How can YOU contact every other USHPA member?

How could YOU contact every other USHPA member?

I called USHPA this afternoon and asked that question to Martin the Director of Business Communications and this is what I learned.

The only way is to buy mailing labels at $0.10 each plus $50 set up fee plus $5 shipping. So if USHPA has 9,020 members (as per 11/09 USHPA mag) that would be $957. (and this, by the way, is for one mailing, if you want to contact the members again, you must to pay again) On top of this you have the $0.44 postage and the printing costs – say $0.20/piece- for a total on your side $0.64 per member with for 9,020 members is $5,772.8. Plus the $957 to USHPA you’re into it for $6729.80 or $0.746 per member.

But money alone does not solve this hurdle.

First you have to fill out this form http://www.ushpa.aero/forms/Form_Label_Request.pdf

And then the communication which you want to send has to be approved by USHPA (Martin or if he’s unsure he asks the Executive Director). Martin indicated the communication has to be suitable and appropriate for the membership and things like solicitations or things not relevant would not be approved. Martin stated that no requests were denied as far as he knows.

Here are my thoughts:

First, why does it cost so much to talk to your fellow members!!! Why is the email option not available to us? USHPA sends out email messages when it wants to. I have received them. Why isn’t there a forum that every USHPA is a member to?

Second, I don’t know if I need someone protecting me from getting another piece of junk mail (my mailbox is already full of it). And if someone is willing to spend $0.746 to send me something, I might just look at it.

Second, part two, what is “appropriate” and why does the current administration get to decide? What if a member with a view dissenting of the current administration wants to talk to the members? Would the current administration approve such communication? It’s not like when you get communication about elections for government positions. Those are location based so someone can send a letter to every address in the area of concern. USHPA members do not have that option.

So how CAN you contact your fellow members?