What could the A.R.R.L. do to attract more members

[WB6MMJ]

I was thinking about what changes the A.R.R.L. could make to maybe start turning things around a bit from the "dumbing down" that seems to be happening to Amateur Radio.
I thought about the Biker-Build-off`s I`ve watched on the Discovery and Learning channels.
I like home-brewing. Having a build-off in different areas of home-brewing would be, at least for me, interesting.
Instead of DX or WAS or Contest awards, you would get a award for, maybe best built, or best design.
This is just a idea. Lets hear some more.

[N2RJ]

For starters they could stop trying to screw over their existing membership with hairbrained schemes?

[W4BD]

Well first off I think that the ARRL wants things "DUMBED DOWN". Second off I think most of the "Newbies" want to just plug and play. Third off I think that all the ARRL wants is our money period, see I think item one.

73's

[WB6MMJ]

Quote[/b] (w4bd @ Aug. 02 2007,18:52)]Well first off I think that the ARRL wants things "DUMBED DOWN". #Second off I think most of the "Newbies" want to just plug and play. #Third off I think that all the ARRL wants is our money period, see I think item one.

73's

Ok, I understand. I have many opinions about the A.R.R.L. along those lines also. But how about maybe some ideas on how they could improve what they do?
Positive ideas.

[W6TMI]

They could offer free Email service for boaters & RV'ers!

[WB6MMJ]

Quote[/b] (kf6rdn @ Aug. 02 2007,19:34)]They could offer free Email service for boaters & RV'ers!

I think you are confusing the A.R.R.L. with the A.A.R.P.

[W5HTW]

Perhaps a centerfold in QST?

How about a premium with each renewal? Maybe an Icom 7000?

And for each new ARRL member you recruit, a WinLink Modem?

Or even better, a couple of gallons of gasoline?

Or, my own latest novelty, the "McHAMticket"? (You want j-poles with that?)

Maybe they could take a clue from Sports Illustrated and offer a swimsuit edition?

Or maybe they could even get away from the internet and try to focus on ham radio?

Ed

[VO1GXG]

stop trying to make a profit on everything ! ARRL , RAC and RSGB all the same .

[WB6MMJ]

Quote[/b] (W5HTW @ Aug. 02 2007,19:49)]Perhaps a centerfold in QST?

How about a premium with each renewal? #Maybe an Icom 7000? #

And for each new ARRL member you recruit, a WinLink Modem?

Or even better, a couple of gallons of gasoline?

Or, my own latest novelty, the "McHAMticket"? #(You want j-poles with that?)

Maybe they could take a clue from Sports Illustrated and offer a swimsuit edition?

Or maybe they could even get away from the internet and try to focus on ham radio?

Ed

Oh, geeeeze! Great idea. Swimsuit addition. Love it!

[WA9SVD]

Quote[/b] (W5HTW @ Aug. 02 2007,19:49)]Perhaps a centerfold in QST?

You mean (GASP&#33 like a close-up view of the FT-2000?

I CAN see it now: The FT-2000 UNCOVERED! An intimate view of the filters in the output stage.

SIGH.

I'd LIKE to see QST restored to it's former glory of the premiere journal (professional or otherwise) of ANY regularly published journal and do away with the "cutesy" graphics and perhaps devote even a modicum of space to ACCURATE technical subjects. Some of the recent (last 5 years) advice and projects have been woefully lacking in credence and/or merit.

(Example: I asked, and had published a question about use of "computer" or readily available electret microphones and the advice was that they were unacceptable for Amateur use due to poor quality, etc. Yet, a few months later, they devoted several pages to a construction project of a desktop mic using the very same type of mic element. Unacceptable? Then why devote space to a construction article? And much less PAY for such an article?)