Dear Mike, WB2LKO,
ARRL CEO David Minster, NA2AA, shared your message with me, and I wanted to reach out about your concerns. First, I would like to thank you for your many years of membership. It is clear from your letter that you are highly engaged with ARRL, and it is members
like you that keep us going. As you know from your long-tenured association, ARRL has many programs, benefits, and services that are offered to members. We also provide significant advocacy before regulatory and legislative bodies that serve not only ARRL
Members, but the entire Amateur Radio Service.
For example, our Washington, D.C. regulatory affairs team filed comments recently against an effort from stock traders that would obliterate our HF bands. The ARRL Legislative Advocacy Committee is making great strides in the efforts to eliminate private land
use restrictions on hams. No organization is working harder than ARRL to promote and protect Amateur Radio. That's what membership dues support.
You are correct in that a printed version of QST, for many decades, has been a visible benefit included in the host of other offerings. Unfortunately, it is simply not sustainable to remain that way. The costs of printing and shipping magazines have increased
at a rate far outpacing inflation. One month last year, we were forced to go out into the open market (competing against much bigger players such as Amazon shipping boxes) for paper. We were committed to getting a magazine out to members, and it cost us more
than $40,000 for the one issue to be able to print it - in addition to the regular operational costs of the magazine.
We know QST is important to you. Members, such as yourself, told us in the ARRL Member Survey conducted earlier this year to not stop printing paper
QST - so we're not. Delivering the magazine to a smaller base of members, plus the rising costs of postage and printing all require a responsible approach to continue to support all members. Each member will continue to get access to four high quality magazines
(QST, On The Air, QEX, and NCJ) in digital format, but to offset the significant cost of printing and delivering printed magazines, we are offering subscriptions at $25 a year for those who prefer print. The Board had to make that decision in the spirit of
good stewardship.
Our advertising sales team works to ensure appropriate opportunities are afforded within QST, managing the business needs of the magazine and the editorial
voice that readers expect from ARRL's monthly membership journal.
The dues are being raised for just the second time in 22 years. No sitting board wants to be the one to raise rates, but this one had the foresight to ensure a strong future for ARRL and Amateur Radio by making the tough decisions they did. The dues will become
$59/year on January 1, 2024. ARRL's reserves are strong, and the investments are professionally managed. However, with inflation impacting every corner of the world, we have been operating in a deficit for the past several years.
We are operating with the leanest staff count in decades, while still supporting programs such as the ARRL Learning Center to be able to grow amateur radio,
do educational outreach, and to encourage and empower young people and their educators to incorporate amateur radio into their STEM learning classrooms. Any further austerity would require program cuts and a reduction of the benefits ARRL Membership offers.
While we are growing the future of the hobby and encouraging
young people to pursue amateur radio, we are cognizant of the needs of our membership. Some of our members are on a fixed income. To ease any possible
financial burden these moves may create, we are offering a monthly payment option for members aged 70 and up. We're so grateful for the contributions
that ARRL members continue make to the hobby and we certainly don't want to create a barrier for any of them.
ARRL has weathered a lot of different market conditions and world events since 1914. In our infancy, the dedication of radio amateurs saw the League through a ban on operating during WWI. After the "lid" came off, members carried us through The Great Depression,
and WWII. We saw a great growth in the hobby in the 50's, a dip in the 60's and another boom in the 70's. As technology changed, amateurs led the way with digital modes through the 80's and into the modern era. Ham radio was and is a great sandbox for development.
As our leadership has worked through these decades to be good stewards, we've seen dips in membership count after each dues increase. That, perhaps, contributed to any hesitance to make needed continuous corrections. Through all those changes, eras, generations,
and storms, ARRL has remained dedicated to amateur radio. The work has gone on and the successes have followed - that's something that won't change. I believe firmly in the work we do here. I trust radio amateurs will as well. I hope you will continue to,
Mike.
ARRL is stronger with you as a member and we want to continue to serve you as we work together to protect, promote, and advance amateur radio. We believe these changes will ensure a financially strong national association for decades
to come. I would be happy to speak with you further about your concerns. My direct line is 860-594-0289. Please call any time.
We are grateful that you reached out. You clearly put time and effort into your passion about ARRL's future. Thank you, sincerely.
73,
Sierra Harrop, W5DX
Sierra Harrop, W5DX
she/her/hers
Public Relations and Outreach Manager
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®
225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1400 USA
O: (860) 594-0289
[email protected]
www.arrl.org
linktr.ee/sierraharrop
Join ARRL and be a part of the global ham radio community!
