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KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

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ARRL actually starting to do things for clubs

Posted: 23 Mar 2022 05:38 AM PDT https://www.kb6nu.com/__trashed-3/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email


If any of you have read my blog over the years, you know that Im often
critical of the ARRLs efforts to help affiliated clubs. Even so, hope
springs eternal. Last year, they hired Mike Walters, W8YZ, and hes actually started to do things to help clubs. For example, the ARRL has finally
started publishing the clubs newsletter again.

Another step in the right direction is that the ARRL Foundation will soon
start a clubs grant program, as a result of being awarded a $600,000 grant
from ARDC. This program will award up to $25,000 to clubs for projects like repeater upgrades, licensing classes, and emergency communications
equipment.
More direct help for clubs
The latest issue of ARRL Club News promises even more direct help for
clubs. An item in the newsletter calls for volunteers to serve as Clubs
Grant Coach or Club Mentor. Heres how the newsletter describes these
positions:

[The Club Grants Coach] is a person that can collaborate with a club to
help them create or refine a grant application. As grant applications come
in there will be some that need assistance with the process. This person
should be able to work with a club to help visualize and present their
ideas for a grant. They will not be responsible for writing the
applications, but they will be helping the clubs get organized and through
the application process. Grants Coaches will start work after the first
round of applications.
[The Club Mentor] will work with a club that may be struggling to survive, helping them reorganize or structure programs to help the club grow. Some
clubs are on virtual life support and can benefit from a Mentor to help
them develop new outlooks and ideas and execute a rebuilding program for
their club.

It goes on to say, Both positions will receive training in the processes
that they will need to do the jobs and will be supported by the Field
Services Team at ARRL To volunteer, email mwalters@arrl.org.
Give clubs a bigger kickback

Another thing that the ARRL could do for clubs is to give them a bigger kickback on new member signups and membership renewals. As it currently
stands, clubs get only a $2 commission when a member renews through their
club. At that rate, its really not worth it for clubs to bother collecting
ARRL dues. Clubs do get a $15 commission for signing up new members, but
there would be even more incentive for clubs to get involved if the renewal commission was higher. And, to make this program really work, the ARRL
needs to automate this process somehow to make it easy for a club treasurer
to enter the names, call signs, and addresses of the members joining or renewing and to make the payment.

Even so, both the restart of ARRL Club News and the start of the club
grants program are both positive signs. Im looking forward to the cool
projects that the grants program will make possible.

The post ARRL actually starting to do things for clubs appeared first on
KB6NUs Ham Radio Blog.

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