Beginner's Guide to the FISTS QSL Bureau
Basically the QSL Bureau works like this:
You pack up all your QSL cards you have for contacts with other FISTS members and send them to us. We sort the cards and put them in the Self Addressed Stamped Envelopes (SASE's) which the members have sent to us. When we get 6 to 7 cards in an SASE with 37 cents postage on it we mail them.
The mailing address for the Bureau is:
So, to get the cards, which are sent via the Bureau for you, you need SASE's on file with us. We suggest a minimum of three SASE's be sent. We require envelopes which are at least 4-1/8" high and much prefer the #10 business size envelope (4-1/8" x 9-1/2") which will work for nearly all QSL card sizes.
The smaller personal size envelope (3-5/8" x 6-1/2") will not handle the large QSL cards which some members send and will no longer be accepted.
Some of the members send 6" x 9" Kraft envelopes which can handle all cards sizes I've ever seen. If you can find the 5" x 7" Kraft envelopes they are a really nice size for SASE's.
Your SASE should have at least 37 cents postage in the upper right hand corner. Your address goes in the normal address portion of the envelope and put your call in LARGE letters in the upper left hand corner. We will put stamp the lower left hand corner of each of your SASE's:
This will indicate which envelope is being used and how many are left on hand.
We will include a "Last Envelope in Bureau" note when we have used your last envelope to send cards to you. Also, if the numbers in the bottom left hand corner indicates: for example: "Envelope # 3 of 3" - it will have been your last envelope. When you send in additional cards you can then send in additional SASE's.
Based on the weight of my QSL card the following postal rates apply effective July 1, 2002 per the scales in the Moneta, Virginia Post Office:
Weight Postage Cards
1 ounce 37 cents 7
2 ounce 60 cents 15
3 ounce 83 cents 23
4 ounce $1.06 31
If we get a real bunch of cards for you, we may put them all in the one envelope and add postage as required from our "stamp kitty". If we do this, we appreciate your reimbursing the kitty with your next batch of cards . If you put more than 37 cents postage on your SASE's we will wait until we get the number of cards equivalent to the postage before mailing. If you prefer periodic mailing just let us know.
You can send QSL's for contacts with all foreign FISTS members to us and we will forward them to Chuck Spence, MØAVW in England or Nigel Hardy, ZL2TX in New Zealand who handle the distribution of QSL cards for overseas DX. We distribute cards for Canadian FISTS and other DX FISTS in North and South America directly from the Bureau.
So, send us your QSL cards and some SASE's and you're set up to use the Bureau. However, it won't do any good to send cards for contacts with stations who are not FISTS members as they won't have SASE's on file with us. Also, it is a good idea to confirm with the FISTS member that you will QSL via the Bureau. In that way both will know that there are SASE's at the Bureau.
If you send in a "bunch" of cards it would be appreciated if you sort the U.S cards by call number. It speeds up the initial sort. But, you don't have to further sort them alphabetically.
Various members of the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club of Rocky Mount, VA assist me in the work of the QSL Bureau. They do the final sorting and mailing of envelopes.
All costs involved in operating the QSL Bureau come from the donations from our members. We mail the DX cards to Chuck in bulk and the cost has averaged 4.5 cents per card. Also we mail the DX cards to Nigel in bulk and the cost has averaged 8.5 cents per card.
So, if you send cards to DX members, a donation would be appreciated! Your donation can be cash or checks. If checks, please make them out to me, Stan Reas, as my bank is "Reluctant" honor checks made out to "FISTS CW Club" or to "FISTS QSL Bureau"
Since all mail we send out from the Bureau must have U.S. postage stamps, you will have to put U.S. stamps on your SASE's. Since obtaining U.S. stamps may be hard, if not impossible, we suggest that you send SAE's (Self-Addressed-Envelopes) without stamps and some funds to cover the stamps we will obtain for you.
In order to minimize your costs, we will accept mailing labels with your address on them in lieu of SAE's and will paste them on envelopes from our stock. Just include some funds with your labels to cover the stamps.
The funds can be "Green Stamps" or checks or IRC's. If checks, please make them out to me, Stan Reas, as my bank is "Reluctant" to honor checks made out to "FISTS CW Club" or to "FISTS QSL Bureau"
Based on the weight of my QSL card at the Moneta, Virginia Post Office the following rates would apply:
Postage to Postage to Postage to
Weight Cards Canada Mexico Others
1 ounce 7 60 cents 60 cents 80 cents
2 ounce 15 85 cents 85 cents $1.60
3 ounce 23 $1.10 $1.25 $2.60
4 ounce 31 $1.35 $1.65 $3.50
So, send us your QSL cards and some SAE's, or some mailing labels and some funds and you're set up to use the Bureau.
We do maintain a FISTS QSL Bureau Web Page, which has a List all members who have SASE's on hand. And, a second List of those for whom we have cards but as yet no SASE. And, a third List of those who have advised us that they only QSL direct and do not use the Bureau.
The Web Page also contains additional information about the Bureau including a picture of the Staff - all volunteers from the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club of Rocky Mount, VA.
The address of the Web Page is: www.qsl.net/w4fcr/fists/fist.html
All costs involved in operating the QSL Bureau come from the donations from our members. We mail the DX cards to Chuck in bulk and the cost has averaged 5 cents per card. Also we mail the DX cards to Nigel in bulk and the cost has averaged 8.5 cents per card.
So, if you send cards to DX members a donation would be appreciated!
Here is an example of how your SASE should look: