Where Do You Stand?

[kg4kww]

From The ARRL:

It's easy to say where the ARRL stands. The ARRL stands up for Amateur Radio whenever and wherever needed.

Are we effective? Yes, we are. But you don't have to take my word for it. Listen to Michael Gallagher, the new head of the Entertainment Software Association.

In July Mr Gallagher was interviewed by Reuters about the problems he faced defending his industry. He said that video game enthusiasts could help by emulating Amateur Radio operators. "They are passionate, they are heard and they are accommodated. If there is one group to look at and say: 'It can be done,' simply look at the Amateur Radio community," he told Reuters.

Will you stand with your ARRL?


Full Story (http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2007/11/01/1/?nc=1)

[N2RJ]

Where do YOU stand, Greg?

[kd5kfl]

upwind

[kg4kww]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[n4bfd]

I stand 100% behind amateur radio, I don't think the ARRL does at all times, but they do most of the time.

Like most "lobby type " organizations, they do a good job of glad handing the politicians and the bureaucrats that control our hobby. As they should, seeing as how much money it's members pump into it through dues and donations.

Yes I am a member.

[ky5u]

Do you ever get the feeling you're talking to Corky when you see one of these threads? LOL!! Anyway, I will stand for AR but not necessarily for the ARRL because they stand for themselves, not members.

[ab9lz]

Is Michael Gallagher a ham by any chance?

[KI4ITV]

Quote[/b] (ab9lz @ Nov. 05 2007,09:25)]Is Michael Gallagher a ham by any chance?
He did not say so in the quotes attributed to him, but he didn't directly mention the ARRL either.
So we can only presume that they would have mentioned if he was a ham and given his call, just like they assumed he was talking entirely about the ARRL.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[kb2vxa]

"He also was on the receiving end of ARRL lobbying on the issue of radio interference from broadband over power line (BPL) systems."

Money talks, especially to one having a vested interest in internet gaming. I'm sure you can see the connection, one hand using the ARRL as a tool with the other hand in the market.

Right now I'm standing in BS so 'scuse me while I scrape my shoes and walk out of the cash cow pasture, the stench is overwhelming.

[K3UD]

Over the long haul the ARRL does well for ham radio and the hams who use it.

My only beef about the ARRL is that they seem to be influenced by rather small special interest groups that have an "in" at HQ.

Face it, We need the ARRL as much as they need us. Yes it could use some structural changes and be more attentive to its membership. They used to be this way. Unfortunately management philosophies change over the course of time and sometimes the changes brought about
tend to tick off some of their membership.

At $39/Yr it is a bargain even if all you do is read QST.

73
George
K3UD

[n7rjd]

Quote[/b] (K3UD @ Nov. 05 2007,07:38)]My only beef about the ARRL is that they seem to be influenced by rather small special interest groups that have an "in" at HQ.
Sometimes you have to give in to some of the battles to win the war.

[w3dub]

I support the ARRL, although i don't necessarily support the way they conduct business. But change needs to start with somebody, and it sure as hell aint going to happen if people just bitch and don't do anything to affect change.

[N2RJ]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ Nov. 05 2007,21:08)]I support the ARRL, although i don't necessarily support the way they conduct business. But change needs to start with somebody, and it sure as hell aint going to happen if people just bitch and don't do anything to affect change.
Who says "change" is even needed?

[kn4ds]

Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ Nov. 06 2007,11:27)]Quote[/b] (Guest @ Nov. 05 2007,21:08)]I support the ARRL, although i don't necessarily support the way they conduct business. But change needs to start with somebody, and it sure as hell aint going to happen if people just bitch and don't do anything to affect change.
Who says "change" is even needed?
I do, for one.

This whole When Everything Else Fails garbage and the attendant whackerism isn't good for the growth of the hobby.

Nor is the League's apparent infatuation with email via amateur radio.

ARRL does good... fighting BPL, for one thing.

The staff in Newington are very, very helpful, too, every time I contact them...

I understand that no organization can please everybody all at the same time on every front...

I see a "grow the membership at all costs" attitude, so I think some changes are needed at the very top.

[wz9o]

Quote[/b] (KE4UWL @ Nov. 06 2007,09:02)]This whole When Everything Else Fails garbage and the attendant whackerism isn't good for the growth of the hobby.
No more emmcom whacker tards!!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[KI4ITV]

Quote[/b] (aa9ya @ Nov. 06 2007,04:06)]Quote[/b] (KE4UWL @ Nov. 06 2007,09:02)]This whole When Everything Else Fails garbage and the attendant whackerism isn't good for the growth of the hobby.
No more emmcom whacker tards!!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif
Agreed.
This whole focus on emergency communications is troubling. #The ARRL is effectively turning what used to be a hobby qualified to help in certain situations to a utility for supporting the shortcomings of professional services.

Now people are actively recruited into the hobby from the start as emergency responder support. #Seemingly regardless of their ability to know what the hell they are really doing and having little interest in the daily practice of radio that teaches through experience. #Most of the classes offered for EMMCOM seem to revolve more around pecking order, legal issues, and organizational structure than making radio work. #

I think it is really killing the value of amateur radio in certain ways, like ultimately providing more bodies with fewer capable brains.
Emergency communications would be better served by a stand alone service with it's own frequencies, radios and culture. #It should draw experience from amateur radio instead watering it down and devouring it whole.
That is where I stand.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[N4PRT]

Part 97 only holds meaning for those that must deal with it--a number of the provisions of it make little sense to politicians, bureaucrats, and the general public. Once upon a time, many people understood what we did with MARS, how a lot of technical folks had this service as a hobby, etcetera.

Well friends, that is no longer the case. Hobbies hardly merit any special legislative considerations. To present an air of "importance" to ARS, the ARRL has concentrated on something that everyone understands--Ecomm. It's been understood since the early days of the Cold War. Ecomm is not the end-all of AR, but it is something sensible that can be kept in the public eye--giving value to the lobby for spectrum defense, antenna considerations, and band allocations.

Pop's sitting down in his basement ragchewing is hardly a compelling vision for any of the aforementioned activities. Sometimes organizations must take stances that are unpopular with the general membership. This matter is a lot more complex than most hams realize--especially where investment and commercial interest are involved. It's not just representation of ARS--it's politics.

My stance is as a member and a volunteer--serving as the Kentucky Section Legislative Action Coordinator. Hams can do one of several things. Actively work to protect and enhance ARS; Sit quietly and let others work; Whine and bitch about how things were 50 years ago; or wallow in ignorance spreading about garbage that does nothing to enhance our position or perception.

Nuff said...

[wz9o]

No more EMCOM Tards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have enough idiots running around looking like rent-a-cops with flashing lights, badges and SWAT uniforms!!!



The Emcomm cry…

“Here we come to save the day!!!”

But …in reality….is

“Here we come just to get in the way!!!” http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[KC7YPJ]

regulation by bandwidth proposal answered this question for me. as far away from the publishing company as I can get. I won't even buy a nice shiney new book from them, I'll buy a hammered used version rather than give a dime to the "winlink is the future" coffers

[KG4RUL]

I am a volunteer ARRL staffer in the SC Section. I do not always agree with what ARRL says and does and, I will state my views as such. However, I still have the standing challenge to ARRL bashers to point out ANY other National organization that is as effective in supporting Amateur Radio issues? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[N5PVL]

Quote[/b] (KI4ITV @ Nov. 07 2007,10:13)]Quote[/b] (aa9ya @ Nov. 06 2007,04:06)]Quote[/b] (KE4UWL @ Nov. 06 2007,09:02)]This whole When Everything Else Fails garbage and the attendant whackerism isn't good for the growth of the hobby.
No more emmcom whacker tards!!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif
Agreed.
This whole focus on emergency communications is troubling. #The ARRL is effectively turning what used to be a hobby qualified to help in certain situations to a utility for supporting the shortcomings of professional services.

