Letter to the ARRL... by W6LG - Jim Heath Youtube Elmer

"Oh get over it, he's on the $5!"

I forgot about ol' Jebidiah. Well placed bit of humor, thanks Jim.

 

All I can say is Wow! This was an excellent opportunity for Dave Minster to turn something negative into something positive, but he failed miserably.

I HAVE been a member in the past, but I am not currently a member of the ARRL. IMO the ARRL should be looking for a new CEO. Someone in his position should rise above the fray and project the ARRL in 'good' light, instead he responded with a resounding F. U.

I just wonder how many other Amateurs have received the middle finger from Dave? Perhaps all of us...

WQ4G

 

ARRL...

Love them or hate them, they're still our only representative to our government. They have been doing a good job for many decades in that task.

Have they always done everything right? No. But is anyone of us perfect? Again, no.

Lots of folks here want to throw rocks at the ARRL, which is their right, but their opinions might have more weight if they were ARRL members.

Let me be selfish here: I've been an ARRL member since I got my first license in 1987. Tradition was the reason I joined back then. Over the years, issues come and go, but the ARRL is still in there fighting the good fight. Here's where I get selfish: ham radio to me has always been on HF. Working someone a state away or a continent away is what got me into ham radio. That is still true and will be for my foreseeable future. So I really don't pay much attention to what goes on in the ARRL. I continue to support them as a club member and will keep that up for as long as I am around.

So, I don't support them for myself, I do it for the newbies for the simple reason that ARRL, warts and all, is still in there doing what they can to ensure the future of ham radio. Hopefully they will continue to be successful in that work.

 

Okay, you're right. But, isn't the ARRL supposed to be representing ALL Amateurs? Regardless of (insert reason here)?

Hmmm. Are they really doing what they can to ensure the future of Amateur Radio? Or are they doing what they can to ensure the future of THEMSELVES?

Here is a novel idea to increase membership and to show the Amateur Radio community that the ARRL is serious about it... How about the ARRL give a full membership, for one year, to every new Ham? If you pass the test for your very first ticket, you receive (gratis) one year's membership in the ARRL. This would give the newbie a good introduction to the ARRL and give the ARRL a whole year to convince the newbie(s) of the value of the ARRL (and maybe Amateur Radio too).

But, of course I am not a member, so my opinion does not carry much weight....

WQ4G

 

I don't know that 'membership' would really mean that much to first-year hams other than getting them used to being members without paying.

Hand them a copy of the antenna book when they earn a ticket. That might result in safer and more satisfying results for individual hams, more success and more contacts. In turn that ought to create more membership potential.

 

Correct...

 

What does it mean to "represent ALL amateurs"?

Consider two BIG problems ARRL faces:

1) Amateur Radio today involves an incredibly wide range of activities, and most amateurs only do a few of them. How does ARRL - or anyone - decide how to allocate their resources?

For example, should there be more or less focus on satellites? digital modes? vintage radio? SDRs? rules enforcement? contests? homebrew? product reviews of manufactured gear? RFI?

2) Amateurs today are often divided on various issues. How can ARRL - or anyone - keep them all happy?

For example, antenna restrictions are a serious problem for some radio amateurs, particularly those in homes subject to HOA rules and/or CC&Rs.

Some amateurs think ARRL should work to remove or reduce such restrictions, in the way that satellite dish companies, right-to-dry organizations and right-to-fly-the-flag folks have done and are doing.

Some amateurs think ARRL should keep its big nose out of "private contracts". They think that if amateurs choose to live in such places they should abide by the rules they agreed to when they moved in. They say "use a stealth antenna, operate portable, mobile and/or remote, work with the HOA/CC&R folks to reach some kind of agreement - or just MOVE."

How should ARRL - or anyone - reconcile such differences of opinion as to what should be done?

See the problem?

Pick a subject - ANY subject involving Amateur Radio - and no matter what ARRL does, some folks will be unhappy. And they'll be very vocal about how unhappy they are. And if ARRL does nothing, some folks will be unhappy too.

See above. What would you have them do to ensure the future of Amateur Radio?

How many free memberships would that be in a year's time? How would ARRL pay for them?

In the past 12 months, the number of US hams has increased by about 20,000. When you consider that a considerable number of existing hams have dropped out, that means the number of new amateurs is probably at least 25,000. In a "normal" year, the number is probably greater.

Perhaps you should suggest the idea anyway.

73 de Jim, N2EY

 

The free membership for the first year would of course include 12 issues of QST. In QST are all kinds of articles and information about the entirety of Amateur Radio, including for example, satellites, digital modes, vintage radio, SDRs, rules enforcement, contests, home brew, product reviews of manufactured gear, RFI, etc... In other words, a great introduction to all aspects of Amateur Radio. Hopefully, the newbie will find VALUE in the membership and continue on with a 'paid membership.'

WQ4G

 

Jim: I understand the problem in getting everyone on the same page. Put 10 Hams in the same room and ask the group which antenna is the 'best' and why... You'll get 10 different answers.

Personally, I don't think the ARRL should be trying reconcile differences in opinion. Not in a strict sense. Report the FACTS, gather consensus, and try to move forward with personal choice and rights in mind. For example, which resolution to the HOA question gives Hams (people) the most personal choice and retains the most personal rights? Is the ARRL a referee or a leader of Amateur Radio Operators?

What would I do to ensure the future of Amateur Radio?

Advertise... How else are people going to know who/what Amateur Radio is, what we do, and why we do it?

Dan WQ4G

 

Read this thread this morning and just watched the video from W6LG.

Were I the ARRL, I wouldn't touch this guy with a 10-foot pole. His comments represent nothing more than an attempt to inflame and no amount of reason will overcome that. An old ham who has found fun with Youtube . . .