If any of you have read my blog over the years, you know that I’m often critical of the ARRL’s efforts to help affiliated clubs. Even so, hope springs eternal. Last year, they hired Mike Walters, W8YZ, and he’s 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. Here’s 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 [email protected].
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, it’s 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. I’m looking forward to the cool projects that the grants program will make possible.