Re: [CQ-Contest] QSLing

["Carol Richards" <n2mm@comcast.net>]

Hello all,

I have to agree about the ARRL bureau's new fees. It breaks my heart to stop 
qsl'ing via the bureau, but I have no choice. As an active contester, I 
would get 500+ qsls twice or three times a year via the W2-bureau. With the 
increase in fees, that would now cost me $$$. I just can't afford that and 
even with my being a LOTW user. I even sent an e-mail to my division 
director, W3TOM. Of course he didn't even give me the courtesy of a 
response.
The one "benefit" I get from being a life member is QST every month, and 
that arrives 1-2 weeks after the digital version has been posted. Since it 
is now 50% adverstisment, I can peruse it in very short order.
Yes, I too, was a struggling teacher when I obtained my life member status. 
In retrospect, had I known how the ARRL has evolved, I probably would not 
have wasted my money.

Carol
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Kupps via CQ-Contest" <cq-contest@contesting.com>
To: "CQ-Contest Reflector" <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2016 9:52 PM
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Fw: QSLing


> Paper QSL cards are an anachronistic waste of time, money and trees IMO 
> and I applaud the ARRL for LOTW.
> 73 and HNY bob HS0ZIA
>
>      From: Bill Parry <bparry@rgv.rr.com>
> To: CQ-Contest@contesting.com
> Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2016 6:50 AM
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] QSLing
>
> I just finished my QSLing duties for the months of December and November. 
> I
> ended up with about 150 cards to the Outgoing Bureau. I have always QSLed
> 100% to cards I get via the bureau because I remembered how I I loved to 
> get
> cards back when I was younger. It is a sort of a chore these days. I have
> thousands of QSLs and I don't need them anymore. I printed out the cards 
> and
> look into the ARRL website and find that the Board of Directors has 
> approved
> a substantial increase in cost. For years the bureau has been the QSLing
> route of choice of young folks and people without a lot of money, since 
> the
> cost was very nominal. Now, when I calculated the cost of using the bureau
> it is $1.15 per ounce and a $7.00 service charge. In my case $23.10 for
> less than 150 QSLs. (This doesn't include the cost of the stamps to get 
> the
> cards to the bureau.)
>
>
>
> I have been a life member of the ARRL since 1979 (and I might add a major
> supporter). When I paid the membership fee it was substantial for a young
> school teacher. Now I am finding that the ARRL is continually reducing the
> value of the Life Membership by continually adding charges for things that
> used to be free.
>
>
>
> I believe that the ARRL is so invested in LOTW that they are trying to 
> force
> everyone to use it instead of paper QSLs. I love LOTW and use it for ALL 
> my
> QSLs but a lot of DX still don't use it. Not sure what the solution is.
> Maybe I'll just start tossing the incoming bureau cards in the trash (no I
> won't do that). I am very disappointed in this decision by the Board of
> Directors. Another one of the "services" that are no longer services but 
> are
> something you have to pay for. I am sure glad my cost of my prescriptions
> aren't set by the Board of Directors.
>
>
>
> Bill W5VX
>
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