>
> >
> > Supporting a poor institution simply leads to
> > longer drawing out of pain before sense creeps in.
> >
>
> So what do you suggest is done to improve the situation that upsets
> you and others here so much?
>
Well, I find that withdrawing support for things that offend me works
well, I don't spend money on it or think about it much any more. I see
that a fair majority here agrees with me though.
FYI I have not been an RSGB member for well over 20 years now, and
don't have any reason to change my mind. I was only pointing out that
your experience seemed better than others because you didn't actually
deal with the GM (but instead someone that actually responds to
members).
Your claim of the hobby being harmed if the RSGB were to disappear is
not necessarily the case. I doubt either of us could prove our opinion
about it adequately though :)
--
Brian Morrison
Vince
wrote:
>replace the RSGB and mass resignations will only harm the hobby more.
Won't harm the hobby, just deal direct with OFCOM.
John
"John" wrote
> However the ARRL send out QST internationally as bulk airfreight to the
> members country, and then they are put into the local post.
>
> I seem to receive my QST about the same time as they are received in the
> US.
For those who may be interested, I received my April QST today. It was
posted in the UK by Pitney Bowes International Mail Services, of Greenford,
Middlesex.