This Week in Amateur Radio recently reported on a speech given by ARRL president, Rick Roderick, K5UR, at the 60th annual West Virginia State ARRL convention held August 25th at WVU Jackson’s Mill Conference Center near Weston. Here are some things that he had to say:
Are we even relevant anymore as ham radio operators? Well, let’s see: We’re world communicators. We provide public service. We help in emergencies and disasters. We help save lives. We talk to the jungles of Africa…to the beaches of the South Pacific. We bounce signals off the moon. We talk to astronauts. We promote technology. We do positive things. So absolutely—we are relevant.
We’ve got to accept change and we’ve got to adapt if we’re going to bridge that gap to that next generation. So the question that I have here that I have challenged my colleagues at ARRL with is this: is it time to rebrand ham radio? Maybe we need to rebrand the American Radio Relay League. That’s a pretty profound statement.
Of course, I agree with K5UR on this and said so myself several years ago. Unfortunately, according to the report, he retreated to the same old ideas that the ARRL has been spouting for years:
Well I think we ought to get out there and stir things up. That’s what I think we ought to do. I think you ought to go back and rejuvenate your club. Over the next year, get somebody into ham radio. The second thing I want you to do….I want you to help a ham that needs your help. And the third thing I want you to do is—if you’re not a member of the American Radio Relay League, you need to join today…because you know that whether you like us or not, we’re all you’ve got; ain’t nobody else in Washington DC helping us. I want you to ask yourself this question: don’t you think it’s time to give something back? Now I believe as a group, if we all did that we’ll make a difference in this hobby as we go forward. Be a champion of ham radio. Let’s work together and get it done. Thank you very much.
I’d like to challenge K5UR and the ARRL to really stir things up. There are lots of us out here giving back by teaching classes, conducting exam sessions, and helping hams get on the air. That’s not the problem.
What we need from the ARRL is real leadership, not just talk. Exhorting the troops is only going to go so far. For most hams, amateur radio is only a hobby, and they do what they can. It’s really up to the ARRL to provide the leadership that ties it all together and provide the framework that will allow us all to be successful.
Saying, “Whether you like us or not, we’re all you’ve got; ain’t nobody else in Washington DC helping us” doesn’t really cut it. You have to show people that you’re really making a difference, not just say you are.
Ed KC8SBV says
I hope your run for 8 land…your perspective is right on!! Thank you!!
Dan KB6NU says
Unfortunately, because I am in the amateur radio business—and an ARRL competitor to boot—I think that I’d be disqualified.
hamHAM says
I like the current name just fine. #getoffmylawn
Kenny Crowell says
Well my point of view about ham radio is I Love it and have all my Adult life ! But I haven’t even been capable since getting hurt in 2009 to be able to even afford a new hf rig , now don’t get me wrong I’m happy with what I have , but with the cost of aquiring a complete station compared to let’s say a smartphone to communicate around the world I believe is eventually gonna be the death of ham radio ! The younger generation don’t even know what a HF antenna is ! I have people continuously ask what are those things all over your car for . I run 40m religiously and even when the band is wide open there is no one on , and when I hear what I hear on 7.200 during the day I feel ashamed for them !
Shane Youhouse says
The leadership at ARRL is blind.
The statements the president made really back that statement up.
Amateur radio is failing. Keep doing more of the same! Oh, and send us more of your money.
Yeah, no. Become relevant. Stop being a shill. Get a real amateur radio parity act passed, not just employ your lawyers year after year fighting the same guy in Florida whom is never going to acquiesce his position since the ARRL never posits a new one. You want ARPA, tie it to the otard. After all, the otard ruling was for the common good of the population in a disaster. Since we are pseudo first responders (or right there with them), it only makes sense.
Except the lawyers get in the way.
Yeah, the ARRL is a good idea. It’s implementation is utter failure.
Bob, KG6AF says
“[Y]ou need to join today…because you know that whether you like us or not, we’re all you’ve got…”
I’m speechless.
David says
The NRA has the same attitude. They don’t get my money either.
The ARRL’s compromise with the HOA dictators on the alleged ARPA really soured me on supporting them, though I was a paying member for the first 3 years I was licensed.
Steve, KB9MWR says
“[Y]ou need to join today…because you know that whether you like us or not, we’re all you’ve got…”
Yeah that pretty much sums up the ARRL attitude. The question is what do we even have with the ARRL? Seems they can’t do much of anything on the regulations front. Amateur radio parity act, and symbol rate petition.
