[HCRA] ARRL Director election - my view

Mon Sep 20 08:47:16 EDT 2021

Some interesting reading.

I don't consider myself a young person anymore (38) but I've been licensed
for almost 21 years and I've been involved in the hobby ever since 1995.
However, there are amateur radio related events I've attended where I felt
out of place due to my age. Countless times I've been told that I don't
know anything, I didn't take the "real" test, hiding behind my 2X1 vanity
and I'm just "too young to know better" in this hobby.

There are quite a few stubborn, bitter and generally angry people involved
in this hobby. They resist any changes, even more so if they can't
understand it because it might hurt their inflated ego. Some even keep
bringing up "back in my day" thinking that they were somehow magically
going to go back to 1955. Even though these people are in the minority and
I personally don't give them the time of day, they stick out like a sore
thumb and overshadow the people who are actually trying to make a positive
difference within the hobby. These "sore thumbs" stick out so much that it
turns off people that are remotely interested in amateur radio. I've talked
with some that obtained a license, purchased a radio and turned into a
repeater to eventually hear them talking about their health issues and
conspiracies. I feel more people are getting licensed for a "what if"
situation more than being interested in the hobby.

Times change, people change and technology changes with time. Some changes
happen faster than others. Amateur radio has slowed down as other
technologies have far surpassed it. It's evident by seeing thousands of
amateur radio related websites that seem to be stuck in the 1990's. I often
hear "We've got to compete with these [insert modern devices/technology
here]".  Amateur radio can't compete with the PC nor with cell
phones/smartphones. However, we can adapt and embrace this new technology
but that is often met with resistance. You're not going to attract younger
people to this hobby by digging in your heels and resisting change.

When it comes to the original topic of the ARRL NE director, it's an
interesting race for sure. You have Tom (K1KI) who was a prior NE director
and has been trying to restructure the licenses to hopefully attract new
people. Fred (K1VR) who is the current director and is a well known
telecommunication lawyer that's helped many hams. And Fred (AB1OC) who
appears to be out in the trenches helping out in many areas. Since I don't
blindly toe a party line, it's a difficult choice. I usually try my best to
look at any situation from as many angles as possible with an unbiased
opinion. There are two sides or more to a story and I try to factor them
all into my decision.

AB1OC seems interesting, he turned the Nashua club into a well known,
respected club that others look up to. He even embraces some of the other
technologies that are out there. However, it appears AB1OC has this "My way
or the highway" attitude. That might be fine for a local club but I am not
sure how well that will play out on a national level. Will he be able to
get along with the other directors and play nice with them? Personally I'm
not sure.

When it comes to the other Fred (K1VR), I got to see him at his first New
England Div Cabinet meeting and wasn't impressed. It appears he didn't know
much of anything outside of contesting and zoning. He did make sure to get
rid of that stupid APRA bill that the ARRL drafted as a "win" even though
they (ARRL) basically caved into the HOAs demands. I don't hear much from
Fred (unless you personally e-mail him) and he seems to be against using
social media (which isn't going away).

Tom (K1KI) was doing something which I thought would actually attract new
people to the hobby. He was trying to give techs more HF privileges. Of
course some are bitter over that but I feel it's needed. HF is where all
the fun is at. If you give techs a taste of HF, it will be more likely
they'll actually stick around and be active instead of throwing their HT
into storage for a what if. However, the times I've personally reached out
to Tom about things I really care about (VE/VEC), I felt it landed on deaf
ears since it wasn't his main focus at the time.

Personally it's a difficult choice because they all have their strengths. I
do care about the hobby and I do care about its survival. Even more so
locally. Please look into the candidates and don't take a single person's
word as your sole reason. Vote wisely.

These are just my 2 cents.
- Jeffrey Bail (NT1K)

On Mon, Sep 20, 2021 at 5:41 AM Jeff <kb1vky at gmail.com> wrote:

