20% Annual Dues Increase... But Wait, There's More!

[W3WN]

So I guess most of you have heard by now that the ARRL is imposing a 20% dues increase, from $49 to $59 per year, effective January 1st.

I can actually live with that, if that's all it was. Not pleasant, but it is the first increase in something like 22 years.

What I don't like is that there will ALSO be a $25 fee added for anyone who wants QST still printed and mailed to them. (And that's domestic -- word is that international mailings will be at least another $10)

This additional fee will be also be effective January 1st, and will ALSO apply to EXISTING members. So your current membership doesn't get "grandfathered" until it expires.

[ And yes, that includes current Life Members, although they apparently haven't figured out how or how much additional to charge existing LM's... and new LM applications are on "hold" until they figure this all out. ]

So if you still want the printed magazine, be it QST or one of the other options, this is effectively a 70% dues increase.

This is not sitting well with me.

Thoughts?

[NQ6U]

The extra ten bucks a year is no big deal and probably long overdue. Since I’ve mostly been reading the digital version of QST anyhow (although I will miss the dead tree edition) that’s not a huge issue either. What bothers me is that they’ve unilaterally changed the terms of the membership agreement between the organization and the member within the agreement's term — I signed up fully expecting to get the print edition of QST for a year but now I’m not going to get that. I’m not sure that that isn’t tantamount to a breach of contract. If they’d changed the terms when it became time to re-up, that would have been different.

[KG4CGC]

They're not what they used to be. Political infighting, not even good training for aspiring politicians.
Do they promote radio amateurs or do they promote their positions?
What is their record over the last 20 years? Do they go to bat against possible FCC actions or do they capitulate as long as certain office holders get something?
Those are my questions.

[W3WN]

The extra ten bucks a year is no big deal and probably long overdue. Since I’ve mostly been reading the digital version of QST anyhow (although I will miss the dead tree edition) that’s not a huge issue either. What bothers me is that they’ve unilaterally changed the terms of the membership agreement between the organization and the member within the agreement's term — I signed up fully expecting to get the print edition of QST for a year but now I’m not going to get that. I’m not sure that that isn’t tantamount to a breach of contract. If they’d change the terms when it became time to re-up, that would have been different.

I'd betcha apples to oranges that by the end of the month, someone will have filed suit against the League alleging Breach of Contract.

[K4PIH]

ARRL = Self-Licking Ice Cream Cone

[NQ6U]

[W3WN]

Apropos.

[KG4CGC]

Have a raffle for people that buy ARRL merchandise. For each dollar you spend you get a chance to win a radio. Have a drawing once a month or every 2 months, whatever. Youtubers are giving away cars and motorcycles this way. It makes a lot of money.

But don't listen to me, just kick me out the window like the poor shlub in the illustration.

[N8YX]

Forum seriously needs a "Like" button.

[W3WN]

Well, I wrote a little editorial in the newsletter. (And ran the gist of it past N2RJ, to make sure I had my facts right)

I’d post the newsletter here if I could... is there a place to upload a 3MB pdf file? (I will email it to anyone interested, just get me an address)