RadioBanter - View Single Post - Do yourself a favor. Cancel your League membership now!

January 28th 04, 02:27 AM

(Len Over 21) wrote in message ...
In article , "Kim W5TIT"
writes:

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...

I make this suggestion in dead seriousness. ARRL needs to consult with
a licensed psychologist stat, if not put one on staff retainer. Perhaps
he or she could explain why this is such a stupid idea.

Ha! The ARRL is about nothing but marketing anymore. This is a great
marketing effort to them: become the good cop and get hundreds to join, or
something along those lines.

Just discovered that? :-)

The biggest moneymaker at the ARRL is their Publishing. They break
even with QST but the gold is in the numerous books they have for
sale (shipping charges extra if ordered from Newington but same
prices, no shipping charges if bought over the counter at HRO).

Publishing pays nearly all the bills at ARRL, including all the so-called
membership services that are supposed to be so wonderful and
"cost nothing" to members...renting of banquet rooms for the BoD
get-togethers (and probably travel expenses, too?)...maintenance of
W1AW and the museum...and the legal and lobbying fees in DC.

Membership fees don't go for much directly. That pays for the
"fulfillment services" (mailing lists, printing, distribution of QST) with
the rest of it spread throughout Hq; membership magazine QST
gets its income from advertising charges...just like the other
independent magazines of interest to amateurs.

The 2002 Federal Tax Returns for ARRL showed an operating
budget of around $12 million. Given only 170 thousand or so
memberships, that multiplied by annual dues isn't going to hit any
$12 million.

ARRL stays alive by BEING a business. Their self-promotion is a
necessary thing. Unfortunately, many members don't see that,
preferring the delusion of some altruistic, noble, kind, and good
organization "solely for members." shrug

LHA / WMD

Len, wasn't it Mike Deignan that used to beat the "publishing" drum?

Don't forget the advertising sales in all those publications, and of
course, the endowment funds.

bb