> ______________________________________________
> -------Hampden County Radio Association-------
> -----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
> ______________________________________________
> Larry that was horrible to say about Chris not being a good mentor. Chris
> is entitled to his opinion wether you like it or not. The attacks I am
> seeing in this email chain is making me not want to vote for Fred. everyone
> please stop attacking someone for voicing their opinion.  If this hobby is
> going to move forward we all have to stick together and allow everyone to
> say what the feel.
> Stay safe,
> Jeff AB1WT
>
> " Chance Favors The Prepared Mind "
>
> > On Sep 19, 2021, at 9:01 PM, Larry Krainson <wb1dby at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > ______________________________________________
> > -------Hampden County Radio Association-------
> > -----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
> > ______________________________________________
> > Furthermore Chris, if you were any good at mentoring young or new hams,
> > they would still be in the hobby and active. The fact that you said they
> > are not, says something about you.
> >
> > We need people that are good for the hobby, good at connecting with
> people.
> > AB1OC is that person!
> >
> > Larry, W1AST
> > HCRA President
> >
> >   - Visit my Ham Radio club website at: www.HCRA.org
> >   - Team K2H - 13 Colonies Massachusetts State Manager
> >
> >
> >
> >> On Sun, Sep 19, 2021 at 8:52 PM Chris Scibelli NU1O via HCRA <
> >> hcra at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________
> >> -------Hampden County Radio Association-------
> >> -----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
> >> ______________________________________________
> >> Larry,
> >> Your column in September's Zero Beat may as well have been a paid
> >> endorsement by AB1OC. Now you're using club resources once again to
> support
> >> your candidate for the ARRL's regional seat.
> >>
> >> If K1KI or K1VR asked to submit a free ad to Zero Beat, or to this site,
> >> to offset your endorsement in your column would you accept it?
> >>
> >> Don't you feel you've created a conflict of interest by using the
> >> resources of the HCRA to support your candidate?
> >> Chris Scibelli  NU1O
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Larry Krainson <wb1dby at gmail.com>
> >> To: John Ewell <ewelljohn188 at gmail.com>
> >> Cc: HCRA at mailman.qth.net <HCRA at mailman.qth.net>; AB1OC Fred Kemmerer <
> >> ab1oc at ab1oc.org>
> >> Sent: Sun, Sep 19, 2021 5:42 pm
> >> Subject: Re: [HCRA] ARRL Director election - my view
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________
> >> -------Hampden County Radio Association-------
> >> -----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
> >> ______________________________________________
> >> OK Folks. I posted the link to the debate video hoping everyone would
> watch
> >> it and make a decision as to who they would vote for in the upcoming
> ARRL
> >> New England Division election. The ballots go out October 1st.
> >>
> >> Many of you know me. I am the current president of the HCRA, am an ARRL
> >> life member and also a member of FCARC and BARS (in eastern MA).
> >>
> >> Many of you also know I am a staunch supporter of AB1OC for the New
> England
> >> Division Director. Making this decision was not quickly done. I decided
> by
> >> what AB1OC (Fred Kemmerer) stands for and what he has accomplished with
> the
> >> Nashua club.
> >>
> >> We all want someone who not only supports getting students involved but
> >> also works hard on keeping newly licensed hams of all ages involved in
> the
> >> hobby. Fred Kemmerer has put in place solutions that work. He wants to
> >> share those solutions with the clubs and hams in New England and
> eventually
> >> all of the USA. They are solutions that work, period.
> >>
> >> Fred Kemmerer has the ideas and energy to make this happen. His ideas
> for
> >> bringing new people into ham radio, for keeping newly licensed hams in
> ham
> >> radio, for creating a positive image of ham radio are sound and spot on.
> >> Simply said they work.
> >>
> >> It's this kind of energy and dedication to our hobby that we all want.
> >>
> >> If you watch the debate video, you'll see his opponent K1VR talk about
> >> himself. K1VR he has no vision of the future of ham radio in New
> England or
> >> anywhere without himself being in front of everyone getting credit for
> >> things. You won't ever hear him mention New England hams or clubs. K1VR
> has
> >> had this position for nearly 3 years now. How come we're only seeing
> him in
> >> public now that it's election time?
> >>
> >> Tom Frenaye was the director for some 20 years just prior to K1VR. When
> he
> >> speaks, he talks about his accomplishments of 15-20 years ago. Nothing
> K1KI
> >> says is current or again pertains to hams and clubs in New England.
> Tom's
> >> time has come and gone and he has lost touch with everything New England
> >> ham radio-wise other than the New England Qso Party which is his baby
> that
> >> he created years ago.
> >>
> >> When K1KI visited the HCRA Field Day this past June, he asked where KK1W
> >> was and why wasn't the president of the HCRA around and at his Field
> Day.
> >> KK1W has not been the HCRA President for 7 years now. Is that someone
> who
> >> is in touch with the goings on of the present. To me, I feel he should
> >> retire and let AB1OC step up and make a difference.
> >>
> >> I urge everyone to go to:
> https://ab1oc-4-director.org/creating-future/
> >> and really read what Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC is all about, what he stands
> for,
> >> what he has accomplished so far and what he can accomplish for all of
> us in
> >> the future.
> >>
