Ladies and Gentlemen -- including the temporarily schizophrenic due to call changes: FYI, I have just ordered a few banners for use by the SMs, the Vice Director and me in the GL Division. These are on fairly heavy duty banner fabric, 6' x 29" in size with grommets in the four corners and an additional one top center. The ARRL diamond is at the left side, a large-print A R R L runs across the upper third or so and "The national association for AMATEUR RADIO" in smaller type below this to occupy approximately the upper half. At the bottom of the banner is "The reason Amateur Radio is!" in white lettering. Colors: Background = gray, diamond = black with gold letters and symbol, ARRL and The national association for AMATEUR RADIO in a medium-dark blue and "The reason Amateur Radio is! = white. The dimensions were selected to permit the banner to be hung on the wall, between two posts or from the front of a standard-sized table (without dragging the floor). The cost? An amazing (when compared with the prices available through HQ) $100 each, 2 for $95 each, 3 for $90 each, 4 for $85 each, 5 for $80 each. This outfit does excellent work and the final product is more than suitable for long-term, quality-appearance use at even the best hamfests and typical conventions. It may not be as good as the quality of a highly professionally-designed and built display unit such as those used expected at the National Convention or by pharmaceutical companies at medical conferences and meeting, but it will do the League proud in its intended uses. My question is: "Why was it necessary for me to go out on my own to find a source and arrange to have these made? Shouldn't it have been expected that banners of this quality, value and cost should have been available through HQ?" I am not pointing fingers and I certainly have not beef with the HQ Staff, but what has happened so that the cost of an adequate banner through HQ is at least twice (more like three times) the cost available in the trade? It seems very unusual that buying with a combined purchasing power available through HQ costs more than if an individual goes out to the neighborhood sign shop for the same product. I have no intention of going on a witch hunt over this, or making it a cause celebre, but shouldn't we as Directors expect to achieve savings by purchasing items such as this through HQ? I'm very open to being educated on this. I apologize in advance if I have inadvertently stepped on anyone's toes. Tnx, 73, Jim Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director, Great Lakes Division k8je@arrl.org ARRL -- The reason Amateur Radio is! GREAT LAKES DIVISION CONVENTION, September 6-7, 2003: See http://greatlakes.arrl.org