I kind of blew off my report on the minutes of the July 2017 ARRL board meeting. Since then, a couple of items have come to my attention that deserve further comment. One of them is that a committee of staff members was tasked with identifying the challenges facing ARRL and possible solutions. The August 3, 2017 issue of the ARRL Letter ran the following two paragraphs:
ARRL Chief Executive Officer Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, presented the report of six Headquarters staffers who had been tasked with identifying the challenges facing ARRL and devising feasible solutions. Specifically, the committee addressed market research findings that have continued to reveal that only a small percentage of new hams join the League, and only about one-half of new hams actually get on the air.
The committee began with the premise that ARRL must act in order to remain relevant going forward. It proposed instituting a Lifelong Learning Program to focus on developing a clear developmental path for all radio amateurs, from newcomers to established radio amateurs. The committee recommended the creation of new programs and services to increase the knowledge base of newcomers in order to get them active, as well as programs to keep experienced amateurs up to date with changing technology and practice.
The board meeting minutes were a little more detailed:
Mr. Roderick yielded the floor to CEO Gallagher who presented the report of a committee of staff members tasked with identifying the challenges facing ARRL and possible solutions. The members of the committee – Diane Petrilli, KB1RNF; Norm Fusaro, W3IZ; Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY; Debra Jahnke, K1DAJ; Steve Ford, WB8IMY; and Sean Kutzko, KX9X, joined the meeting at 9:20 AM, to present this report. Their findings show the importance to ARRL of getting newly licensed hams actively on the air and how that relates to continued growth of the organization. In order to achieve that goal, the committee proposed developing a lifelong learning department, which would address the needs of all amateurs with the focus being on developing a clear knowledge path for all amateurs. They proposed creating straightforward programs and services to enhance the knowledge base of new amateurs as well as to enhance their sense of community within the hobby.
Another recommendation involved refocusing the priorities of the emergency preparedness department to address the current trends in public service.
A third recommendation was to improve the value proposition of membership. The committee proposed doing a survey, which would include test material that is targeted to the interests of newer hams. The content would include a strong emphasis on serving communities, agencies, and partners; digital communications, and human interest. Projects would be simple. The survey would obtain information on new ham’s interests and needs in the hobby. The survey would also try to determine the delivery system that might best meet the newcomer’s desire for receiving this type information (print, digital, messaging, etc). The test material is proposed to be delivered to recipients in fall 2017.
From the committee’s vantage point, the status quo is no longer adequate: we need to have a vision of the future and convey it to our current membership. If we do not convey the need to change the paradigm, the ARRL’s relevancy will not move forward.
After questions, on the motion of Dr. Boehner, seconded by Mr. Carlson, the Board instructed Mr. Gallagher to continue with this project.
The good thing here is that the ARRL finally realizes that there are some serious problems. I’ve written about these in the past. I’ve challenged the ARRL to set a membership goal of 25% of the licensed amateurs in the U.S. I’ve also encouraged the ARRL to play a bigger part in emergency communications research.
Unfortunately, it appears that the ARRL is approaching this issue in typical ARRL fashion. That is, working on these issues in their little cocoon in Newington and then issuing these statements as if they expect everyone to just fall in line. I quote, “From the committee’s vantage point, the status quo is no longer adequate: we need to have a vision of the future and convey it to our current membership.” That approach is doomed to failure. Any “visioning” or strategic planning that doesn’t get the membership involved right from the start just isn’t going to work.
The ARRL HQ staff just doesn’t have the horsepower to pull this off properly. The staff is already pretty bare bones, and they still have to publish QST every month, keep Logbook of the World running, process thousands of license applications, etc., etc. The only way this is going to be a fruitful effort is if they get members—and lots of them—involved in this process.
Kevin Sanders K0KDS says
I fully agree the status quo is not enough and I’m glad the ARRL is officially recognizing their shortcomings, particularly #2 and #3. I also think they should do a better job of involving the field staff and clubs in this initiative — Newington does not do a very good job of reaching out to those outside of their circle.
J. Kevin Hunt says
I concur that if the effort is to succeed, it must be a grassroots-based one. Edicts from CT, however well-reasoned, however well-intentioned, cannot arrest the decline and ultimate demise of amateur radio, a tragedy to the world in light of what might have been.