> >> Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC has a 100 day plan. He will be holding Town Hall
> type
> >> Zoom meetings where all are welcome to join and ask questions and
> discuss
> >> ideas. Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC will be held accountable for everything he
> >> promises.
> >>
> >> If three years from now, you can say Fred Kemmerer accomplished nothing
> >> like K1VR has done the past three years, then vote him out.
> >>
> >> For now, he is the BEST thing that New England has to represent ham
> radio
> >> ops and clubs.
> >>
> >> You don't want to deny those ideas, accomplishments and energy. You
> want to
> >> VOTE Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC into office as the New England Division
> Director
> >> and let him make a difference for us all.
> >>
> >> Larry, W1AST
> >> HCRA President
> >>
> >>  - Visit my Ham Radio club website at: www.HCRA.org
> >>  - Team K2H - 13 Colonies Massachusetts State Manager
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> On Sat, Sep 18, 2021 at 1:17 PM John Ewell <ewelljohn188 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> ______________________________________________
> >>> -------Hampden County Radio Association-------
> >>> -----------e-mail list (reflector)-------------
> >>> ______________________________________________
> >>>
> >>> To my fellow HCRA members regarding the upcoming ARRLDirector election
> >>>
> >>> Beginning in October, ARRL members will have the opportunityand
> >>> responsibility to elect a new Director from the New England Region.
> >>> Ourregion has 3 candidates for the Director position. All of them are
> >> very
> >>> smart,very accomplished and active hams. We are very fortunate to have
> an
> >>> actualchoice in candidates for our region.
> >>>
> >>> 2 of the candidates have held the Director position (FredHopengarten,
> >> K1VR
> >>> is current, Tom Frenaye, K1KI is previous). Fred Kemmerer,AB1OC is the
> >>> President of the Nashua Area Radio Society.
> >>>
> >>> I met Fred Kemmerer AB1OC, as I took a 3-day Ham crashcourse to get my
> >>> Extra license a couple of years ago. He held the class at hishouse, and
> >>> provided multiple examples of equipment and its use from his hamshack.
> We
> >>> went through test equipment, various types of antennas, satellite
> >>> communications,all in a hands-on fashion. His team of instructors was
> >> able
> >>> to explainelectronic to this poor steam and water based mind (my
> >> background
> >>> is in powergeneration, not electronics).
> >>>
> >>> We also had demonstrations of some of the projects andsuccesses that he
> >>> has had with NARS, such as ham boot camp, ISS – school contacts,and
> high
> >>> altitude balloon tracking.
> >>>
> >>> Fred has a background in corporate management at the toplevels in the
> >>> electronics industry. He has plenty of experience building a teamto
> >>> accomplish a goal. He has turned NARS into a fantastic resource for
> >>> hamradio, which is freely shared online. He knows the value of radio
> >> clubs
> >>> inmaintaining activity, education, public interaction and involvement,
> >>> andgrowing radio. He has used social media to share and grow his club,
> >> and
> >>> others.He has reached out to other clubs and hams to share their
> talents
> >>> and ideas.
> >>>
> >>> Fred has recognized that in order to grow, we have to lookbeyond the
> >>> traditional ham – beyond older middle class white men, and startlooking
> >> at
> >>> the overall population and try to mirror that. His success withyoung
> and
> >>> school age entry into radio speaks well for him and us.
> >>>
> >>> I feel strongly that Fred Kemmerer is the strongestcandidate in the
> >> field.
> >>> He knows how to build a team, how to motivate people,how to inspire
> that
> >>> wonder that started many of us in radio. He is also one ofthe best
> >> speakers
> >>> I have seen in radio. He has a plan, he has set goals forhimself, and
> >> has a
> >>> history of succeeding at what he puts his mind to.
> >>>
> >>> I wanted to wait until just before the voting start to sendthis out. I
> >>> didn’t want it to come out too early and be forgotten. So,beginning
> >> October
> >>> 1, until November 19, we have an opportunity and an obligationto choose
> >>> where our organization goes. Continue the status quo, or move to
> anactive
> >>> and diverse future.
> >>>
> >>> If you are an ARRL member, please treat this election seriously.
> >>>
> >>> Sincerely,
> >>>
> >>> John Ewell N1JIE
> >>>
> >>> n1jie at arrl.net
> >>>
> >>> ______________________________________________________________
> >>> HCRA mailing list
> >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcra
> >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >>> Post: mailto:HCRA at mailman.qth.net
> >>>
> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> HCRA mailing list
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcra
> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >> Post: mailto:HCRA at mailman.qth.net
> >>
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> >> ______________________________________________________________
> >> HCRA mailing list
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcra
> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> >> Post: mailto:HCRA at mailman.qth.net
> >>
> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > HCRA mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcra
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:HCRA at mailman.qth.net
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> ______________________________________________________________
> HCRA mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/hcra
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:HCRA at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html