Mike Speed wrote:
snip

However, contrary to popular belief, "bureaucracy" was an English word

snip

I'll take your word for it.


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.


Website - maybe. The other things - okay, I will.

An audited financial statement with a clean opinion is a pretty strong
document unless of course you are saying or implying that the ARRL is
posting a fraudulent financial statement on their website. That is a
pretty strong accusation and I hope you have something to back it up.



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.


Does one have to be a member of the ARRL and receive QST to
be "...a fraternity of like minded people..., etc.?" Your example does not
provide a convincing argument for what I asked for.

Put simply the people who are members of the ARRL share common
interests in amateur radio and enjoy communicating over the radio
waves. For those people the QST magazine is like any other hobbyist
mag a source of information and a way to read what the rest of the
hobby is doing. Pretty simple....



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.

Yes, I did. I answered the question by providing an example. Part of the
lobbying efforts of the ARRL *is* to encourage technological innovation
and strongly petitioning the FCC to provide useful lowfer segments is a
perfect example of an area where hams could further the communication
art. If the ARRL could accomplish such a feat, it would be a *very* clear
indication of how strong they are as lobbyists.

That's small potatoes compared to what they should be doing. Which is
to work with the federal regulator to establish meaningful tests and
find ways to attract new blood into the hobby.


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.


Yes, there are big issues at stake - the threat of BPL comes to mind.

You are focused on the trees - minor technical issues. The life of
this hobby is at risk if the ARRL doesn't get it's collective head out
of the sand and make the radio hobby interesting enough to attract the
teens and 20somethings. If the league want's to retain tests as a way
of controlling access they have to test on things that are relevant to
safe and effective radio operation as it is practiced now.


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.


Yes, I've been hearing very similar musings for many years, and yet
here we are.

Yes, here we are. Amateur radio retailers are going out of business
because of declining sales. There still is a considerable body of
licensed amateurs, but when I listen on the bands every conversation I
hear tells me their average age is increasing.


As far as "greying": I see an integration of new technology with radio -
like hams have always done - EchoLink and the like, if you like that
sort of thing. I've also been hearing new modulation methods on the
bands - DigTRX for one. Then there's microwaves. The sky is the
limit in the microwave segments (and above) - literally.

Yes, there are new modes, but try convincing someone with immediate
access to numerous unlicensed ways of communicating that it is somehow
worthwhile to learn archaic morse code and sit for partly meaningful
written tests to gain ham privileges. Those potential young hams can
talk with large parts of the world using common everday electronic
devices. How do licensed hams convince those outside the hobby that
ham radio still offers something unique. I don't have an answer, but
the ARRL and it's members better get outside the box and do some
serious thinking.