"AF6AY" ) writes:

The "Diamond Terrace" project is something the ARRL
thought up...apparently to enshrine its own home grounds.
I have nothing against such a project but I object to what
I think is a mis-use of "my club" funds in order to boost
their home grounds appearance and "memory." [I am a
member of the ARRL]

Making up some nebulous "reason" for enshrining some
names, possibly callsigns, in a "memory walk" area is a
rather transparent effort to bring in more funds for the home
ground's budget. It only reinforces a false delusion of
"greatness" of past amateur radio hobbyists which will lead
other, newer amateurs into a false idea of their hobby.

How can it be a misuse in the first paragraph when in the second you see
it as a means of fundraising?

It obviously is a means of fundraising. Lots of organizations will put
up a plaque or name a building after you if you donate enough money. Other
organizations will let you "buy" a chair or something, and put a plaque on
it.

Any organization generally has a fixed income, and a fixed budget. If they
want to do something extraordinary, they need to do this sort of fundraising
campaign, so they can raise money without raising fees or whatever their
usual source of income.

What people are forgetting is that this isn't even new for the ARRL.
IN the early sixties, when they wanted a new HQ building, they had a long
fundraising campaign. There was a regular "thermometer" type display in
many or all issues, showing how close to the goal the fundraising was going.
I thought they might have sold "bricks" but the first issue I find that
has a report says nothing about that, though a certificate was issued to
each donor. It got the HQ building built, but didn't take away from
existing work, or raise membership fees. The people who paid for
the new building were happy to do so, because they were doing it
on a voluntary basis.

This is basically an extension of that fundraiser. The idea being
taht if there is something permanent, people are more likely to donate
money. If they get something tangible, they don't even have to be
concerned with what the money is used for, which means "outsiders"
can even be tempted to donate. (Maybe not in this case, but when
that theatre group here has their annual raffle, the lure of the prizes
should mean a broadened base of ticket buyers.)

Michael VE2BVW