Now people are actively recruited into the hobby from the start as emergency responder support. #Seemingly regardless of their ability to know what the hell they are really doing and having little interest in the daily practice of radio that teaches through experience. #Most of the classes offered for EMMCOM seem to revolve more around pecking order, legal issues, and organizational structure than making radio work. #

I think it is really killing the value of amateur radio in certain ways, like ultimately providing more bodies with fewer capable brains.
Emergency communications would be better served by a stand alone service with it's own frequencies, radios and culture. #It should draw experience from amateur radio instead watering it down and devouring it whole.
That is where I stand.
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif
That sounds reasonable.

[KC7YPJ]

Quote[/b] (KG4RUL @ Nov. 09 2007,13:52)]I am a volunteer ARRL staffer in the SC Section. #I do not always agree with what ARRL says and does and, I will state my views as such. #However, I still have the standing challenge to ARRL bashers to point out ANY other National organization that is as effective in supporting Amateur Radio issues? #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
your right, there really isn't any other official "national organization" effective at supporting our needs, then again I guess you could call the overwhelming number of hams that got the rbb proposal squashed, a "national organization of hams" this unofficial organization was far more effective at supporting our needs than the "official" one that was blatently trying to step on us...

[k4kyv]

Quote[/b] (K3UD @ Nov. 05 2007,21:38)]At $39/Yr it is a bargain even if all you do is read QST.
I would agree with that if they would put the in-depth technical articles back in QST as they did years ago, instead of pigeon-holing them into a separate bi-monthly publication that even as a full member, you have to pay extra for.

[VK2AKG]

"When all else fails" there is the internet

Quote[/b] ]At times of an emergency, we've found that the only link that stood up anywhere in the world has been the internet
This quotation was attributed to Andrew Scipione the NSW (Australia) Police Commissioner on the Sydney Morning Herald's website today.

http://www.smh.com.au/news....01.html (http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/website-on-terrorist-attacks-launched/2007/11/11/1194749384801.html)

[K8YZK]

As a member, I see where the ARRL does some good, but lately it has been more bad then good. It also seems that the BOD and Chief Exective seems to think that everybody but them are dummies and need to be told what is best for them, and that's what bothers me. Before they do a RM or go to the FCC, maybe they need to see what the members want, and maybe and this is a BIG maybe, get input from non-members on certain issues since more are non-members then members.

I think the BOD needs to be completely overhauled, but that is my opinion only.

[w3wn]

Quote[/b] (K8YZK @ Nov. 11 2007,09:57)]As a member, I see where the ARRL does some good, but lately it has been more bad then good. It also seems that the BOD and Chief Exective seems to think that everybody but them are dummies and need to be told what is best for them, and that's what bothers me. Before they do a RM or go to the FCC, maybe they need to see what the members want, and maybe and this is a BIG maybe, get input from non-members on certain issues since more are non-members then members.

I think the BOD needs to be completely overhauled, but that is my opinion only.
Then make sure you communicate with your Division Director and tell him how you feel on the issues.

E-Mail him (or her). Phone. Write a letter. Go to the next hamfest or other section/division event he will be at, and button-hole him for a few minutes. Be reasonable, of course -- you want to come across as A Concerned League Member, not A Deranged Stalker -- but make your point.

And listen carefully to what you are told.

Don't like what you hear? Or you don't hear anything back? Then keep doing it. Persistance is all.

Get your friends to do it, too.

When the Directors start to see and hear that they may not be giving the Division the leadership it wants (or needs), then one of two things will happen:

(1) They will start to adjust to the realities of what the membership wants, or
(2) They will continue to do what they think is best.

If (2) occurs... then start a grass-roots campaign to find a candidate to run against the Director in the next election, and then run them in the election. And back them. And promote them. And keep it up.

I'm lucky. I live in a Division with a Director who listens and is willing to take action if and when warranted. I know that amateurs who don't live in this Division may not have that stroke of luck.

If you want change, you have to be willing to do the work. You can not wait for someone else to do it for you -- for they may be waiting for that same someone else, like you, to do it for them. Remember: If everyone is listening on a frequency -- no one is transmitting -- which means no one hears anything. Right?

Know where you stand. And if you don't like what you see, standing there, then do something about it.