The world of ham radio seems to have left the ARRL behind. It was
inexcusably slow to accept the obsolescence of Morse code and, in the
process, its curmudgeonly foot dragging alienated most of its potential
future members. Its web site suggests that it has no vision of any
future beyond the preservation of the status quo. In short, it is so
mired in the past that it has no future.
That said, it seems imperative that hams have some sort of
functioning and EFFECTIVE membership organization. Is there some
existing organization that could serve as the nucleus of a new
membership organization or would it make more sense to form a new
association from scratch?

--
----
A recent, no-code Amateur Extra

"Klystron" wrote

The world of ham radio seems to have left the ARRL behind. It was
inexcusably slow to accept the obsolescence of Morse code and, in the
process, its curmudgeonly foot dragging alienated most of its potential
future members.

Morse is obsolete? Hmmm.....

N7SO

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In Klystron writes:

The world of ham radio seems to have left the ARRL behind. It was
inexcusably slow to accept the obsolescence of Morse code and, in the
process, its curmudgeonly foot dragging alienated most of its potential
future members. Its web site suggests that it has no vision of any
future beyond the preservation of the status quo. In short, it is so
mired in the past that it has no future.
That said, it seems imperative that hams have some sort of
functioning and EFFECTIVE membership organization. Is there some
existing organization that could serve as the nucleus of a new
membership organization or would it make more sense to form a new
association from scratch?

--
----
A recent, no-code Amateur Extra

This is a quite well-trodden subject. I refer you to many, many threads
on the subject in the past in the newsgroups archives. Go to Google
Groups at http://groups.google.com and search for:

ARRL "new organization"

for a start.

Many past efforts at a replacement organization have been tried, and
failed. Most notably was an organization led by "73" Magazine Editor
Wayne Green, W2NSD (the "Institute of Amateur Radio"). Sometimes the
leadership was just too controversial or confrontational. In the case
of Glenn Baxter, K1MAN (American Amateur Radio Association,
International Amateur Radio Network), it's hard to set a good example,
and encourage those to follow you, when you're constantly in trouble
with the FCC and hiding behind the alleged endorsements of many people
who want nothing to do with you, and repeatedly disavow such endorsement
(e.g., Walter Cronkite KB2GSD and Leo Meyerson W0GFQ).

Some organizations are very worthwhile, such as QCWA, AMSAT, TAPR, etc.,
but are too specialized to have very large membership rolls. Some
organizations are for the purpose of seeking specific changes or
political reforms, and lose traction once those reforms have been
achieved (e.g., NCI).

It's been pointed out that many ARRL Director and Section Manager
elections run unopposed. Why go to the trouble to build a new
organization from the ground up, if getting involved with the ARRL and
changing from within might be a better strategy?

It might also be reasonable to assume that those who find fault with the
ARRL would find as much, or worse, fault with a new organization. Such
an organization can never be perfect, and will not be able to avoid
disagreeing with someone on some point of view. Practical
administration of such an organization, particularly if it encompasses a
large cross-section of amateurs, will likely involve some negotiation
and compromises. Organizations also have to be for things, in addition
to just being against things. Are the complainers and non-joiners up to
the task?

Part of taking the lead in any new effort, whether it be a new
newsgroup, a new local club, or a new national organization, is to step
up, introduce yourself, and try to build others' trust, such that they
would want to follow you. One good first step for such a leader or
leaders would be to step out of the shadows of anonymity and identify
themselves, IMHO.

- --
73, Paul W. Schleck, K3FU

http://www.novia.net/~pschleck/
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Paul W. Schleck wrote on 24 June 2007:

It might also be reasonable to assume that those who find fault with the
ARRL would find as much, or worse, fault with a new organization. Such
an organization can never be perfect, and will not be able to avoid
disagreeing with someone on some point of view. Practical
administration of such an organization, particularly if it encompasses a
large cross-section of amateurs, will likely involve some negotiation
and compromises.

The ARRL is more Publishing House than a membership organization.
That part brings in the majority of a reported income to the IRS of
greater than $10 Million US annually. Can one "negotiate" with a
business? There is NO competitor for the ARRL to work against.

... Are the complainers and non-joiners up to the task?

I am a voting member of the ARRL. I joined via Internet a couple
days after my name and callsign appeared on the FCC database.
Indeed, at the same time of day as joining, I was in private e-mail
with Ed Hare, W1RFI.

First problem: Someone at ARRL offices added an "Apartment 33"
to my QST address. I live in a single-family residence and have for
44 years. The Fullfillment Office at the ARRL did eventually correct
that. They may not be talking to their ARRL VEC side at Newington.
Not a big problem but it amused our USPS deliverer.

