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

[Patrick Martin <mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx>]

Like many, it really doesn't matter why the split was. I am sure John Johnson or Larry Godwin could answer that question better. Myself, I have been in the IRCA since I was 19, in 1968. I have been on the IRCA BOD now since 1981. The discussion has come up many times with many members through the years. The two clubs are very different on how they are run and yes, the majority of the active DXers in the NRC are in the Midwest and East and the IRCA is in the Mountain states and the West. The general attitude from the ones I have spoke with through the years like the two separate clubs. Some are members of both and like the variety. With the demise of the IRCA paper bulletin , how long will the NRC hold on to theirs?  If the two competing Radio Electronics mags drop theirs to go only to online, then much of the rest of the paper publications probably see the handwriting on the wall. There is nothing wrong with an online publication. I do wish we could have kept the paper versi!
 on, but the cost has really gone up in the past few years and the readership has gone down. Myself, I also like two separate clubs. 

Patrick

Patrick Martin
Seaside OR
KGED QSL Manager

> Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:00:48 -0500
> From: les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: mikesanburn@xxxxxxxxxxx; am@xxxxxxxxxxx; irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [NRC-AM] [IRCA] CQ Communications & The idea of merging NRC/IRCA
> 
> I was honestly not aware that the IRCA focused on the West Coast, and 
> the NRC focused on the East Coast. Again, this may have been more 
> obvious at some point in the club's histories, but it's hardly the case 
> today. The growth of the Internet for communications have all but 
> removed any trace of "regionalism" from this hobby. True, I often ignore 
> some of the more hardcore TA and TP loggings and information, but 
> otherwise, I'm interested in what folks are hearing all over the country.
> 
> I think that pooling resources would help to delay the erosion of the 
> hobby in several significant ways:
> 
> 1.) Volunteer pool: Where overlap does exist, a merged club would only 
> need one volunteer to handle CPC duties, editorial column duties, Board 
> of Director duties, etc. The pool of volunteers is shrinking along with 
> our membership. Duplication of effort just doesn't make sense.
> 
> 2.) Time: Think about how much time we all spend sending out duplicate 
> log reports or DX tips to multiple e-mail lists. The same people are 
> subscribed to all of them or at least most. It's unnecessary and a waste 
> of time.
> 
> 3.) One Stop Shopping: A unified club would be a much stronger voice to 
> advocate our interests to broadcasters, the FCC, ARRL, and other 
> organizations that make common-sense partnerships. It would allow those 
> interested in the hobby to have a single source of information.
> 
> 4.) Financial: As more members age, and begin to live on fixed incomes, 
> we must all take a look at our hobby expenses. Club membership is not 
> very expensive, but the costs are growing. Especially if you wish to 
> continue to receive printed publications. At some point, many of us may 
> be forced to "choose" which club we want to belong to. For such a small 
> niche hobby, should that really be necessary?
> 
> The hobby, like the band itself, may be destined to fade away into 
> history--but I want to fight that battle as long as possible. What did 
> Lincoln say, "A house divided cannot stand"? I think it's past time to 
> put whatever the issues were behind us. Even now, I can't help but 
> notice that no one has been willing or able to even articulate what 
> these differences are.
> 
> Here in the South there is a popular bumper sticker displaying the 
> Confederate Flag with a circle/slash drawn over it. The text reads, "We 
> lost. Ya'll get over it".
> 
> It's a simple statement against those who would continue to fight the 
> long-forgotten Civil War, or embrace the symbols that for many also 
> represent pain and oppression. Being proud of your history is one thing. 
> Allowing it to define your future is not.
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 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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