This is really the meat of this argument:
"If you're not going to join, then just don't join. Stop making
excuses about "what are you doing"...You claim to be on the list
since the beginning and you can't see what's been happening? What
advantage does WISPA offer you? Give me a break. WISPA has done a
LOT, considering the $$ that they have to work with. Either join or
don't, but stop acting as though you need to be "sold" because you
can't find anything on the website giving you what the value of
WISPA is."
Folks, don't join WISPA because of what WISPA can do for you. That's not
what WISPA is about. Oh sure, we do what we can when we can, but the MAIN
focus of WISPA is that of improving the OVERALL industry. We're focused on
better rules, better laws, better training etc.
We didn't form WISPA so that we could give you equipment discounts, free
legal advice, insurance discounts, etc. The day will come when those things
are all possible, but it'll take large membership numbers to get there.
We formed WISPA because a unified voice was needed at the government
interface level. (I know what I speak of cause I was on the phone calls
where John first talked about making a new true trade association.)
Certainly we've talked about all of the cool things that we can do for our
members once we get enough of them together. I think business insurance is
a critical need for our industry and finding an agent with a company that'll
work hard for our group would be a great benefit. One day we'll get there.
Sitting on the sidelines looking for that "big sell" isn't going to get you
to here from there. YOU have to come to US. YOU have to offer your time
and money FIRST. If you know of another trade org in which you can have a
REAL voice, let me know. I'd like to work less these days. WISPA does the
will of it's membership. Yes, of course we pay attention to what non
members are interested in, doing etc. You are also a part of this industry.
But at the end of the day, we do what the MEMBERS think is best for the
WHOLE industry. You can argue against the members wishes and you may indeed
change everyone's minds. It happens from time to time. But that only
happens because we're open minded and honestly have the industry in mind
first, our own companies second. The only way you get REAL power within the
association is to join though.
Speaking of power within WISPA. Wanna have some fun? Read the by-laws
closely. The only ones with real power are the board members. We can pay
ourselves (not much but some). We can send ourselves to every trade show
out there, all expenses paid. We can file any FCC or legislative docs that
we want etc. The membership CAN overrule the board on anything, but it'll
be nearly impossible to do so. Most orgs don't have ANY way for the
membership to override the board other than an election.
The WISPA board does pay for trips to trade shows. Not all expenses though.
Just air fare and hotel usually. Not always that either. We've also helped
fund trips to DC for our members when needed. None of us has gotten one red
cent in compensation for the time we spend on your behalf though. The board
is above reproach in every way. We have a VERY top notch group of people.
They have been beaten and bloodied, yet they come back for more and more.
Why? Because they believe in YOU and what YOU are doing for YOUR customers.
We know that if YOU do better, so will we.
Hope that helps,
Marlon
(509) 982-2181
(408) 907-6910 (Vonage) Consulting services
42846865 (icq) WISP Operator since 1999!
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.odessaoffice.com/wireless
www.odessaoffice.com/marlon/cam
----- Original Message -----
From: "Butch Evans" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 8:19 AM
Subject: RE: [WISPA] What is WISPA? was Promotion of services on-list
On Fri, 18 May 2007, Chadd Thompson wrote:
I am sorry but as I mentioned above I can not see from the outside what
WISPA is doing or has going on. Maybe I am not paying close enough
attention, I don't know.
I'll just mention TWO examples. Direct $ for $ examples, too. You may
not be using these services, but they answer the question, and both were
posted right here on this list.
1. Kris Twomey (even now) is selling the legal service of doing the filing
for CALEA at $100 (or $125...I can't recall) for WISPA members. He
charges $250 to do it for NON WISPA members. That is a direct $125 (worst
case) savings. If you use this service, the "real" cost of a WISPA
membership is $125.
2. Frank Muto sells an email filtering service (Postini) and has offered
to pay for your full WISPA membership with the purchase of some level of
service with him. I can't recall the specific details, but his offer
makes WISPA membership absolutely free.
Those are just 2 examples, both of which were posted right here on this
free list.
Looking from the outside it doesn't always appear that the ORG is able to
uphold the code of ethics. This is mainly based off of discussions held on
the freelist. I see comments from members, officers of the ORG that I feel
do not uphold the above listed items from the code of ethics.
I'd really like to understand what you see that makes this a true
statement.
Again please read this as an outsider looking in, trying to understand
what WISPA has going on or as done for our industry and what the value is
for me to join. I am not saying WISPA is not doing or has not done
anything for our industry. I just need some help understanding.
I am not gonna "sell" you the organization. But I will work on answering
this a little.
1. WISPA is right now working on a standard that will make CALEA safe
harbor VERY INEXPENSIVE for WISPs. Not just members. This is an INDUSTRY
solution.
2. WISPA has been urging WISPs to file the 477 forms, which is important
because it will make us, as an industry, a larger portion of the broadband
deployment in the US (statistically) as far as the government is
concerned. Why is this important? Besides being the law, government is
working to insure that "every American has access to broadband". If we
are providing that service in an area and they don't know about it, they
will still work on a way to get that access available.
3. WISPA has urged (on several occasions) WISPs to file comments on
various spectrum issues that would be beneficial to WISPs. WISPA has (as
an organization) filed comments as well. Because we don't have the $$ to
hire a lobby, this is the best effort in this regard.
Now it's time to ask YOU what YOU have done for our industry. Have you
filed comments on the issues that will impact your business? For the most
part, over the past couple of years WISPA has. Have you filed your 477?
If you're not going to join, then just don't join. Stop making excuses
about "what are you doing"...You claim to be on the list since the
beginning and you can't see what's been happening? What advantage does
WISPA offer you? Give me a break. WISPA has done a LOT, considering the
$$ that they have to work with. Either join or don't, but stop acting as
though you need to be "sold" because you can't find anything on the
website giving you what the value of WISPA is.
FWIW, I do agree that WISPA needs to do a better job of selling itself on
the website, but the point (in your case) is that you are just using it as
an excuse, IMO.
--
Butch Evans
Network Engineering and Security Consulting
573-276-2879
http://www.butchevans.com/
My calendar: http://tinyurl.com/y24ad6
Training Partners: http://tinyurl.com/smfkf
Mikrotik Certified Consultant
http://www.mikrotik.com/consultants.html
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