They sure don’t promote technology…. that is done well by the community though.
I am still waiting for their vision ““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.”
https://www.kb6nu.com/arrl-finally-realizes-status-quo-isnt-going-cut/
Like I said else where, the next ARRL CEO will be judged by if they have a github account or not, and their view of the future of the hobby. And after they secure the position, I’d like annual updates on how they and the league are working towards those goals.
In short: Less hot air, more direct democracy and transparency
Tom Blackwell, N5GAR says
“because you know that whether you like us or not, we’re all you’ve got;”
Not true. There has been a news blackout on what others have done – – that’s sometimes covered by alternative media. There are concerns that some of those people might want to reorganize things where they are elected as Directors, Vice Directors, and sometimes Section Managers.
“ain’t nobody else in Washington DC helping us. I want you to ask yourself this question: don’t you think it’s time to give something back?
Others who are separate from the ARRL ‘official’ organization have done that. They do this to side step the political climate found at the ARRL.
Amateur Radio is going through a ‘product life cycle.’ I have studied product life cycles under the Professor who invented the term. (There are solutions for it.)
Bob K0NR says
What’s the alternative organization to the ARRL?
John kn4guy says
Dan,
I’m a new licensee and ARRL member. I also spent almost 30 years leading young men and women in some challenging conditions.
ARRL is essentially useless to me. They offer no helpful products and services that can be found elsewhere at a better value (convenience,
Price, or responsiveness). QST and QEX are far less helpful than other sources. The ARRL web site isn’t helpful at all. Ad nauseum. You know the problems.
In my view, ARRL would be more helpful as an aggregator. Think Drudge Report for amateur technologies. A central hub for promoting the great things like FT8Call and mesh networking that integrate radio with computer control. Those tools are useful. My main point is that the organization can position itself as a central hub for learning and experimentation through web tools. A decent RSS feed might help.
ARRL should be acquiring the above “open source intelligence” and news as part of its legislative advocacy mission. Leveraging it as part of the business model and advertising is a synergy.
ARRL and NRA both suffer the same malady. They have lost touch with their clients and no longer offer value beyond a claim to lobby federal agencies. That’s not a great recruiting theme.
Amateur radio is fun and exciting. And intimidating for us new practitioners. And frustrating. ARRL could easily fill a niche as a value adding information aggregator in the vein of Drudge Report and StackExchange.
Right now, I can’t see much value to the league. Rebranding won’t solve the problem of a product that isn’t needed.
Steve-W8SFC says
It seems to me that ARRL’s leadership has forgotten what this whole thing is about. The leaders need to lead and innovate, not simply give pep talks, hold meetings and dictate policy to the membership and each other. They have gotten lost in the politics, and basically are delegating their responsibility to the club structure below them on the organizational chart. Perhaps the criteria used for determining who is in leadership roles should be scrutinized with an eye for getting the ARRL back on mission.
I am sure that over the years the vision of Hiram Percy Maxim and Clarence D. Tuska has been forgotten. I’m a bit skeptical about the prospects of this board ever rediscovering it because they seem to be blindly wandering in every direction but the one the founders set from the beginning. Technologies change, but the ultimate principle at the root of ham radio has always been communication between one station or operator and another. I wonder if these people at the top ever have fun with their radio equipment?
I wish that they would read this, but I have a feeling if they did they would be eager to discount my words as those of a relatively unsophisticated individual who has a lot to learn about amateur radio. Perhaps they would be right, but this seems to be part of their inability to stay on course with the original focus of ARRL and their role in being advocates first and foremost for amateur radio and the membership.
Maybe I am only seeing a limited view of what they do, but from what I see there is a high level of activity from leadership in areas that do not serve the membership. This is something that needs to be looked at in my opinion. Conduct codes and all of that including circular arguments about what the membership needs to do to save amateur radio, (which I note is being done by members across the board and has been for a long time). ARRL isn’t doing what they should be, that much is clear to me. Critical analysis and problem solving does not seem to be what is going on within the leadership. If that does not start to be a priority for them, ARRL may be gone long before the last amateur radio signal is transmitted. If you spend too much time navel gazing, lint is all you are going to see.
Dave New, N8SBE says
I think the concept of “re-branding” should be taken quite literally, and that would start with the name. American Radio Relay League? Come on, that describes something that went out after we discovered short waves on “200 meters and down”, so we could cut out all the relays and deliver traffic directly worldwide (I know, we still do ‘relays’ in nets, but bear with me, please).
