I’ve been out campaigning for Vice Director of the Great Lakes Division for about the last month or so, and if there’s one recurring theme, one thing that the members want from the ARRL, it is for them to be responsive. Let me give you an example.
Last night, I visited a local ham radio club meeting. When I asked the president if I could have a couple of minutes to introduce myself, the first thing he said is, “Boy, do I have a bone to pick with the ARRL.” He went on to tell me that he’d just completed the online emergency communications courses, and one of the assignments was to contact the Section Manager and/or other section leaders. He told me that he e-mailed each of them, but never got a response.
Later that evening, another guy approached me and related his experience with the ARRL Awards Program. He’s been working on his Five Band DXCC Award, but has been frustrated because only contacts on the 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10-meter bands are allowed. He noted that he really enjoys working the WARC bands and has almost 100 countries on 17m. He sent a letter to the ARRL asking why contacts on 17m are not allowed for this reward, but like the first guy, he never got a response.
Unfortunately, I’ve heard similar comments from many different amateur radio operators. And I’ve had similar experiences with the League. It seems at times as though they blow off any idea that does not come from someone in Newington.
Now, I understand that an organization as large as the ARRL is never going to make everyone happy, BUT it should always respond to its members. Maybe this is the source–or at least one source–of the antagonism so many hams feel towards the ARRL. At any rate, looking into this is on my list of things to do should I get elected as Vice Director.
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