Alun:

Agreed!

Some suggestions of mine:

1) How to attract large numbers of new general+ licensees.
2) How to set examples of civil conversation, debate, and exchange.
3) Discussion of other amateur policy which can be adjusted to promoted
increased and improved exchanges.
4) Attempting to encourage arrl into reformation so they do represent all
amateurs and gain additional membership.
5) etc.

John

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 16:05:44 +0000, Alun L. Palmer wrote:

Now that the code test is on it's way to join the buggy whip, we need a new
issue to argue about. There are a lot of threads here devoted to personal
attacks on people I have never heard of. It's getting too much like 80m!

"John Smith" wrote in message
news
Alun:

Agreed!

Some suggestions of mine:

1) How to attract large numbers of new general+ licensees.
2) How to set examples of civil conversation, debate, and exchange.
3) Discussion of other amateur policy which can be adjusted to promoted
increased and improved exchanges.
4) Attempting to encourage arrl into reformation so they do represent all
amateurs and gain additional membership.
5) etc.

John



Well number 4 is doomed to failure as not all amateurs will join no matter
what the enticements are so it is impossible for them to represent all the
amateurs. Plus they don't even have 100% agreement on issues among the
existing membership so if they try to represent all their members, they are
in an impossible position and will end up doing nothing.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Dee:

You are a smart girl, in your text you pin-point the problem exactly!

They fail to focus on the issues which ALL amateurs can work out
agreements on. If they run an agenda which only supports a few hams, or
course they are seen as ineffective and a special interest group.

They will either figure that out, or die when the influx of ideas and
demands simple moves them aside...

John

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 14:03:40 -0400, Dee Flint wrote:


"John Smith" wrote in message
news
Alun:

Agreed!

Some suggestions of mine:

1) How to attract large numbers of new general+ licensees.
2) How to set examples of civil conversation, debate, and exchange.
3) Discussion of other amateur policy which can be adjusted to promoted
increased and improved exchanges.
4) Attempting to encourage arrl into reformation so they do represent all
amateurs and gain additional membership.
5) etc.

John



Well number 4 is doomed to failure as not all amateurs will join no matter
what the enticements are so it is impossible for them to represent all the
amateurs. Plus they don't even have 100% agreement on issues among the
existing membership so if they try to represent all their members, they are
in an impossible position and will end up doing nothing.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"John Smith" wrote in message
news
Dee:

You are a smart girl, in your text you pin-point the problem exactly!

They fail to focus on the issues which ALL amateurs can work out
agreements on. If they run an agenda which only supports a few hams, or
course they are seen as ineffective and a special interest group.

They will either figure that out, or die when the influx of ideas and
demands simple moves them aside...

John


My point was that there is no issue on which all amateurs can agree on the
same answer/approach/methodology. Those whose point of view is not adopted,
even if they are a very small minority, will start hollering about the ARRL
serving only a few hams or special interests despite evidence to the
contrary.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Dee:

I see the issues as, for example:

1) Induce more licensees so the amateur contains a base of more varied and
qualified skills.
2) Inspire a greater interest in manufacturers to provide more and updated
equipment.
3) Restore a greater importance and public awareness in amateur radio,
ideally, everyone IS a ham, or at least knows one.
4) Structure bandwidth to serve the the greatest number with the modes
(protocols) they require or are interested in.
5) Inspired experimenting with adapting the new technologies to
amateur radio, and not just on a commercial level, but at a "hands on
level" which amateurs can participate in.
6) Clear all barriers and have free access to foreign hams, standardize as
much as possible so hams can serve as ambassadors to the world.
7) Attempt to interface amateur with the internet in anyway possible so
the amateur radio gains a useful status in todays world which keeps it
competitive to sustaining its future.
8) etc, etc, etc...

Once true principals and goals are established for the masses radio is
meant to serve the course will become clear, those not working in radios
best interest can be shown for what they are and weeded out... some do
not wish this... first, arrl has to become a platform to work out these
goals from EVERYONES input, and if the pool of amateurs is able to be
expanded to a necessary degree and become diverse enough to represent all
of technology, it just may...

John

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 16:41:34 -0400, Dee Flint wrote:


"John Smith" wrote in message
news
Dee:

You are a smart girl, in your text you pin-point the problem exactly!

They fail to focus on the issues which ALL amateurs can work out
agreements on. If they run an agenda which only supports a few hams, or
course they are seen as ineffective and a special interest group.

They will either figure that out, or die when the influx of ideas and
demands simple moves them aside...

John


My point was that there is no issue on which all amateurs can agree on the
same answer/approach/methodology. Those whose point of view is not adopted,
even if they are a very small minority, will start hollering about the ARRL
serving only a few hams or special interests despite evidence to the
contrary.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"John Smith" wrote in message
news
Dee:

I see the issues as, for example:

1) Induce more licensees so the amateur contains a base of more varied and
qualified skills.