We need a new name that describes amateur communication in the 21st century. Something like, say, National (or US) Amateur Communications Association (USACA or NACA) or something similar. Drop the ‘radio’, it’s too confining. Likewise, when was the last time something formed after WW II was named “league”? Too much baggage.
The point is, “What’s in a name?” Everything, actually. It’s quite important, along with a succinct, clear vision and mission statement. Every single word and phrase is important, and forms the foundation for everything that comes after.
Oh, and while we’re at it, ditch the odd logo. It’s completely mysterious to the initiated, and just plain quaint in the modern age of communication technologies. Look at the various modern wireless technology logos, and see what inspiration we might get from there.
Dave Heil K8MN says
If people can’t understand the ARRL logo and don’t bother to find out, they’re likely not very interested in becoming hams. Many of the other radio amateur organizations of the the world have similar logos. If you toss out the word “radio” in our name, you’ve thrown out our primary focus. We’re about radio. We have more radio amateurs in this nation than ever before, although not likely for the right reasons. We have people cram for a day and take the Tech exam and then leave them on their own. We’re top heavy with people who use mobile and handheld radio equipment used almost always through repeaters and FM. There’s your recipe for disaster.
KC1HZA says
I love the ARRL, but finding the money for this hobby is not ready for me. I would love to set a ARRL membership that cost less, maybe divided member benefits into 3 or 4 categories?
Mike says
He sounds like an OM, and not in a good way.
Scott - W1BIC says
The ARRL IS a joke and an embarrassment, and unfortunately it IS all we have. I am that Guy who stopped renewing my membership when I became angry over the complete lack of support for Clubs.
I have come to the conclusion that the best way to change the ARRL is to vote out ALL the current Directors, and vote in some folks who won’t just rubber stamp everything. I would challenge anyone who reads this to support the Facebook Group “My ARRL Voice”. It might take a few election cycles, but we CAN change the direction of this ship, we just need to vote a bunch of folks off the island.
Matt says
“We help save lives” – Stop. Just, stop.
Ron says
Yeah, the “when all else fails” is pretty outdated in today’s world, especially when amateur radio fails, read some after action reports, it isn’t all good.
Now before some of the emcomm faithful take offense and start flaming try this recent paper from R3 IARU meeting
One thing immediately stood out “The old fall back of “emergency communications” is no longer seen as an adequate reason so we need more relevant reasons to get any new bands, and going into the future, to maintain access to our existing bands.” The rest of the paper is worth a read.
Todd KD0TLS says
Absolutely right.
The cashier at the gas station where the ambulance fills up is also “helping to save lives”. And, mostly, we just pass on names of survivors. That’s not actually ‘helping to save lives”.
Satphones and satellite internet are more useful than HF in disasters. We’ve played the “EmComm card” far too often, and it’s approaching parody.
Ken says
This is why I stopped renewing my membership. Zero value for me.
Ria, N2RJ says
You know, My (hopefully outgoing) director (Lisenco) has been harping on the fact that I have no “ARRL experience.” Personally I don’t think I need it, because if “ARRL experience” encourages this culture of take it or leave it, we’ve all you’ve got, then no wonder they are failing miserably in attracting and retaining membership. I’m very happy with my years of corporate management experience leading technology teams where we put customer service and customer needs as #1. The league needs to learn this. Badly. Like yesterday.
BTW with regard to the name, it’s too late – the name has already changed. ARRL is no longer the “American Radio Relay League.” It’s now, “ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio.” They voted on this at the July board meeting.
Bob K0NR says
It’s hard being the ARRL.
More complete thoughts here:
http://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/2015/10/whats-wrong-with-the-arrl/
Dan KB6NU says
It is hard being the ARRL, but it’s all we’ve got. :)
That’s why I’m so hard on them. Since they really are all we’ve got, they have to get it right.
Bob K0NR says
I think its totally appropriate to point out the issues and try to improve the ARRL. At the same time, large organizations are never perfect so I try to keep my expectations calibrated.
Jeff, KE9V says
Dan is channeling W2NSD again and providing a pulpit for non-members to pretend they have a say. ;-)
Dan KB6NU says
Of course non-members don’t have a direct say, but if we don’t listen to them, they’ll never become members.
Jeff, KE9V says
They aren’t going to become members. 300,000 got their Tech license via the one-day puppy mill. They bought a $50 handheld that’s been laying in a drawer for the last two years. It will never be used again. This folks won’t ever join.
Then 100,000 are too cheap or genuinely can’t afford membership.
