[PVRCNC] Fwd: [PVRC] Major Change to ARRL By Laws proposed by Hudson Div. Director N2YBB

[Guy Olinger K2AV]

The big reflector has word traps. There’s also spam/troll traps that work
off words and phrases. Heated discussions often trip those.

73, Guy K2AV

On Wed, Dec 27, 2017 at 5:14 PM Ted via PVRCNC <pvrcnc at mailman.qth.net>
wrote:

> Seems like the pvrc hq doesn't want to distribute my notes, but the local
> gang might enjoy it.
>
> 73 ted N9NB
>
>
> >> My letter to ARRL is below.
> >
> >> Redline proposed changes for the bylaws (voted in January at ARRL)
> appear at the QRZ link below.
> >
> >> Concerns are that the board is seeking to appoint, rather than elect,
> board members, and that the board may use its own basis to determine
> "cause", and then can eliminate any member for "cause", just as it used its
> own basis to censure N6AA. As hinted to by CQ magazine, the League might
> >> be prohibiting some good hams from running for board seats, for unclear
> and unsubstantiated reasons. This link and links contained therein is quite
> informative:
> >
> >
> https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/major-change-to-arrl-by-laws-proposed.593056/
> > ----------
> >
> >> Dear ARRL officials, and interested parties:
> >>
> >> Speaking as an ARRL Life member for over 35 years, and as an active
> engineering educator and staunch proponent of amateur radio and of the
> ARRL, I urge all of you to vote *AGAINST* the proposed by-laws changes
> proffered by the Hudson Division director, N2YBB, and to please support and
> distribute this plea to others who have a vote or "say" in the direction of
> ARRL.
> >>
> >> Even the suggestion of such by-laws changes is damaging to the
> perceived mission and charter of the ARRL, and its responsibility to the
> hundreds of thousands of its members. Enactment of such changes would be
> catastrophic to the the US amateur radio hobby, as such changes would allow
> a few appointed ARRL board members, or even a lone hired executive, to act
> in an omnipotent manner, both within the broad membership ranks of ARRL,
> and externally to business and government interests, without having any
> immediate accountability or transparency to the membership at large. The
> changes would entitle the board to have powers over the membership and the
> board that are both unprecedented and dangerous to the well-being of the
> broader amateur community, allowing the board to have wide powers such as
> to remove anyone from paid up league membership, at any time, at will. The
> changes would also double down on building upon the "iron-fist" mentality
> that seems to have pervaded the League
>   in recent months and years. I note that the proposed by-laws changes
> would allow "immediate" action to occur by a few or even one person (with
> implicit board approval), well before any elections could occur to change
> League policy for the many members.
> >>
> >> Based on recent actions taken by the board and the leadership at ARRL,
> the proposed by-laws would dangerously empower a group of leaders who
> sometimes seem to forget that they represent and have accountability to the
> very large tent of amateur radio. The proposed  by-laws changes would
> further exacerbate the increasingly volatile situation, where membership is
> rapidly becoming increasingly suspicious of the motives and operations of
> the ARRL Leadership.
> >>
> >> Some specific examples that point to the current and present dangers of
> further empowering one or a few existing board members may be readily found
> in the recent CQ magazine white paper, that indicates others have reported
> fair elections for director spots were not made possible, due to ARRL
> action of removing prospective candidates.
> >>
> >> Also, the recent censure of Dick Norton, N6AA, who factually
> represented ARRL activities to interested members at a hamfest, is evidence
> of the board's current desire to muzzle efforts for transparency, and to
> punish open communications between ARRL leaders and the membership at
> large. What is particularly shocking in this case is that the  board chose
> to censure N6AA in the face of  evidence presented to the board by
> distinguished amateur operators who were present. This shows a clear desire
> of the board to be able to hide its internal operations, and to "send a
> message" that no public discussion, let alone dissent, is to be permitted
> or tolerated by ARRL leadership about its internal workings, regardless of
> circumstance. This removal of transparency, already enacted by the present
> board, is precisely why the current bylaws proposal is so dangerous. Such a
> censure of a highly regarded board member (the longest serving voluntary
> executive of ARRL) indicates a board that is
>   both irreverent to the voluntary nature of the ARRL and the
