Re: [IRCA] CQ Communications & The idea of merging NRC/IRCA

[Mike Sanburn <mikesanburn@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

That is a good question. I myself haven't seen one of our membership lists in years, much less one depicting dual membership. And of course it isn't a given that just because a DXer is a member of BOTH clubs they are automatically pro-merger.  ms

> Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:27:34 -0400
> From: jim.renfrew@xxxxxxxxx
> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> CC: am@xxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [IRCA] CQ Communications & The idea of merging NRC/IRCA
> 
> I wonder what the actual membership overlap is between the two clubs?
> 
> Jim Renfrew, Clarendon NY
> 
> 
> On Thu, Mar 13, 2014 at 2:24 PM, Russ Edmunds <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> > As one who was there at the time, I see no point to rehashing the issues
> > beyond what Mike has already said.
> > From my perspective, the same differences which caused the split in 1963
> > continue to be reflected today on
> > each side, primarily in terms of how the clubs operate and what drives
> > that.
> >
> > While all of the reasoning Les has provided is solid, as we see all over
> > our world today, people and organizations
> > are often driven by long-held philosophies which don't go away easily.
> > Those exist and haven't really changed a
> > whole lot.
> >
> > Russ Edmunds
> > 15 mi NNW of Philadelphia
> > Grid FN20id
> > <wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxx>
> >
> >
> >
> > --------------------------------------------
> > On Thu, 3/13/14, Les Rayburn <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >  Subject: Re: [IRCA] CQ Communications & The idea of merging NRC/IRCA
> >  To: "Mike Sanburn" <mikesanburn@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "am@xxxxxxxxxxx" <
> > am@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >  Date: Thursday, March 13, 2014, 2:06 PM
> >
> >  I think the logic is pretty
> >  self-evident, unless someone is too close to the forest to
> >  see the trees. Both clubs serve a niche hobby audience, with
> >  declining memberships. Very few young people listen to AM
> >  radio at all...much less are interested in DXing it. That
> >  means that our membership is aging, dying, and otherwise
> >  shrinking. While at one time there might have been
> >  sufficient numbers to sustain both clubs, it's doubtful that
> >  can continue for much longer.
> >
> >  While I've been a member of one or both clubs for well over
> >  two decades, I really have no idea what caused the split to
> >  begin with. Even less of idea of what could possibly be
> >  worthwhile enough to keep the groups apart today. I also
> >  disagree with Mike (who I respect a lot) that the two clubs
> >  have distinct personalities. If that's true, it's not
> >  reflected in their publications or their e-mail discussion
> >  forums. What I do see is a lot of duplication of information
> >  and the same names, largely.
> >
> >  It's hardly a "corporate merger". The annual budget of both
> >  clubs wouldn't pay for my company's digital media storage.
> >  Let's be honest about who we are, the state of our hobby,
> >  and start taking a hard look at what makes sense going
> >  forward.
> >
> >  Grown men shouldn't bear grudges for half a century. The
> >  only benefit to growing older is that wisdom sometimes comes
> >  with age. I've learned that forgiveness is one gift that
> >  benefits the giver even more than the receiver. How many
> >  people actively pursue MW DXing as a hobby these days? 300,
> >  500, maybe a thousand? Hard to see how a group that small
> >  can sustain two national clubs forever.
> >
> >  Mike is correct that the discussion about this topic comes
> >  up every few years. What is never articulated in those
> >  discussions is pretty simple:
> >
> >  1.) What were the issues that caused the original split?
> >
> >  2.) Are those issues still relevant?
> >
> >  Or look at it another way. If someone was starting national
> >  clubs for a niche hobby today, would they logically try to
