Untitled - Quarter Century Wireless Association

Meetings continued twice a year,
much of the time with over 100 present.
Speakers of pioneer fame included Paul
Godley, Hugo Gernsback, Arthur
Batcheller, Alfred N. Goldsmith, J. O.
Smith, and many others famous in the
early days of wireless communications.
All meetings between
1947 and 1971 were held
in New York. The first
several meetings outside
New York were held in
Washington, DC (1972);
Scottsdale, Arizona
(1973); Orlando, Florida
0974); and Reston,
Virginia (1975).
As the years
rolled by and more and
more qualified, the
membership increased
and spread out over the
United States. By 1951
there were well over 300
members. Because it was
impossible for many
members to travel the
distance to New York, it
was decided to allow
Chapters to be chartered
geographically, so that local meetings
could be held.
The first Chapter was the
Cleveland Chapter, Charter Number 1 on
January 6, 1951. It has been followed by
many others totaling over 180 today.
It is regrettable indeed, that the
newer members will never know the
romance and nostalgia generated by the
development of the pioneer days of
amateur wireless.
of the 54 charter members, 47
are now Silent Keys with seven still
living, including: Irving Groves, K4[IT,
Frank Lester, W4AMJ, Ralph Hasslinger,
W2CVF, Clarence Seid, W2KW, Bill
Kennedy, W2AS, Nat Burnett, K4OL,
and Bob Baird, W9NN.
Four of the seven living Charter members ablc to attend the 1993
Convention. From lefito right, Clarmce Seid, W2KW, Bill Kennedy,
W2WS, Nal Burnett, K4OL, and Bob Baird, \Y9NN. Photo courtesy 1993
Convention Commifree.
Past Presidents have been: John
DiBlasi, W2FX, 1947-1964; Earl
Thomas, W2MM, 1965-1968; Clarence
Seid, W2KW, 1969-19111. Barrl,
Goldwater, K7UGA, 1972-1973;, Fra*
Gunther, W2ALS, 1974-1977; Harry
Gartsman, W6ATC, 1978-1981; Stuart
Meyer, W2GHK, 1982-1985; Leland
Smith, W5KL; and currenfly Harry
Dannals, W2I{D.
The only cloud on the future
horizon is the question, "Will the new
members, inexperienced in wireless
Scholarship Fund Contributions
The following have made contributions to the scholarship firnd.
DONOR
wAoRws
CHAPTER IO7
CHAPTER I2O
w6rsQ
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER38
WOGFQ
w6rsQ
CHAPTER2
CHAPTER 131
IIONORING
W,IOFT
W3BBN, KIACM,
&WA6ISY
W8MIB
W5BE
QCWA Jonrnal
KAgDYS & K9JIQ
W4JCJ
DONOR
CHAPTER64
CHAPTER 87
W6BDE
W5KL& WAsWAR
CHAPTER 89
N2XJ
NF6P & BETTY
W2MJP
w4cow&w4cxz
CHAPTER 152
CHAPTER32
20
IIONORING
W5DPD
WTFFD
W5EJ
W5EJ
W4TUN
W5EJ
W5EJ
W5EJ
K8JON
W4JCJ, K4BLL
&K4FCW
pioneering, and now a majority, be able to
identi$ with the basic principles of its
organizers, and continue QCWA as a
fraternal organization, or will it become
just another club?"
Will the 25 years continue to
reflect its origins at 1922, and before, or
will its basis become
1960, or even l97O?
Perhaps some of the
newer members qualiS
for "Quarter Century" but
not "Wireless
Association."
This has been
made obvious recently by
a desire on the part of
some to change the
QCWA Logo, desigaed
by Charter Member
W2EA, which has been a
basic part of QCWA
etc.
since its inception,
thereby making obsolete
the thousands and
thousands of logos of the
past 45 years on
letterheads, pins,
newsletters, hot lines,
pennants, certificates,
Regardless of its future,
QCWA's great bginning will always live
on as a monument to the history of
Amateur Communications.
We, the surviving founding
members, sincerely hope it will continue
to grow without compromising the
fraternal and historical objectives of its
founders!
It has been a great 45 years. In
fact for me, it's been a great 7l years!
DONOR
w8KW
CHAPTER39
CHAPTER 169
W6IL
JAN HAYTER
w6rsQ
KIBXG
W1ICP & MARTHA
CHAPTER63
CHAPTER32
W5KL
HONORING
WSEJ
BET'TY FINLEY
W6YFW
W5EJ
W5EJ
W5EJ
W5EJ
W5Hru
K4EUK
W5IGM