Re: Important, please read
|
In light of you needing more members, I'd be curious to know how the members that are already here found the remote? Someone told them about it? They googled remotes and found Remote Hams (that's how I found it), loaded it up on their device, and then scrolled through?the list? (I'll have a comment on this after I see how guys found it) Maybe there is a common denominator?that can be used to increase membership. Which does pose another question; how many paying members do you want/need to sustain the remote, and, in light of one of the other comments I saw, a number that makes the remote usable by the members.
On Tue, Feb 18, 2020 at 8:36 PM Murray Green via Groups.Io <k3beq= [email protected]> wrote: On Mon, Feb 3, 2020 at 11:23 PM, Keith Lamonica, W7DXX wrote:
I'd like to thank those of you who helped with the monthly expenses?AND, clarify a couple of things.
First, the W7DXX remote base is a one-man operation.? I have no sponsors - no advertisers.? All expenses are paid by me.
I operate the station on a shoestring budget.
What support I do have comes from your yearly dues.? I structured the dues a few years ago. I set the dues amount at a figure I felt
? would meet expenses. I have not increased dues for many years. Nor, do I expect to.
Clearly, we need a fund to cover growth, equipment upgrades, and repairs, as with our current amp failure. Thank goodness the amp repair is a warranty item and all I'm out is Fedex shipping costs.
I have the equipment insured for most kinds of failure.? The insurance premium is a reasonable $300 per year.? Renewable April 1, 2020.
I have gotten support from some ham radio manufacturers and dealers for the sole purpose of providing prizes to our contest winners. As an example, I have close to $1,000 worth of prizes to award with our upcoming contest.
B
ack to the main point. Years ago I determined the dues amount based on the assumption that membership would grow by a reasonable amount each year.?
Probably because of propagation issues, our membership numbers are not growing.
I have a quarter page ad in CQ Magazine aimed at attracting new members.? This ad is due out next month.? I've invested, along with SteppIR, in a 40 meter phased array that is working well. STILL, I cannot seem to attract new members.
I do not want to beg each month for financial help.? Help that always comes from the same few of you anyway.
I do very much enjoy providing the remote base for you. It is my sole ham radio interest.
I WOULD ASK EVERYONE OF YOU?to come up with ideas on how we can save W7DXX REMOTE.
February 18 2020
?Keith,
? To reach?out for new members is a tough sell. The ARRL is having identical problems and the overall annual growth of the U.S Amateur Radio Service is a thin 1%. Amateur clubs, especially repeater clubs, are seeing double digit losses.? The ad in CQ is good, perhaps QST is better since it has more readers, well over 100,000 provided they accept such ads.
One idea is to prepare a brief letter?or advertisement (perhaps the CQ ad) about the remote station and operations highlighting the features coupled with some words about the overall benefits. I don't know how many members belong to the W7DXX remote but send each one the letter and ask them to send it to their local clubs, ham friends etc. Using the membership in that way multiplies the number of recipients two fold. In my case I have access to over 30 local clubs located here in the Washington DC metropolitan area (Maryland, Northern Virginia etc.) Sending it the club Secretary or the President asking them to post it on their websites? or their periodic membership email bulletins should reach a large audience..."No guarantee but nothing beats failure like a try".
... Here to assist as necessary.
73 Murray K3BEQ
|
