I’ve been asked about this but the email chain below seems to indicate that it’s getting lost in HQ somewhere. To me this would be a simple matter of authorizing badge engravers to add the appropriate text. Is there something else that we need for this to happen? Thanks Ria N2RJ ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Robert B. Saltzman <saltzman@nycap.rr.com> Date: Thu, Jan 9, 2020 at 2:50 PM Subject: fifty-plus year member issue To: <k2qy@arrl.org>, <n2rj@arrl.org> CC: james MacMurray <n2uzq@arrl.net> Hello John and Ria, As a follow-on to our brief conversation at the recent Schenectady Amateur Radio Association meeting that you attended, I am forwarding an email thread that I have had over the past four months with Steve Ewald about various ARRL related concerns. (John suggested at the recent Saratoga hamfest that I contact Steve.) It is most useful to read the thread below chronologically from bottom to top. In summary I am baffled by what appears to be a lack of recognition of long-term members of the ARRL – in particular those with fifty years or more. Life members receive significant recognition, but loyal long term members appear to be taken for granted, or even dismissed or ignored.
From a financial point of view, fifty-plus year members have actually contributed considerably more to the League than life members’ twenty-five times the annual dues - maybe double that amount or more. They also provide revenue regularly in current dollar value instead of the value at the time of the single payment of a life member. And when dues are raised, long-term members contribute even more than “locked in” life members.
A long term member has demonstrated loyalty on a continuing basis by definition, where it seems that even a first-year member can become a life member with a one-time payment, earning more recognition and benefits. I understand the short term notion of “locking in” a member for twenty five years. But there are equally valuable members who have locked themselves in on an ongoing basis for a lot longer. There are numerous “official” badges available to ARRL members who hold various positions. There is also a badge available for life members. Incredibly, however, there is no badge available for fifty-plus year members. My request to the ARRL to approve such a badge has not been acted upon. To my thinking this defies reason and logic, and can be perceived as an insult or even betrayal to countless long-term members like me who have supported the League for decades. There should be an official badge with appropriate color made available to fifty-plus year members. I would also propose other benefits in addition to the tiny pin that is currently provided – maybe publications, discounts, decal, certificate, free badge, calendar, upgraded QST delivery, ARRL services, recognition in QST, etc. (among the myriad of perks offered to Diamond Club members based solely upon their financial donation amount). (It might be argued that even thirty and forty year members deserve similar recognition.) Has money become the only or most important value proposition to the League? Is one-time life membership valued over loyal continuous yearly membership? It is my opinion that retention of long-term members may be as important as recruitment of new ones. I would think that fifty-plus year members currently make up a considerable portion of overall League membership. Honoring long term loyalty and financial support seems to be an overlooked imperative. Although it is not always about money, I would suspect that the overall return on investment and improvement in the perception of the ARRL would be high as a result of such recognition. Life members are rewarded for giving the equivalent of twenty-five years of membership at one time, while fifty-plus year members have given about twice as much financially with the immeasurable and valuable additions of longevity, loyalty, dedication, predictability, and commitment – receiving almost no recognition at all. I am stunned that this has not been immediately resolved by ARRL leadership (per the thread below). What downsides might there be? Am I missing something? To me it is a “no-brainer.” Obviously current fifty-plus year members are dying off. However the long view suggests that in addition to the recruitment of younger people into the hobby and League membership, a rigorous program of acknowledgement of and benefits to loyal long term members is important to future generations of the League, and should be addressed. As an aside, I recently conducted an extensive on-line survey for SARA members and others local amateur radio hobbyists, that included several questions about the ARRL. The greatest percentage of responding ARRL members have been so for over fifty years or more – the next largest group for twenty to thirty years. Comments like “money driven, not membership driven,” and concerns about “politics” and acrimony among some leadership were voiced. Thanks for your consideration of this matter. I am looking forward to hearing about any progress. Regards, Bob WB2ARK (formerly WA2MOV, WA1FLH, WA3JDE) 60-year member (since I was 13!) I have also raised concerns about the lack of flexibility with the free book upon membership renewal policy, and what seems to be excessive shipping and handling fees for ARRL publications. Neither have been addressed. *From:* Ewald, Steve, WV1X <wv1x@arrl.org> *Sent:* Thursday, December 19, 2019 3:24 PM *To:* Robert B. Saltzman <saltzman@nycap.rr.com> *Subject:* RE: Renewal Hi, Bob. I’m sorry, but I have not yet made any significant headway into establishing this 50 Year + ARRL badge (with help of the ARRL badge engravers). One positive possibility has emerged, and want to follow up. ARRL Headquarters now has a newly-hired Marketing Communication Manager. She might be able to help develop or further consider your ARRL badge idea -- and also have the connections to move forward on it if it’s accepted. There may be other product ideas, too, that she can help with that would also benefit ARRL members and the organization. Best wishes for the Holiday Season and the upcoming New Year. 73, Steve Ewald, WV1X Supervisor, Field Organization Team *ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio®* 860-594-0265 sewald@arrl.org *From:* Robert