[CW] W1AW's thoughts on the ARRL

Sun, 1 Feb 2004 13:28:25 -0500

I sent an email to Jim Haynie and my division/section managers this morning
chastising them for not consulting the membership prior to putting out the
new proposal for an entry-level ticket and a no-code HF ticket.  

According to the FAQ section on the ARRL website, the ARRL is a
'representative democracy'.  This, in the apparent views of the league's
current leadership, this gives them the right to petition the FCC to make
changes to the basic structure of our hobby without first consulting the
membership.   

I understand that we, as league members, have empowered the leadership to
make certain decisions on our behalf, but I think that on issues affecting
100% of league members and the existence of amateur radio as a whole (within
the US at least), we deserve an opportunity to formally express our opinions
prior to any action being taken.  

Apparently, the league feels that a few random emails (or lack thereof)
received at the section, division, and higher levels, and a few informal
polls taken by SOME sections/divisions is a sufficient to measure the
opinion of the membership-at-large.  Based on the threads that have been
circulating on the various email reflectors for the past few weeks, it's
obvious that the league missed the boat (again) big-time.  

I've heard a lot of guys say that they were dropping their membership, and I
have to say that while it's tempting to throw up my arms and give up too,
giving up is the wrong thing to do.  Every one of us who feels that the
league has once again gone too far...that the league is only interested in
representing what the league wants rather than the desires of the
membership...needs to send emails to Jim Haynie, your division/section
manager, and anyone else you can think of, taking them to task for daring to
speak for us with no consideration for our opinion. 

I have no problem with the league going forward to the FCC with any proposal
that is supported by the membership...whether I agree with that particular
proposal or not.  It would just be nice for a change if they actually came
and asked what we wanted, rather than assuming we knew what they were
thinking and took our (uninformed) silence as acceptance.

I received an email from Jim Haynie a while ago saying that we wanted to
talk with me about my email and asking for my phone number.  I emailed him
back that I'm pretty much tied up today, but gave him my home and work
number and told him when I'd most likely be available.  Should be an
interesting conversation.

73 to all,

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf
Of Anthony W. DePrato
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2004 12:44 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [CW] W1AW's thoughts on the ARRL

Just found an old 1936 qst it had the deaths of the both the pres and vice
pres of the ARRL. Maxium's note about the arrl and what its goals are were
in this issue. it was written just  weeks before his death . it is the april
issue.
makes some interesting reading.. sure is not what the arrl's pres and ceo
nor the bod are for today..
if i get time ill put it out on the list tonight
73 Tony

QBE ZUT DE WA4JQS  SK
A1-OP  FISTS  

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