> accountability the League has to its members, and it further shows blatant
> disrespect for the inherent contract that the ARRL has with its large
> membership-- to serve the membership in an open, fair, and honest manner.
> The proposed bylaws changes is a direct assault on open, honest, and fair
> discussion and dissension, and would give the board an iron hand to remove
> any ARRL member from office and from membership, at any time.
> >>
> >> The recent departure of many highly-regarded employees of ARRL, and the
> muzzle that has been placed on them,
> >> prohibiting them from voicing any reasons for their departure, and
> similar orders now being rumored to be placed within all officer and
> employee agreements, also suggests a heavy handed, non-transparent approach
> to ARRL management, and in such a climate, it now becomes a legitimate
> concern to question the motives and sensibility of leadership. Why would
> ARRL leadership be so desirous to avoid transparency,  and wish to so
> aggressively muzzle the freedom of speech of elected volunteers and staff
> members? These principles backstop the very nature of democracy that is
> "American."
> >>
> >> Similar heavy-handed activities by the ARRL in the voluntary US traffic
> handling operations (NTS), have been noted recently by many, as well.
> >>
> >> While disagreements and
> >> management issues are sure to arise in any large organization, a
> largely-voluntary organization requires an engaged leadership and and open
> dialogue, not a dictatorial climate that would be further perpetuated by
> the proposed by-laws changes.
> >>
> >> Since the ARRL is the self-appointed lobbyist for the precious US
> amateur spectrum, the current climate--further worsened by the by-laws
> proposal-- now legitimately causes ARRL members to worry about "back room
> deals" being done by one or a few ARRL leaders that could give away or
> usurp the hobby's use or access to its lifeblood - its valuable use of the
> electromagnetic spectrum.
> >>
> >> In particular, the League's aggression toward existing HF CW and
> narrowband data operations, though it's filing of RM-11708 (and RM-11306
> ten years earlier), and the lack of transparency by the board in its
> motivations, and its unwillingness to meet and collaborate with interested
> ARRL members and technical experts during the comment periods in 2013-2016,
> has resulted in the potentially devastating Notice of Proposed Rule Making
> Docket 16-239 that is now being considered by the FCC. If enacted in the
> FCC's
> >> proposed form, automated wideband data (of unlimited HF channel
> bandwidths) and encrypted internet transmissions suitable for boaters and
> use by  terrorists without any identification would be allowed in all HF
> cw/rtty band segments. Are other deals in the offing, is that need to be
> kept behind closed doors, that could provide other commercial interests
> access to our spectrum at VHF, UHF, and above?
> >>
> >> One may legitimately wonder if there are hidden, monetary motivations
> for the League to take certain actions (at the expense of other genuine
> membership interests), while it conceals its activities, and now proposes
> to further clamp down on transparency and remove accountability to
> membership, as proposed in the current by-laws amendment proposal.
> >>
> >> The proposed by-laws changes would more easily allow back room dealings
> and nefarious operations to occur, without leadership being accountable or
> transparent to membership, while giving the board members the  sweeping
> powers
> >> to simply cancel the membership of *any* dissenting member of its
> choosing (or *members*, including all paid up Life members, or ARRL members
> who happen to be elected to the board and choose to not go along with a
> particular action).
> >>
> >> In the current climate, the proposed by-laws could  allow the board to
> revoke the membership of any ARRL member, including board members who are
> in the minority, such as N6AA and the two  other board members who voted
> against his censure at a recent ARRL board meeting.
> >>
> >> The actions of the present board, with regards to the hobby's access to
> spectrum, or the proposed ability to revoke anyone' ARRL membership,  could
> be extremely swift and damaging, and possibly permanently detrimental to
> the amateur radio hobby, before new elections could be held for new board
> members or new hires executives who could change a particular course of
> direction.
> >>
> >> When dealing with spectrum, it's often impossible to  "put the horse
> back in the barn", so any loss of spectrum protections would likely be
> irrevocable. US Amateurs currently enjoy valuable spectrum rights--
> commercial interests in our use of spectrum could be considerable. Under
> the current climate, and given the League's aggressive, secretive, and
