
25 JUN 2008 - 1529 CDT Jim, I would find it very hard to believe we are losing money on current ARRL life memberships. Perhaps the remaining charter and very early life members (who purchased at a young age) are a financial drain due to cumulative inflation. But I believe most of our life members have paid more than is required to sustain their annual cost to the ARRL. I still believe a true actuarial life membership would be purchased by most of our senior members and the worst-case cost/revenue analysis would be a break-even situation. The pluses would be the elimination of some renewal costs; much happier, more supportive, senior citizen members; and probably a gradual increase in voluntary contributions from these members. I cannot, with a clear conscience, sell our current (25 x annual) life membership to a person who is over 50-55 years old. It's great revenue for the ARRL, but it's not a good investment for these people. We will probably be required to increase ARRL dues within the next couple of years. Hopefully, this could be made more palatable by changing to some kind of actuarial life membership at the same time. Suggestion: Use a 25 x annual life membership rate to age 50 and then apply an actuarial discount for members older than age 50? 73 - Dick, W9GIG