> >  create two clubs or would they judge that one was
> >  sufficient? Either way, I respect the opinions of those who
> >  disagree. I'd just really like to see those questions
> >  answered, in a civil manner. The last thing we need to do
> >  now is reopen an old wound.
> >
> >  73,
> >
> >  Les Rayburn, N1LF
> >  Proud member of both the NRC and IRCA.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >  On 3/13/2014 12:51 PM, Mike Sanburn wrote:
> >  > I'm not really sure by what logic that " it is long
> >  past time for the N.R.C. and the I.R.C.A. to merge ". While
> >  both are fine clubs in their own way, each has its own
> >  distinct personality. While it was sad to say goodbye to the
> >  printed DX Monitor, the I.R.C.A. is still a viable club with
> >  much to offer its members. Yes there are areas that we can
> >  have friendly interaction with other BCB DX clubs such as a
> >  common test committee chairman or even occasional dual
> >  conventions in the future, I see no great benefit in the two
> >  clubs merging at the present time. This topic seems to come
> >  up every few years. I for one would vote against a merger
> >  unless there was a massive push FOR it within our club, and
> >  I haven't really seen that. Folks are always welcome to
> >  belong to both clubs concurrently. Subscription rate for
> >  SDXM is only $10 worldwide for a year. That's a great
> >  bargain. As I say, both are terrific clubs with a rich
> >  history. In the corporate world we've seen many mergers in
> >  recent decades and usually they lead to higher prices, less
> >  competition and creativity, job losses, etc....
> >  >
> >  > Mike Sanburn   KG6LJU
> >  >
> >  > > Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 12:14:54 -0500
> >  > > From: les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >  > > To: am@xxxxxxxxxxx; irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >  > > Subject: [IRCA] CQ Communications & The idea
> >  of merging NRC/IRCA
> >  > >
> >  > > Discussions over the past few days regarding the
> >  demise of print media
> >  > > in niche hobby markets, along with decisions to go
> >  "all digital" by
> >  > > organizations like the WTFDA, have also
> >  > > rekindled interest in the idea that it is long
> >  past time for the
> >  > > National Radio Club and the International Radio
> >  Club of America to merge.
> >  > >
> >  > > Whatever happened in 1961 (a year before I was
> >  born) is ancient
> >  > > history--and I suspect has little or no bearing on
> >  how the organizations
> >  > > function today. With a shrinking pool of
> >  hobbyists, it only makes sense
> >  > > for the two clubs to strongly consider pooling
> >  their resources.
> >  > >
> >  > > For years, I served as the CPC Chairman for both
> >  clubs. During my
> >  > > tenure, representing both clubs was never an
> >  issue. Many of us have been
> >  > > members in both clubs for a long time, and I don't
> >  really detect any
> >  > > differences in how they approach the role.
> >  > >
> >  > > My personal request to the BoD of both clubs would
> >  be to explore and
> >  > > strongly consider the advantages of merging into a
> >  single club. Pooling
> >  > > resources, and better position our hobby for
> >  long-term survival.
> >  > >
> >  > >
> >  > > --
> >  > > 73,
> >  > >
> >  > >
> >  > > Les Rayburn, N1LF
> >  > > Maylene, AL
> >  > > EM63
> >  > >
> >  > > Member NRC, IRCA, & Medium Wave DX Circle
> >  > > Former CPC Chairman for NRC/IRCA
> >  > >
> >  > > Perseus SDR, SDR-IQ,Funcube Pro, Wellbrooke
> >  ALA-1530+ loop, LF
> >  > > Engineering Active Whips,
> >  > > Quantum Phaser, Kiwa Loop, Palstar MW
> >  Pre-Selector
> >  > >
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> >  > >
> >
> >
> >  -- 73,
> >
> >
> >  Les Rayburn, N1LF
> >  Maylene, AL
> >  EM63
> >
> >  Member NRC, IRCA, & Medium Wave DX Circle
> >  Former CPC Chairman for NRC/IRCA
> >
> >  Perseus SDR, SDR-IQ,Funcube Pro, Wellbrooke ALA-1530+ loop,
> >  LF Engineering Active Whips,
> >  Quantum Phaser, Kiwa Loop, Palstar MW Pre-Selector
> >
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