> unengaged stance on spectrum in the recent past, and it's more aggressive
> desire to empower the board and censure dissenting board members,
> membership has a legitimate right to now be very suspicious of the League
> as it attempts to further limit discourse or discussion. The proposed
> bylaws changes would further perpetuate the growing suspicion of backroom
> dealings, while at the same time emboldening a few leaders, or even one, to
> act with impunity and with disregard for the good of the entire membership,
> without open discussion or dialogue.
> >>
> >> The overwhelming desire of the board to censure N6AA in the face of
> strong evidence, and the recent and rapid departure of valued employees,
> and the rumored deterioration of morale of employees in Newington, shows
> that there may be ill forces already at work.
> >>
> >> The by-laws proposal only further erodes trust among the membership,
> empowers a tyrannical board that could be empowered further to simply
> revoke membership of any ARRL member, board member or otherwise, and it
> creates an atmosphere of secrecy in fear of repercussions for dissension or
> dialogue.
> >> This by-laws proposal  helps no one but those who want to widen that
> disconnect, and lessen the obligation and accountability that leadership
> has to membership.
> >>
> >> I offer you to consider the recent activities that have occurred, the
> perceived damage already done by the actions of the board and executive
> management at ARRL, and to consider the further damage that such a proposed
> by-laws change would create.
> >>
> >> I suggest the proposed changes would unhinge the ARRL from its 100
> year-plus charter of being a membership-driven organization, by and for its
> members, and for the preservation of the spectrum for our hobby. The
> proposed by-laws changes would further erode the ability for the ARRL to
> offer and support transparency among its hired, elected, appointed, and
> voluntary members, many who volunteer for the good of the hobby and for the
> League, and some who are paid a salary by the League to properly represent
> the massive membership at large.
> >>
> >> I also would urge you to consider an immediate refreshment and renewal
> of the mindset of the managing executives and the board, to consider a new
> approach to present leadership.
> >>
> >> Please consider offering up with full transparency to the public, to
> the extent possible, any legacy contracts, estate planning commitments or
> bequeaths to the League that provide revenues or benefit to the League in
> any manner, as well as such bequeaths that
> >> contain a conditionality clause that might motivate certain ARRL
> conduct or decisions, disclose any conflicts of interest or commitment by
> any board members or elected or hired staff member, and provide full
> disclosure of any side business arrangements,  any outside business or
> personal relationships that any of the ARRL leadership members, president,
> executives, officers, or the League itself, has or is contemplating.
> >>
> >> To the extent that certain gifts or endowments or bequeaths, business
> dealings or agreements have a confidentiality clause, a broad
> interpretation should be taken to to enable the public disclosure of  the
> existence of such agreements for all the ARRL membership to see, and the
> general purpose and intent of such agreements or bequests should be made
> transparent, if the specific amounts or terms must be held confidential, so
> that all ARRL members, board members, and hired ARRL employees/officials
> may disclose and understand potential conflicts of interest and commitment
> that might be at work on a daily basis.
> >>
> >> Please do the right thing for the future of ARRL and it's membership,
> and vote *AGAINST* the by-laws changes proposed by N2YBB in your January
> meeting, and please similarly avoid enacting *any* further powers to the
> board or the executive leadership of ARRL.
> >>
> >> I would urge you to immediately act to ensure that all board members
> have wide autonomy and a specific mandate and approval to communicate
> widely and freely with all the membership, and to disclose all possible
> conflicts of interests or commitment that could be at work at or inside
> ARRL and among its staff and board members. I would also urge leadership to
> create a culture inside ARRL that is conducive to recruiting and retaining
> a highly motivated and dedicated staff that can serve the large membership
> of ARRL.
> >>
> >> Thank you, to all of you, for your dedicated service to the ARRL and
> the US amateur radio community. Thank you also for considering this input.
> Wishing you the best of Holiday greetings, and a wonderful 2018.
> >>
> >> Very 73,
> >>
> >> Ted Rappaport,
> >> N9NB
> >> Life Member ARRL
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