Mike Speed wrote:
----- Original Message -----
From: "John S."
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 7:50 AM
Subject: Yeah, it's a troll.




Mike Speed wrote:
Devil's advocate:

Is the ARRL a bureaucracy?

Sure, what organization isn't.

Bureaucracy: a system of administration marked by officialism, red tape,
and proliferation

Here's a more complete description of bureaucracy. Max Weber has
probably been one of the most influential users of the word in its
social science sense. He is well-known for his study of
bureaucratization of society; many aspects of modern public
administration go back to him; a classic, hierarchically organized
civil service of the continental type is-if basically
mistakenly-called "Weberian civil service".

However, contrary to popular belief, "bureaucracy" was an English word
before Weber; the Oxford English Dictionary cites usage in several
different years between 1818 and 1860, prior to Weber's birth in 1864.
The term can characterize either governmental or nongovernmental
organizations and comes from the French word bureaucratie, from bureau
"office, desk" and the greek suffix -kratia "power". It was first used
by 18th century French economist Jean Claude Marie Vincent de Gournay
(1712-1759).





I've been a member of some ham clubs that were
not bureaucratic and they were an organization - it was more
like a fraternity.

What can happen in a bureaucratic organization?
I don't know, since the term just describes the structure.


Well, aren't some bureaucratic organizations corrupt due to the bureaucracy?
If it can happen in other bureaucracies, can it happen in the ARRL?

Where does the money from the fees go, exactly?
I don't know...why not take a look at their budget and report back.


Okay, where could I get *factual* *unbiased* declarations of their budget?
That's obvious - I would look on their website for a copy of their
audited annual statement in which the auditors gave a clean opinion.
Also look at the filing they make with the IRS as a tax exempt entity.
Magazines also publish periodic disclosures of subsriptions and sales.




How much utility does QST really have?
Lots if you are a ham and a member of the ARRL.


Lots? Give me some examples.
I'm not a member, but if I were, high on the list would be: It's a
fraternity of like minded people who enjoy both the hobby and
one-another's company (most of the time) on the air.


How strong of a lobbying force is the ARRL with the FCC - really?
I don't know, what is your opinion.


I think about the efforts of the ARRL to persuade the FCC to give us
useful allocations in the Lowfer segments - there's a huge opportunity
for hams to do what they do best - be on the cutting edge and invent
methods to communicate in difficult situations. Only one example of
many.

You asked how strong a lobbying force the ARRL was, but didn't answer
the question.

Actually, the ARRL has a much bigger issue to weigh in on than
expanding the ham bands. The ARRL will be doing well to hold on to
what amateurs have given the trends in membership and demands for
commercial use of spectrum allocated to hams.

As the official hobby organ they have to figure out pretty quickly how
to breathe some life into a mature hobby that is facing some stiff
competition from methoods of communicating that require no license.
The hobby is greying rapidly.