[KYHAM] Fwd: Re: [CW] W1AW's thoughts on the ARRL

[Anthony W. DePrato]

Rich:
just keeps getting more interesting all the time.
73 Tony



>Last year, when the ARRL announced that the BOD was going to meet in
>January, I sent an e-mail to my Division Director and Vice-Director (and
>just about anyone at the League who I could find an e-mail for).  In
>what I though was a rational, logical and well thought out letter, I
>reasoned that it behooved the League to once and for all, poll the
>membership as to a definitive stance on the Morse retention issue.  They
>could then make the results public and then take that stance as their
>"maching orders". I relayed my feelings that since this is such an
>emotional and "hot button" issue; that the League owed it to the
>membership to do this. I deliberately left out my stance on the issue
>out of this letter.  My point was to make an arguement for actually
>taking a vote; and then publishing the results - whether it agreed with
>my personal stance or not.
>
>My Vice-Director responded by telling me that a paper ballot of the
>membership would probably cost upwards of $6000 and he thought that
>money could be spent better fighting the BPL fight.  HOWEVER, he did
>support an Internet poll, where each ARRL member could vote ONLY AFTER
>keying in his membership number.  His vote would be recorded once; and
>once only - making it as "stuff-the ballot-box" proof as possible.  He
>thought that something like this could be done in an ecomical manner and
>then the League would have a clear view of where the majority of
>membership stood - even if it was a narrow split.  He added that he
>thought that the Morse issue was important enough to merit this action.
>
>My Division Director insisted to Ed Hare, who frequents the QRP-L, that
>I was not a member of his division; and that I instead lived in Arizona.
>Needless to say, I was very disappointed as I have lived here in New
>Jersey all my life, even in the same county!  When he was advised to the
>folly of his thinking, he finally did answer.  It wasn't much of an
>answer - mostly political doublespeak and that sort of thing.  Oh, and
>by the way, when he finally did answer, he adressed the e-mail to
>someone named "Ed" whoever that is.  I'm afraid that my Division
>Director isn't too much on top of the ball.
>
>I recieved a courteous reply from the Atlantic Division director; but
>alas, from no one else.  The only thing I can think is that the League
>wasn't really interested in what the membership thought.  I believe that
>if they took a poll, the results would not have changed much from the
>poll they undertook in the early '90s and thus, would go against what
>they have wanted to do all along ... increase the number of amateur
>radio operators (and potential League members) no matter the
>consequences.
>
>I am very disappointed in the League.  I have in the past volunteered my
>time as a VE and have held several League appointments in addition to my
>cash support.  I have donated to the BPL fight and the new Diamond Club.
>I am also a Life-member having donated all that back in the 80's. I have
>always been a vocal supporter of the League - geting involved in local
>club debates as to whether or not they are indeed, a good organization.
>
>Well that's come to an end.  I will not terminate my membership
>(probably can't). However, W2LJ's purse strings have become very tight
>to the League's requests for any future donations.  I have severe
>problems of donating to a "representative democracy" which doesn't
>bother to find out what the constituents really think before
>"representing" them.
>
>I would be interested in reading Hiram Percy Maxim's thoughts on the
>ARRL.  While the technology may have changed; the mission remains
>largely the same.
>
>73 de Larry W2LJ - Vivat Morse!
>
>W2LJ@arrl.net
>http://www.qsl.net/w2lj
>
>ARRL Lifemember  QRP ARCI #4488     NJQRP #47
>FISTS #1469  QRP-L #778   FP #612  QRPp-I #759
>ARS #1528 --- K1 #1647 --- AmQRP, CQC #746