Clark County Amateur Radio Club, Inc.
PO Box 1424 - Vancouver, WA 98668
(360) 254-0608

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6 Meter Repeater
52.95- (tone 94.8)

2 Meter Repeaters
147.24+
144.99 (packet)

125 cm Repeater
224.36-
(IRLP Node 7350)

70 cm Repeaters
443.925+ (tone 94.8)
443.125+ (tone 94.8)

23 cm Repeater
1292.50

QST! QST! QST!  Rocking Chair Copy Goes E-mail

For some time now, we have been producing a PDF copy of your club newsletter, The Rocking Chair Copy.  Those with e-mail addresses have had the option of receiving a copy in full color downloaded to their computer.  The response has been increasing each month to the point that we would like to make this version available to all our membership as soon as possible.

The Independent Postal Regulatory Committee has recommended an increase of 2 cents for first class postage rates in 2007.  This means the cost of mailing your newsletter may have to increase later this year to reflect the new rates.  We currently have a bulk mailing permit which allows us to mail a minimum of 200 copies for about 16 cents each.  E-mail costs us nearly nothing to send out.

We are now at a crossroads in our mailing.  If we mail fewer than 200 copies, our postage rate goes to first class at 39c/copy, an increase of 143%.  If postal rates go to 41 cents as recommended, the increase is obviously greater.  Therefore, it is to our advantage to distribute the newsletter via e-mail as much as possible.

As you renew your membership, we have been requesting your e-mail addresses.  In the next couple months, we will be e-mailing the newsletter to most of the membership.  If you don’t have a computer or e-mail, we can make other arrangements to get you a printed copy.  This change is estimated to save the club over $1,500 in postage and printing costs per year.  We strive to keep your dues as low as possible by paying attention to these expenses.  The current cost of printing and mailing the newsletter at the club discount bulk rate is about 68 cents per member or $8.16/year.  After the rate increase each issue will cost about 98c/year.  Paper, ink and printing cost no doubt will increase as well.

Get on the email list!

We will be phasing in the move to a nearly all e-mail version of the Rocking Chair Copy over the next couple months.  Please send an e-mail to our membership chairperson, Judith Ames, N7SRS, at n7srs@comcast,net to be added to the list so that you won't miss any future issues of the newslatter.

Another advantage of receiving the letter is that each member of your family can have their own copy.  Currently, only one copy is sent to family memberships.  Let Judith know the e-mail addresses of others in your family who wish their own copy and we’ll add them to the list as well.

I’m sure you’ll appreciate and enjoy, as others have, the PDF version of your Rocking Chair Copy, which will arrive several days before the postal mailed letters.  This new electronic copy will be able to contain more photos and information in addition to being in full color.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy this new version and method of delivery.

Bob Goodale, K7YFJ
Editor