B. Saltzman <saltzman@nycap.rr.com> *Sent:* Thursday, December 19, 2019 12:03 PM *To:* Ewald, Steve, WV1X <wv1x@arrl.org> *Subject:* RE: Renewal *From:* Robert B. Saltzman <saltzman@nycap.rr.com> *Sent:* Thursday, December 12, 2019 3:47 PM *To:* 'Ewald, Steve, WV1X' <wv1x@arrl.org> *Subject:* RE: Renewal Steve, Following up on the email thread below from several months ago, has there been any action of a 50+ year member badge? Thanks. Regards, Bob *From:* Robert B Saltzman <saltzman@nycap.rr.com> *Sent:* Thursday, September 19, 2019 11:46 AM *To:* 'Ewald, Steve, WV1X' <wv1x@arrl.org> *Subject:* RE: Renewal Thanks Steve. I will hold off on acquiring a badge until I learn whether ARRL leadership will approve an official 50+ year member design. Bob *From:* Ewald, Steve, WV1X [mailto:wv1x@arrl.org <wv1x@arrl.org>] *Sent:* Thursday, September 19, 2019 11:30 AM *To:* Robert B Saltzman *Subject:* RE: Renewal Hi, Bob. Thanks, again, for your correspondence. I am mailing you a 50 year ARRL membership pin. It would be honor to have you visit ARRL Headquarters. 73, Steve Ewald, WV1X Supervisor, Field Organization Team *ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio®* 860-594-0265 sewald@arrl.org *From:* Robert B Saltzman <saltzman@nycap.rr.com> *Sent:* Monday, September 16, 2019 2:16 AM *To:* Ewald, Steve, WV1X <wv1x@arrl.org> *Subject:* RE: Renewal Hi Steve, Thanks for your message. I appreciate you escalating my suggestion about “official” badges for 50+ year members. I would suggest that it have similar design/color status as a life member (the notion being that it is a similar, in not more dedicated achievement). I do not remember receiving any fifty year items from the ARRL. It would be an honor to receive them. I do not really need the sixty year items sooner than they would normally be made available. Thanks for the offer, but February would be fine. I did renew online and chose one of the books, all of which I have. I will probably give it away. (I was hoping to be able to get the second edition of Tom Perera’s book on Enigma.) I was also thinking that in all the years that I have been an ARRL member I have never visited headquarters. I may have to put this on my “bucket list.” Regards, Bob *From:* Ewald, Steve, WV1X [mailto:wv1x@arrl.org <wv1x@arrl.org>] *Sent:* Friday, September 13, 2019 3:06 PM *To:* Robert B Saltzman *Subject:* RE: Renewal Hi, Bob. Thank you for your reply and for your comments and ideas. I would like to run your idea by other ARRL leaders and staff about having the ARRL badge engravers produce a “fifty + year member” ARRL member badge. Like you said, it could be an existing badge that badge engravers make with the words “Fifty + Year Member” added. Have you received the “ARRL 50 year member pin” from the ARRL? It looks similar to the ARRL Life Member pin. The ARRL Development Office also has an “ARRL 60 year member pin” that they send out to ARRL members who have been members for 60 years. These special membership pins are sent out to qualifying ARRL members in February. If you would like, I can arrange for the Development Office to send your 60 year pin to you early. Also, if you haven’t received the 50 year pin, we want to send this one to you. Please let me know. Thank you. 73, Steve Ewald, WV1X Supervisor, Field Organization Team *ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio®* 860-594-0265 sewald@arrl.org *From:* Robert B Saltzman <saltzman@nycap.rr.com> *Sent:* Thursday, September 12, 2019 10:19 PM *To:* Ewald, Steve, WV1X <wv1x@arrl.org> *Subject:* RE: Renewal Steve, Thank you for your reply. It is unfortunate that there is no flexibility with the renewal gift. I was interested in a book that was even lower cost than the ones made available. It’s been the same books for a while. I was aware that there are generic white on black ARRL badges available for untitled members. What I was suggesting is that a special new badge and title of something like “Fifty+ year member” with another color (or same color as life member) be added – in addition to life member badge. As there is no scaled or grandfathered fee structure, there are many of us older members for whom life membership would make no financial sense now, but who have in effect been long-term “life” members (and paid a lot more than the 25 year life member fee). Regards, Bob *From:* Ewald, Steve, WV1X [mailto:wv1x@arrl.org <wv1x@arrl.org>] *Sent:* Thursday, September 12, 2019 11:52 AM *To:* Robert B Saltzman *Subject:* RE: Renewal Hi, Bob. I talked with the ARRL Sales and Marketing Department. I’m sorry, but we do not currently offer additional free gift choices beyond those that are shown. The free gift choices do change from time to time, but I don’t know when the next change or changes may occur. Some or many of the official ARRL badge engravers produce an ARRL membership badge for ARRL members. The background color is black, and the lettering is white. There is an ARRL logo on the badge, too, along with the member’s name and call sign. A list of badge engravers may be found near the end of this page: http://www.arrl.org/official-arrl-badge-program You may contact the badge engraver directly to order the ARRL membership badge. I have heard that The Ham Badgers and the SignMan of Baton Rouge are among the badge engravers that can make ARRL membership badges. Thank you for your 59+ years of ARRL membership! 73, Steve Ewald, WV1X Supervisor, Field Organization Team *ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio®* 860-594-0265 sewald@arrl.org *From:* Robert B Saltzman <saltzman@nycap.rr.com> *Sent:* Monday, September 09, 2019 5:19 PM *To:* Ewald, Steve, WV1X <wv1x@arrl.org> *Subject:* Renewal Hello Steve, I was referred to you by ENY section manager John Fritze regarding a question that I have about membership renewal. I am wondering whether there are any comparable free gift choices other than the four that are shown on the paper and online application form? As I have the current offerings, would it be possible to receive a different similarly priced book upon renewal? Also, I would like to suggest that special ARRL badges be made available to 50 year plus members, not just officials, appointees, life members, etc. Thanks very much in advance for your reply. Regards, Bob WB2ARK 59+ year ARRL member