From: MIKE SLEPIAN <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2023 10:14 AM
To: Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) <[email protected]>; Roderick, Rick, K5UR (President) <[email protected]>; Raisbeck, Mike, K1TWF (1st VP) <[email protected]>; Vallio, Bob, W6RGG (2nd VP) <[email protected]>; Stafford, Rod, W6ROD (Intl Affairs VP) <[email protected]>;
Pittinger, Marty, KB3MXM (VD, AD) <[email protected]>; Luetzelschwab, Carl, K9LA (Dir, CD) <[email protected]>; Walls, Brent, N9BA (VD, CD) <[email protected]>; Lippert, Vernon "Bill", AC0W (Dir, DK) <[email protected]>; Nelson, Lynn, W0ND (VD,DD) <[email protected]>; Norris,
David, K5UZ (Dir, DL) <[email protected]>; [email protected]; Williams, Dale, WA8EFK (Dir, GL) <[email protected]>; Yonally, Scott, N8SY (VD, GL) <[email protected]>; Vizcarrondo, Nomar, NP4H (Dir, HD) <[email protected]>; Wilson, Ed, N2XDD (VD, HD) <[email protected]>; Zygielbaum,
Art, K0AIZ (Dir, MW) <[email protected]>; Propper, David, K2DP (VD, MW) <[email protected]>; Kemmerer, Fred, AB1OC (Dir, NE) <[email protected]>; Temples, Phil K9HI (VD,NE) <[email protected]>; Ritz, Mike, W7VO, (Dir, NW) <[email protected]>; Tharp, Mark, KB7HDX (VD, NW) <[email protected]>;
McIntyre, Kristen, K6WX (Dir, PD) <[email protected]>; Marcin, Anthony, W7XM (VD, PD) <[email protected]>; Boehner, James, N2ZZ (Dir, RK) <[email protected]>; Morine, Bill, N2COP (VD, RK) <[email protected]>; Ryan, Jeff, K0RM (Dir, RM) <[email protected]>; Grady, Dan, N2SRK
(VD, RM) <[email protected]>; Baker, Mickey, N4MB (Dir, SE) <[email protected]>; Beals, Jeffrey, WA4AW (VD, SE) <[email protected]>; Norton, Richard N6AA (Dir, SW) <[email protected]>; Edward Stearns <[email protected]>; Stratton, John, N5AUS (Dir, WG) <[email protected]>; Cooper,
Lee, W5LHC (VD, WG) <[email protected]>
Cc: Ian Slepian <[email protected]>
Subject: ARRL's Demise
I’m writing regarding a recent decision of the ARRL board of directors. As I interpret
the article in the October, 2023 QST, annual membership dues will be increased to $59 per year with an ADDITIONAL $25 due for the printed magazine, QST.
I’d be willing to bet our ARRL will lose half its membership, myself included!
You and the board have initiated the death knell of the American Radio Relay League.
I believe most older members do not wish to read QST on line. I’m 74, healthy and very
active in many pursuits, but I do not like to read publications on line. Many ARRL members are seniors who probably feel the same way.
Personally I can understand the need to increase the annual dues. However, a very high
percentage of our members will not go along with this decision. It isn't the additional ten dollars. Most HAMS are a stubborn lot, and will not stand for a 20% increase, out of principal.
Receiving QST Magazine has always been the most visible, tangible feature of
membership. Imposing an additional $25 fee, for something that traditionally came at no additional charge, will be entirely unacceptable.
Given the likely turnaround in the financial markets within the coming year should improve
the ARRL's financial picture.
There must be more cost-cutting measures the league can take.
Have you considered opening QST pages to potential new advertisers, with products and
services relevant to Amateur Radio?
Manufacturers and retailers of generators, batteries, emergency lighting, and home security
systems.
Vehicles, especially electric or trucks with built in generators.
Emergency food supplies, water purifiers, etc.
I have been an ARRL member for many decades. I look forward each month to reading my
new copy of QST, cover to cover. I also appreciate the services available to me and the leagues lobbying efforts to protect our important radio resource.
This is why I am so deeply concerned about your harmful, short-sighted decision. Membership
will decline, probably drastically, resulting in less services and diminished power to protect our hobby.
I urge you to rescind this egregious decision and look for other alternatives.