[KYHAM] Director Weaver

[John D. Meyers]

 Hello.

I've just read through the KY AREAS Activity Summary for 2002.
Congratulations.  You've done a very good job!

But, before SM NB4K and SEC KA4MAP jump all over me for making such an
unqualified statement, I also will say that even good jobs can be
improved upon.  I know that you in the Commonwealth will continue
working to do this in 2003.

Public service communications, of course, is the halo to Amateur Radio's
body.  The international camaraderie developed through DXing and the
interpersonal friendships developed through ragchewing are great, too.
And, we don't want to forget the technical advances made through Ham
experimentation.  These are pretty self-evident.

I would like to comment on one point made by Ron in his report.  This
relates to the insatiable hunger of other groups for the frequencies FCC
has allocated to us.  Just think about this for a minute.

ARRL from near the very beginning has made it possible for Hams to get
on the air and do our stuff.  After WWI, the US government had no plans
to permit Hamming to start back up.  ARRL succeeded in getting
frequencies established for us.  Protecting and expanding Amateur Radio
frequencies and operating capabilities have been possible over the
decades thanks to a variety of activities developed and pursued by ARRL.

ARRL is now taking on highly sophisticated and well-financed national
and international groups in regulatory battles that would strip us of
frequencies or make frequencies allocated to us on a secondary basis
unusable to us.  It takes money to fight these attempted grabs by
non-Ham groups.

So far and in spite of the intense commercial efforts to grab
frequencies, ARRL has been successful not only in protecting our
frequencies, but in getting still more frequencies!

Remember that each member gained by ARRL strengthens our fight and
improves our chance for success.  Each member lost or not gained weakens
our position.

What is Amateur Radio worth to you?  If it means much to you, I strongly
encourage you to demonstrate this by signing up new members and, if you
haven't done it yet, by contributing to one or more of the ARRL funds.
Donations to ARRL are tax deductible as allowed by IRS regulations.

I hope to see as many of you as possible this year.  In the meantime, as
Director for the Great Lakes Division, I know that YOU, the ARRL
members, are the ARRL.  Never hesitate to get in touch with me.

May you have a pleasant, successful and happy 2003.

73, GL,

Jim, K8JE
Director, ARRL Great Lakes Division

Jim Weaver
k8je@arrl.org