How?

2) Inspire a greater interest in manufacturers to provide more and updated
equipment.

How?

3) Restore a greater importance and public awareness in amateur radio,
ideally, everyone IS a ham, or at least knows one.

How?

4) Structure bandwidth to serve the the greatest number with the modes
(protocols) they require or are interested in.

How?

5) Inspired experimenting with adapting the new technologies to
amateur radio, and not just on a commercial level, but at a "hands on
level" which amateurs can participate in.

How?

6) Clear all barriers and have free access to foreign hams, standardize as
much as possible so hams can serve as ambassadors to the world.

How?

7) Attempt to interface amateur with the internet in anyway possible so
the amateur radio gains a useful status in todays world which keeps it
competitive to sustaining its future.

How?

8) etc, etc, etc...


These principals are all well and good but propose some specific, concrete
actions.

Once true principals and goals are established for the masses radio is
meant to serve the course will become clear, those not working in radios
best interest can be shown for what they are and weeded out... some do
not wish this... first, arrl has to become a platform to work out these
goals from EVERYONES input, and if the pool of amateurs is able to be
expanded to a necessary degree and become diverse enough to represent all
of technology, it just may...

John


I seriously doubt if the course will be all that clear. Ten different
people are going to have ten different needs and ideas.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Dee:

You expect it to happen all-at-once, I suspect... but, it will not...
since it won't, many will call failure and hope to prevent change...

It will be a series of baby-steps.

That first has already been taken, removal of CW testing... next, find
ways to provide fertile ground for either the ideas I have already
expressed--encourage someone you know to get a ticket--pointing out they
now only have to take a written test, and/or other ideas which benefit
the hobby. Each of us can start in a local amateur group which is local to
us, if nothing else, shame them into getting involved in the real future
of amateur radio!

The single most important thing any amateur can do is focus on the issues,
improvements needed and gaining support of others to overcome the inertia
of the current stagnant status quo. Decide if you wish to be part of the
solution or part of the problem. Have patience and stick to what you know
is right... don't drop down and begin petty battles with those who want
to divert you and wear you out to maintain the status quo... take pride
in having the courage to oppose the "small man attitude" which so many
have seem prone to fall victim to...

.... you know girl, "... longest journey begins but with the first step..."

John

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 18:20:07 -0400, Dee Flint wrote:


"John Smith" wrote in message
news
Dee:

I see the issues as, for example:

1) Induce more licensees so the amateur contains a base of more varied and
qualified skills.

How?

2) Inspire a greater interest in manufacturers to provide more and updated
equipment.

How?

3) Restore a greater importance and public awareness in amateur radio,
ideally, everyone IS a ham, or at least knows one.

How?

4) Structure bandwidth to serve the the greatest number with the modes
(protocols) they require or are interested in.

How?

5) Inspired experimenting with adapting the new technologies to
amateur radio, and not just on a commercial level, but at a "hands on
level" which amateurs can participate in.

How?

6) Clear all barriers and have free access to foreign hams, standardize as
much as possible so hams can serve as ambassadors to the world.

How?

7) Attempt to interface amateur with the internet in anyway possible so
the amateur radio gains a useful status in todays world which keeps it
competitive to sustaining its future.

How?

8) etc, etc, etc...


These principals are all well and good but propose some specific, concrete
actions.

Once true principals and goals are established for the masses radio is
meant to serve the course will become clear, those not working in radios
best interest can be shown for what they are and weeded out... some do
not wish this... first, arrl has to become a platform to work out these
goals from EVERYONES input, and if the pool of amateurs is able to be
expanded to a necessary degree and become diverse enough to represent all
of technology, it just may...

John


I seriously doubt if the course will be all that clear. Ten different
people are going to have ten different needs and ideas.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 18:20:07 -0400 Dee Flint wrote:

| How?

| How?

| How?

| How?

| How?

| How?

| How?

Remind me not to hire you in a job that requires figuring things out.


| These principals are all well and good but propose some specific, concrete
| actions.

Don't expect the directions, and the means to get there, to always come from
the same person. First decide where you are going. That in itself may be a
long complex decision process. Then decide how to get there. If you find
you can't get there, then go back and decide on another place to go.


| I seriously doubt if the course will be all that clear. Ten different
| people are going to have ten different needs and ideas.

And why not hear them all out?

--
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| Phil Howard KA9WGN | http://linuxhomepage.com/ http://ham.org/ |
| (first name) at ipal.net | http://phil.ipal.org/ http://ka9wgn.ham.org/ |
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