A follow up:
I used the online option. ... I checked their online portal and it shows that I have been re-certified for 3 more years. ... I did not send anything to the local section.
I completed re-certification last month and it was done within the five (5) working days that ASQ promised. Within a short time, new certifications arrived in the mail. It happens. No feedback, buzzers, or whistles. I guess that is fine, but if the review revealed any omissions on my part, I would have no idea.
It seems a waste to print out new copies of the certificates for each cycle. Since the ones received in the past were suitable for framing, I am just going to "file" the new ones. Possibly it would be more "green" to forego re-printing the deliverables unless requested.
Otherwise, I have no real complaints other than the recertification process does not add value to the member unless that value is pursued in the process of recertification by the member submitting the application. It's not about cost. It's about the opportunity for the member to actually learn something and remain current.