Second problem: Two weeks after receiving my ARRL membership
card in the mail, a "Ham Kit" of literature was in my mailbox,
offering
"my choice of a book 'free' if I were to join." I contacted ARRL by e-
mail
and was - essentially - shined off. Since I had already joined by my
own volition, TS, the 'free offer' doesn't apply to me. Am I happy
with
that? No. Can I do anything about it? No. Did I know about this
'free offer' ahead of time? No. Was the ARRL VEC side of ARRL
talking to the ARRL Membership people? Apparently not.

That's just one small sampling of one very new member of the ONLY
national amateur radio membership organization in the USA. It has
had many variations of problems with many others.

However, it would seem that one should NOT complain about the
League, am I correct? "Bad Form," yes? :-(

AF6AY

AF6AY wrote:


and was - essentially - shined off. Since I had already joined by my
own volition, TS, the 'free offer' doesn't apply to me. Am I happy
with
that? No. Can I do anything about it? No.


It is also a great example of how giving something away is never ever a
good idea. There has been more anger generated over the years by free
offers that probably anything else. 8^(


- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -

On Jun 25, 1:05?pm, Michael Coslo wrote:
AF6AY wrote:
and was - essentially - shined off. Since I had already joined by my
own volition, TS, the 'free offer' doesn't apply to me. Am I happy
with that? No. Can I do anything about it? No.

It is also a great example of how giving something away is never ever a
good idea. There has been more anger generated over the years by free
offers that probably anything else. 8^(

That was NOT my irritant. Here were three separate office groups
at Newington (VEC, Fulfillment, Membership) NOT in apparent
communications with one another. Membership was the slowest;
based on a five-day worst-case surface mailing diagonally across
the contiguous USA, they were still lagging the VEC section by a
week. Here I was, a new member, joining of my own volition, and
they don't seem to appreciate that.

If the office staff can make such mistakes with one member, what
could they do to 152 thousand others? What of bigger issues such
as "Regulation by Bandwidth" proposal? [which was withdrawn]

AF6AY

On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:19:29 EDT, AF6AY wrote:

Did I know about this
'free offer' ahead of time? No. Was the ARRL VEC side of ARRL
talking to the ARRL Membership people? Apparently not.

Did you discuss this with your Division Director? The DD is your
"Senator" when it comes to dealing with the Newington Mob. Things
like this get resolved to your satisfaction many times through that
route.
--

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon

e-mail: k2asp [at] arrl [dot] net

On Jun 26, 7:44?pm, Phil Kane wrote:
On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:19:29 EDT, AF6AY wrote:
Did I know about this
'free offer' ahead of time? No. Was the ARRL VEC side of ARRL
talking to the ARRL Membership people? Apparently not.

Did you discuss this with your Division Director?

No. It was not that big a deal to me.

However, it indicates that three separate office groups at
Newington have some lack of internal communications.
shrug

The DD is your
"Senator" when it comes to dealing with the Newington Mob.

Thank you. I will keep that in mind.

Things
like this get resolved to your satisfaction many times through that
route.

How? I found and corrected my address for QST...and it got
righted after three issues. I wrote personally to Membership folks.
I was only interested in one 'free' item, the Repeater Directory. I
found lots of Repeater listings on the web for no cost.

I am of the mindset that small problems can be handled
personally without resorting to "representative" assistance. If
that is the wrong approach, I apologize.

AF6AY

"Klystron" wrote in message
...

That said, it seems imperative that hams have some sort of
functioning and EFFECTIVE membership organization. Is there some
existing organization that could serve as the nucleus of a new
membership organization or would it make more sense to form a new
association from scratch?

Dear "xxx",

ARRL is just one of several amateur radio clubs which I am a member of, each for
various reasons. (And I think it is important to note that ARRL is just another
amateur radio club, although larger than most.)

I belong to CADXA to associate with others who work DX.
I belong to NCCC to associate with other contesters.
I belong to SOC to associate with other hams who don't take themselves too
seriously.
I belong to ARRL because they once gave me a scholarship, and to associate with
others who read QST.
If you start a new radio club, maybe I'll find a reason to join it also.

The Man in the maze
QRV at Baboquivari Peak, AZ

--
Iitoi

On Jun 24, 7:43 pm, Klystron wrote:

That said, it seems imperative that hams have some sort of
functioning and EFFECTIVE membership organization. Is there some
existing organization that could serve as the nucleus of a new
membership organization or would it make more sense to form a new
association from scratch?

Have you considered AARA, which bills itself as "your alternative to
ARRL".

Website at http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/iarntra.../business.html

73,

RDW