[OFARC] Fwd: ARRL Member Bulletin for July 23, 2023

[Martin Denning]

>From our friends at the ARRL making a case badly to charge us more for the
same service. 73.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: ARRL Web site <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
Date: Sun, Jul 23, 2023 at 9:07 PM
Subject: ARRL Member Bulletin for July 23, 2023
To: <morgancreek at gmail.com>


If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
http://www.arrl.org/member-bulletin?issue=2023-07-23

[image: ARRL Member Bulletin]
July 23, 2023
*ARRL Member Bulletin* Archive <http://www.arrl.org/member-bulletin>
ARRL Home Page <http://www.arrl.org/>

*A Message from ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR*

Dear ARRL members,

Yesterday, the ARRL Board of Directors completed their second annual
meeting. I'm writing to let you know that they made the tough, but
necessary, decision to increase the regular membership dues rate to $59 a
year starting January 1, 2024 (see 2024 Dues Rates
<http://www.arrl.org/2024-dues-rates>). Additionally, we have chosen to
separate the printed, mailed magazine from regular membership. Members will
be able to choose whether they want to add-on a print subscription to any
of our magazines including *QST*, *On the Air*, *QEX*, and *NCJ*. All
members will continue to have online, digital access to each of these four
magazines and the digital archive as part of their regular membership
benefits.

This is only the second time in 22 years that ARRL has raised our dues. It
is a necessary part of ensuring ARRL is supported so we can continue to
promote and fight hard for our Amateur Radio Service, while providing
benefits and services for our members that increase your knowledge and
enjoyment of ham radio.

To help us make this decision, we invited every ARRL member to participate
in a survey in May. Over 20,000 members responded (you can view the survey
results here <http://www.arrl.org/dues-survey>). We know from the survey
results that most of you will find the new rate reasonable, or even ask why
we didn't set it higher. We also know that some may find the rate is too
high. As I've shared with many of you during my visits at hamfests and
conventions, each of us has a responsibility to be active participants, and
to support ARRL if we want to increase our ranks and ensure a lasting
legacy for amateur radio's future.

You told us that you value ARRL's advocacy efforts, including spectrum
defense, standing up to regulators and policymakers, and our work in other
areas that defend, promote, and grow amateur radio - including STEM
outreach to schools, teachers, and youth. *There is no other organization
that is working harder to advance a vision that allows any citizen to
explore, develop, and practice radio communications and radio technology.*

Your feedback showed us the many benefits, services, and programs you use -
from Logbook of The World, to the work done by the ARRL Lab to test
equipment for product reviews. While our magazines topped the list of
benefits, many of you also shared that your reading preferences have
changed. Some of you prefer print, and increasingly members prefer digital.
As a result, for those who prefer print, you will be able to subscribe to
*QST* and/or *On the Air* magazine. Again, all members will continue to
have access to the digital editions of all four ARRL magazines.

Have you ever heard a Life Member say, "I got a good deal when I signed up
for Life Membership 25 (or 30, or 40...) years ago." They're right! They
got a good deal, but continuing to serve Life members is not sustainable
without making some changes. So, we're going to freeze new applications for
the program, not adding any new Life Memberships until we can price the
offering to be revenue neutral over its term. And, again, as more members
prefer digital, we'll be asking current Life Members to opt-in if they want
to continue to receive *QST* by mail.

The cost of doing business goes up every year. During the last couple of
years, the costs associated with printing and postage have increased
significantly. We've cut and delayed hiring for some positions on our
professional staff - one of the smallest teams we've had staffing our
headquarters in Newington, Connecticut, in years. We are also continuing to
examine other cost-saving measures, but we cannot go further without
reducing or eliminating benefits and programs which our members have told
us are important to them.

I can assure you that the ARRL Board exercises due diligence and oversight
in making sure your association is a good steward of your membership
dollars. The reality is that ARRL does a lot - in fact much more than dues
cover.

ARRL shares your passion for amateur radio. We are committed to
strengthening and growing our community, and protecting our rights to use
and experiment on our amateur radio spectrum. We have a 109-year track
record that includes YOU as part of that ongoing legacy of support for
amateur radio and ARRL.

73

Rick Roderick, K5UR

------------------------------
Copyright © 2023 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for
non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other
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[image: www.arrl.org] <http://www.arrl.org/>
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