RadioBanter - View Single Post - You'll probably never have to use CW to save a life.

[email protected] · September 12th 06, 01:30 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.policy

wrote:

For what purpose is Jim constantly posting amateur numbers?

If you mean me, here's why:

First off, I usually post them twice a month - hardly "constantly"

The reason is to keep a record of how many individuals have FCC-issued
amateur licenses. Unlike websites, those posts of mine with the numbers
will be available as long as Usenet is archived.

Whenever you see license numbers tallied, it's important to note which
licenses are counted. Do the totals include licenses that are expired
but in the grace period? Those on hamdata.com do, mine don't. Do the
totals include club, RACES, and other station-only licenses? Etc.

There is a reason that the ARRL membership numbers are so abysmal even
though they are the only national amateur radio organization of any
consequence.

"Abysmal"? How so?

And as for being "only national amateur radio organization of any
consequence" - what about RSGB? RAC? JARL?

For that matter, what about NCI, which claims to be international,
charges no dues and has never-expiring memberships - yet in a decade or
more hasn't reached a membership level of even 10,000?

The reasons ARRL isn't bigger a

1) Some hams are inactive - either temporarily or permanently.

2) ARRL membership isn't inexpensive.

3) Some hams disagree with some ARRL policies, and won't join until
those policies change. Sometimes the policies are those of decades ago.

4) Some hams just aren't "joiners".