Message to Members
I sent the following message to current members:
Hello friends of the Anne Arundel Radio Club,
Let me first introduce myself to you. My name is Douglas Ellmore, Sr. / NA1DX. I am the committee lead for the newly formed committee on membership development and retention.
This committee was formed because over the last few years the membership of the Anne Arundel Radio Club (AARC) has decreased significantly. As of February 2017, we were less than 80 paid members.
When I first joined the AARC in 1996, the membership was over 400 amateur radio operators and their families. With the growth of the hobby to record numbers of licensed hams in the US, you might expect growth in membership, too. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.
I am reaching out to current AARC Members and AARC members of the prior 3 years who have not recently renewed. You are a small subset of the over 2200 licensed amateur radio operators in the Anne Arundel and surrounding areas.
There are a number of benefits to membership, as well as, opportunities to contribute to your local community through amateur radio activities with the club:
•Public Service Events like area Annapolis Strider running races.
•Training future hams.
•Testing future hams.
•Advancing your operating skill by using the club station and operating with the club during field day.
•Attending monthly presentation on ham radio and related activities.
•Learning to build radio equipment kits and antennas.
•Elmering new hams or being elmered.
Recently on our web site we have created new forums to promote our community and club activities based on the topics above and more.
If you forgot your password, please see the website at http://www.w3vpr.org and “Request New Password” just above the login button on the left side of the web site.
Also, go into your user profile under "My Account" on the left side menu to setup notifications or turn notifications off.
This list is not tied to the forum notification and will be used sparingly.
If you have ever experienced one of the recent emergencies or experienced extensive crowds at special events, you know that the cellular phones don’t always get through. Landline connection is also subject to emergency weather events. Being a licensed radio operator, you know that our radios do get through. Our repeater infrastructure is the common denominator for all licensed amateur radio operators in our county and beyond.
Your membership fee most importantly goes to first help sustain the AARC repeater network and building facilities. Our towers require routine safety inspections and maintenance in order for them to be used for daily traffic, weather spotters, and emergency communications. If we cannot get to past levels of membership, our club will have to look to additional ways to pay for the care of this infrastructure. We will need your help to bridge the gap through donations or fund raising.
As a result, I am first asking your help to reach out to your friends and suggest they visit the club web site at http://www.w3vpr.org/ and consider renewing or joining. On the left side of the main menu is the Web form to Join or Renew. Primary membership is just $30!
If you have feedback on the membership issues you comment on the forum for Membership Development, you can also email at na1dx@arrl.net.
We look forward to hearing from you directly or via the web site.
73 and Good DX,
Doug / NA1DX