Back in the mid-1980s, I rashly purchased a Life Membership in ASA. As far as I can tell, the one significant way in which this distinguishes me from other ASA members is that every few years I lose all my chapter and section memberships. Billing for these is keyed to ASA membership billing, with little if any follow-up. Three or four times, a change in ASA’s membership software has resulted in the Life Members receiving no subdivision billings at all. At least in those previous cases someone was apologetic and eager to fix the problem.
It just happened again. My phone calls to the ASA office encountered indifference thick enough to cut with a chain saw. Looks as if ASA has a service problem here. My emails to WSS, one of the subdivisions that got dropped, brought me several emails explaining why it had to be all my fault. For myself, I have a simple and highly effective solution: goodbye and good luck!
Douglas A. Samuelson, DSc
Annandale, VA
I just got a nice email, apparently sent to all Life Members, informing me that I would soon be receiving a statement showing what other memberships and services I have and offering me the chance to renew and add as I choose. By a fascinating coincidence, this message arrived the same day as the one announcing the appearance, on-line, of this issue of AmStat News. If I can claim any credit for having kicked the 80-foot sponge hard enough to get the problem addressed, I am happy I could be of service. Best regards.