Don Keith says
Another “agreed!” here. Fine that they recognize a problem, that they have done at least a modicum of research, and that they pulled together a committee of staffers to evaluate and recommend. But now is the time to reach out to thought leaders–like you, Dan–and average hams, including non-members, for more input and evaluation of potential initiatives.
I’m not quite so sure the hobby is doomed, even if nothing is done, but while we moan and complain that ham radio will never appeal to today’s young folks, hundreds of thousands of potential active amateurs of all ages remain unaware of just what they are missing.
And we are missing out on knowing a lot of smart, interesting people with much to contribute to amateur radio.
73,
Don N4KC
http://www.n4kc.com
http://www.donkeith.com
Dave New, N8SBE says
The makeup of the committee tells all — I didn’t detect a recently issued callsign, nor any non-hams at all. Polling the membership is tantamount to naval-gazing. To break out of the rut, they need to poll the vast majority of non-hams, and hams that have never been on the air, and hams that have never considered or considered and rejected joining the ARRL.
I admit I’m looking at this from the wrong end of the tube — having been licensed for nearly 50 years, and being a life member of ARRL, it taints me so that I don’t think I can be of any help. In other words, I’m happy with the status quo (sorry).
Ed KC8SBV says
ARRL isn’t Ham Radio, and Ham Radio isn’t ARRL. If the ARRL fails, then another org will do. Nothing sacred about ARRL, it is simply the best thing going.
ARRL should have the best contests, the best radio building forums at the Maker Faires, should have best ham radio activities going, and that will do the best for saving Ham Radio. I miss W1FB and ARRLs publishing of radio circuits! I would have been the most excited member!!
Walter Underwood says
Just saw this job opening today, at Scouts UK. They want someone to actively support amateur radio in Scouting. The job description is a nice list of things that the ARRL could do.
Here is one example: “Encouraging more youth members to become qualified in radio activities through maintaining a national database and map of radio related Scout activities…”
http://scouts.org.uk/about-us/volunteering-vacancies/national-scout-active-support-unit-manager-amateur-radio-scout-active-support-unit/
Dan KB6NU says
Sounds like a cool job to me. I’m going to forward this to the CEO of our local BSA CEO.
Walter Underwood says
Glad to chat more with Scouting folks in your area. I’m the Radio Scouting person for our council. In the US, the big focus is JOTA, but I love the broad focus of this job description. If Scouts want to stay in touch with FRS on a hike or campout, I call that “Radio Scouting”. Heck, FRS is the neighborhood component of our city emcomm.
Neal KD8NVN says
While I’ve been a computer/electronics hobbyist for a long time, being an engineer and programmer. The Maker/DIY stuff, especially with Raspberry PI, is so much easier for most people. Getting into HAM Radio has been a little bit daunting, for lack of starter information and kits. Preparing to pass a tech/general class license doesn’t prepare one for setting up a HAM shack. I just got started with a cheap BaoFeng and starting to purchase some equipment has been a slow process. There is a higher initial cost to buying your first transceiver and putting that antenna on your roof.
Chris says
I agree. Some folks put much emphasis on passing the test. Heck, that’s the easy part. Post-test Elmering is the critical part. The job isn’t done ’til the newbie is on the air! More clubs and testing groups would do well to focus on new ham ‘start-up’ as part of their testing/test prep programs.
David WB4ONA says
The ARRL abandoned us on the Amateur Radio Parity Act. So now I abandon the ARRL.
Tony Everhardt says
First of all to promote something it must be advertised. Where is ham radio advertised? In radio magazines like CQ and QST. But you must be a member to get QST. Most people don’t know a thing about either. Why not spend a couple of our dollars for a quick amateur radio commercial on tv. You can show a lot in 15 to 30 seconds. So lets say we finally win over some new hams. They turn on their new baofeng because that’s all one can afford. And what do they hear? Someone dogging people that use a baofeng. Or is that just happening in my area? Or they turn on the radio and hear someone dogging another as one fluff’s their feathers because they hold a higher classification. Or because someone is an appliance operator because they don’t know how to fix their own radio equipment. All is very inviting isn’t it? We ourselves can be more helpful in a number of areas. Or we can choose like many of us and do nothing to help the new guy.
N8WAC
Frank Howell says
Good post and comments by readers!
