A while back I sent a question out regarding this list's opinion on
whether I should continue my ARRL membership. I didn't expect the turn
out at the "polls" that I got! :) Lots of folks have opinions on ARRL
membership and here are the cut-n-dry results of the voting...albeit
non-scientifically done, with a panel of badgers checking and rechecking
votes to be sure no "ballot-stuffing" happened or that there were no
"vote-buying" done. So....here's the results....
In answer to "..should I renew my membership to the ARRL..." question:
YES : 40
NO : 3
NO OPINION: 2
Not even a close race.
The most consistent feedback that I received involved "communication",
interesting, eh, that this would be the most often spoken word. We're
all into communications, right? :) Well, it appears that *maybe* we're
not as up on our "communications" as we should be. We all moan and
groan about what direction the ARRL is taking, what direction Amateur
Radio is taking, and what things the FCC is doing. We talk and grumble
to each other es when something good happens we rejoice
together.....but do we go any farther with our complaints, ideas,
hoorahs? Do we get these opinions to a place where they'll be noted by
the people who make the decisions? Do we get pen and paper or
whatever out and take the time to write a letter to the ARRL, our SM,
the FCC, our respective government representatives? It appears that
very seldom we do.
The majority of the folks that responded to my question stated an
overwhelming *need* to voice our opinions to the appropriate parties.
If *we* don't tell them what *we* want/need, then who will?....the
Little LEO financiers? As QRPer's I think we have a more grass-roots
"feel" for what's going on around us, we have good ideas, and we're
proud to be amateur radio operators. We need to share these ideas with
"the powers that be". Let'em know what their constitutes want. Pat'em
on the back when they do good. COMMUNICATE. PERIOD.
So, do we sit on our fannies, sharing our ideas and thoughts, our
complaints and praises with just a small circle of friends, or do we get
our pens 'n paper, our typewriters, our word-processors out and write to
our representatives? Or do we let somebody else decide what's best for
us?
I'm as guilty as the worst at not communicating. I'll be trying to mend
my ways shortly. The amateur radio society is looking at some
challenges and *we* need to be ready for any attacks on our bands and
attacks on our freedom of operation. BUT, if those who formally make
the decisions and changes *don't know* what we want....how can they make
a quality decision and one that is correct? How can we expect them to?
Email is fine, but hard-copy with a good 'ol USofA stamp on the envelope
is something that is more concrete and tangible. It makes more of an
impact on the receipient. So, do we get complacent in our little world
or do we reach out and try to make a difference.
An old cliche', but..."The pen is mightier than the sword" is very true,
and we are QRPer's so the "pen" is very appropriate for us.
To give equal time to the "NO" votes these opinions primarily centered
on the ARRL executives salaries (?), and questioning what the ARRL has
really done for amateur radio. I don't know about the salaries, but the
"what has the ARRL..." question kinda reflects back on the
"communication" issue that I've posed above. You might want to sit back
and think for a few minutes on just what the ARRL *has* done.
So...do we let the tradition of amateur radio live on in it's apathetic
state or do we resume the tradition of action? The pen will tell....
72/73
Ed Welch KF4KRV
NorCal Member
1st Grand Poobah ScQRPion of Alabama
QRP-L #873
Luverne, Alabama
Crenshaw County - Grid EM61
+--------------------------------------------------+
----------+ Norcal 40a es Straight Key es Wire-wrapped Trees +----------
+--------------------------------------------------+
...and a breathing 38s! :)
> Isn't "time" a 4-letter word? <
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