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.


Why do *you* hope that?

snip


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

You are focused on the trees - minor technical issues.

BPL *is not* a *minor* technical issue - such a statement shows a high
level of ignorance. Have you ever tried to work a station on 432 Mhz
off the moon? I have tried and succeeded. BPL would increase noise
levels tremendously on the weak signal portions of the upper bands. Even
the FCC website acknowledges this. The ARRL is working to lobby
against BPL, but they're doing a very poor job. I know it and other
hams who know what they're talking about tell me the same thing.

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.

Cite some precedents - what is your basis for such a statement?

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.

Who says the ARRL wants to retain tests to control access? Is testing
only to determine one's competence in ..."safe and effective radio
operation...?"
When I took the tests, there were questions about electronics, knowing
what classes could operate on which frequencies, permissible unattended
station operation, propagation, much more.



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.


Which retailers are going out of business?

Yes, there have been studies which show the average age is increasing.

*Every* conversation? That's hyperbole.


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

Whew! Talk about unleashing a bomb with that statement! That's a huge
can of worms and millions of words have been written about that.

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.


The ARRL and its' members have had *years* to do something - look at the
result - nothing.