I’ll ask a simply but direct question. Why did the ARRL refuse to release the survey of amateurs they paid the firm READEX, claiming that it was proprietary property of READEX. I asked CQ Mag Editor Rich Moseson about this and he said they’ve used READEX for readership surveys. The report was completely the property of CQ! Was the League’s refusal, coming from then-COO Harold Kramer, a lie to not have the survey results be public? This would not let independent facts get in the way of what the League’s inner circle wanted to do anyway. Note: I’m a professional survey researcher, past member of AAPOR, and author of survey research methods (e.g., Handbook of Survey Research, 2nd Ed.).
Tom KI4IG says
I enjoyed your comments very much. I see lots of new hams coming aboard the hobby. They are not interested in having to spending $50 to join ARRL when they can use it to buy a new radio to talk to their new friends with. I know the ARRL does a lot for the ham community, but most new hams are not high paid professionals who have money to buy five to ten thousand dollar radios. Why doesn’t the ARRL offer an associate membership of some kind to allow them to get monthly updates via email etc to keep them informed as to what is happening in the amateur radio community?
It has been years since our local radio club qualified as an ARRL-affiliated club because most of our new members will not pay the expensive fee to become an ARRL member. I am a member and will be for many years to come, but I can see why others will not.
Ken Yates says
Another problem is that ARRL needs to focus more on marketing. Most of the things I see to promote Amateur Radio look like stuff that was crafted in 1086 by a low end marketing firm … i.e the “Ancient” when all else fails logos or the black and white photos from the Nixon era portraying obsolete tech. Sure, working and restoring ‘boat anchors’ is fun for us … but that reinforces the stereotypical perception that ham radio is morse code only and only practiced by 80 year olds. We need to take the makers and hackers into the fold and pique their interest with some of the cool tech out in amateur radio now.
Steve, KB9MWR says
So is this just more hot air from the ARRL? Have I missed this vision announcement? Or is that going to take another 10 years for them to develop?
“We need to have a vision of the future and convey it to our current membership. If we do not convey the need to change the paradigm, the ARRL’s relevancy will not move forward.”
Dan KB6NU says
No, you haven’t missed it. They don’t have one yet…at least not one that they’ve “conveyed to the current membership.”
Mike N7MSD says
This is probably going to be long-winded, so apologies in advance. The ARRL seriously pisses me off and does NOT represent this ham or many others I know! When a club or a lifer pushes them it’s like seeing a drug pusher to me: they’re either naive or in on something.
I’ve been a ham long enough to be a member of QCWA, but I only paid to join the ARRL a couple of times. It wasn’t worth it, just like NRA membership isn’t worth it: you send them your dues and they send you the equivalent amount back in the form of snail/e-mail begging for more! I’m not rich; in fact I put myself in bad debt to buy my last radio.
Contesters are where most of ham radio’s money is, and the ARRL and most companies target them heavily. There’s also demand for EMCOMM, since they’ve put so much emphasis there. As you mentioned, though, there’s little tech. It would be nice to get QEX, but oh well. Oh, and I just read another entry saying I’d need a proprietary program to read any ARRL pub online.
Let’s go recently: 2200m and 630m, but with strange, arbitrary restrictions that the ARRL approved like the tower height (throwing out di-/tri-plexing with an AM station or using your own pre-existing over-height tower), no mobile or portable even in an area with no power lines, etc. It can be argued we are repeatedly being ****ed over by having Part-15 UNlicensed services over-riding our Part 97 LICENSED service, first in 902-928 MHz, then in 77 GHz, and now these bands. ARRL not only didn’t fight it, but it was their idea at times!
Or Pactor and Winlink as the standards for these HF digital systems? ARRL must get a kick-back from these companies.
There’s more I’m sure, but I’m writing this from work and about to go home. Unless ARRL radically changes their tune, in my mind they are no different from 99% of churches and other “non-profit” organization that are really secretly (or often not so much, like Creflo Dollar and his private jet). Most people I know call them a publishing house that happens to do some lobbying.
Show me where I’m wrong. Show me where the money is going!
Steve, KB9MWR says
Mike,
You are correct contester’s is where thee ARRL’s money is. And yes the ARRL received a over 6 digit figure “donation” to shove WinLink down everyone’s throats.
The ARRL lacks vision. Sadly they really didn’t learn much from Wayne Green. They added ‘technology’ as the (last) “Fifth Pillar” at Dayton Hamvention 2008. Seriously someone there should wake up and realize if they don’t put the few experimenter types that are way under represented by the League first, there won’t be much of a members base in the years ahead to keep the League afloat. Technology drives everything in today’s world.