Barry Shelley, N1VXY, to Become ARRL Interim CEO

Many would just carry on as 'freebanders'.

 

What is this "clout"? That's what I'm trying to get at with these questions.

You say it's a service. Next time we need to apply some pressure, could we do that by threatening to withdraw our services for a while?

I just don't get what happens if the giant wakes up.

 

Yep I get that you don't see it.

 

Well ... since you won't, maybe someone else will explain how the amateur community is a sleeping giant with lots of clout who just need to execute the mission.

Then I can feel silly for missing the obvious.

 

I'd love to see you debate Dr. Jordan Peterson on that.

 

I would like to see this too. What "service" does Amateur Radio provide? Now, I did a LOT of NTS "service" in years past. First licensed in 1970, sending those messages across the country WAS a service. I read somewhere that the ARRL does not even run the NTS anymore?? I don't know. In this day and age, sending a message by ham radio across the country is far from the most efficient way to do that.

EMCOMM? There IS a role for that, though a very narrow one that is infrequently needed.

Technology moves forward and it's making traditional ham radio nothing more than a hobby . . . the "service" aspect has run its course.

Holding on to any "service" argument for maintaining ham radio is living in the past. We simply need to accept that and move away from "service" and back into innovation through technology. When I see "Ham Radio Saves Lives" I'm usually thinking, "really?" Who are we kidding?

We need to move the hobby into innovating means of using technology to advance communication. What that is I don't know.

But it AIN'T EMCOMM and NTS anymore. That horse has blown the coop long ago.

................Bob

 

More accurately, it’s a hobby with a nexus to an occasional possibility of a few hams “serving” some greater purpose.

But your version does sound more impressive.

 

Thanks to W7UUU for the 'merge'..

Appreciate your efforts here Dave

This IS important 'news'....

73
Chip W1YW

 

I can't see how an interim CEO that never gets on the air can serve the interests of the amateur community.

 

He's familiar enough with the ARRL operations to keep things running while they look for a permanent CEO. Someone has to do it. Who else would you suggest for interim ?

What we ought to be focused on, instead of the interim, is getting a permanent CEO who will actually last more than a few years. Seems to me that the job is a juggling act, with a lot of issues to deal with, in a period of transition, but at fairly low pay for a corporation of that size. And it cannot just settle for maintaining the status quo when there's so much at stake for ensuring a future. Someone who can see through the various initiatives that have already been started. Yes there is a need for business management, but the CEO also has to be a leader and therefore be someone who can be respected by the membership and the ARRL staff alike.

That could all point to promoting someone from within, or at least someone well known to the ARRL heirarchy and the Board, and someone who has a committment to the hobby (service). And someone young enough to give the ARRL some stability for awhile.

 

Good choice!

The real question is whether Fred wants to move to a new QTH (Newington area) where the distinct cultural advantage is a nearby HOOTERS....

 

It shouldn't be too hard to find someone with a 3 year life expectancy.

 

Neither is HF Voice, or CW, or QSL cards. But then this is a hobby, not a research group. No, the focus of the ARRL should NOT be advancing communications.

 

Not the focus, but that should be part of the mix.