50,000 are dead but will remain in the database for years to come. The dead don’t join.
Another 50,000 hate the ARRL for some imagined grievance and they will never join.
I’d say the ARRL has about all the members they will ever have right now.
Dan KB6NU says
Well, we might as well just call it a day then, I guess. If that’s really the case, then they should have changed their name to the National Association for Logbook of the World and Ham Radio Books.
I’m not quite so pessimistic. I think that we can do better and I’m going to continue to chide the organization into doing so.
Todd KD0TLS says
Nailed it.
George Burns - W2SFD says
I don’t see the hobby failing, I see the opposite. More licensed hams now, than ever. Licensing is the not the problem. Involved hams are. People get a license, may get on the air or a bit, then disappear. Handing techs HF privileges will light the spark for some, but it is not the answer. They do need rebranding, they need a total shakeup. For the membership, by the membership, because of the membership. Working with the affiliated clubs to inspire new hams to operate, and become an ARRL member could begin to ignite the fire in many. The hobby is not what it use to be, 50 years ago, people were not as busy as they are today. Club meetings were easier to attend. Adapt to these changes, or become meaningless.
Jeff, KE9V says
I’m not at all pessimistic! The ARRL is doing GREAT! The hobby continues to thrive. Miniature electronics and advances in battery and software technology has made radio exciting!
But it’s not for everyone and this notion that we need to morph into some multi-faceted service/hobby that attracts tens of millions of people is plain faulty. Just like the short-time ARRL president who boldly declared that “Makers would be our future” was faulty on a grand scale.
Who says the ARRL must have X paying members in order to be successful?
Who is making this stuff up?
Dan KB6NU says
A lot of us think that the ARRL could do better…a lot better.
Bob West WA8YCD says
“ARRL: Love it or leave it” is not gonna work.
Think through your ideas of what ARRL has failed to do for you.
If you have a considered opinion as to what they should be doing,
say so. Not just “Somebody oughta do something!” but talk to your club members or local lunch gang, or the nightly Repeater Rangers and see if you can agree on what should be done…
Not just complaining about how bad things are… Look at the problems you encounter. Consider what makes it so, and ponder if there are specific things that someone person, group, or entity could and might do to set it right. Underline the word “specific”.
Exactly WHAT is it that bugs you? WHY is it like that? HOW could it be improved? WHO, if anyone, is able to take an action to make it better? Put the word “specific” in bold.
No, the ARRL can’t change Ohm’s Law, regardless of how many members want it. They can’t do much about propagation, either.
So what else have you got to complain about? Make the word “specific” all caps.
Then communicate. We ARE supposed to be communicators, right?
The Section and Division leadership, in my experience, are open to hear from the members. And they take the message, if there is one of any substance, to the other Divisions and Sections.
If you think that the ARRL logo should be round instead of a diamond, fine. Discuss it with your locals and if everyone agrees, let your Section Manager know.
OK, that’s a silly and superficial example.
Now. Start thinking about what REALLY matters. What is wrong with Amateur Radio? What change would improve it? Just saying “THEY ought to do something!” isn’t much help.
“People are getting their license, hanging out on the repeater for a while, the you never hear from them again.”
Suggestion: YOU and a few of the local OFs (you KNOW what that means!) get together at lunch and plan out something. A picnic is fine. Especially if there’s a QSO Party or Special Event (pick something! Mother’s Day? Groundhog Day?)
Make sure it’s announced and talked about so all those newbies know about it and know they are WELCOME. Let everyone get on the air, help with setup, whatever, even though you’ve done it a gazillion times, it’s new to someone. Let the new folks get involved.
Do a workshop on making coax jumpers, power connectors, dipoles, j-poles, anything you can think of. Get the n00bs involved.
Winter, can’t play outside without getting frostbite, the look through your shelves or go on eBay and buy parts, gather some test equipment, and take the young’ns (whatever age they might be) through the process of building something. A CPO, a frequency marker, Bob Heil’s Pine Board projects, anything.
Be proactive, not reactive, or worse, distractive!
Just my humble opinion.
Trap KB8ABJ says
The ARRL says they need X members to be successful. Membership is how the bills get paid. The biggest problem I see is that the leadership’s goal is no long to promote Amateur Radio. The goal has now become centered on the survival of the organization with loyalty to the organization above loyalty to its membership. If we could get the train back on the track I think the problems they see at the corporate level would mostly resolve themselves.
Bob West says
A rose is a rose…
Slap a cowboy hat on a mule and it’s still a jackass.
Whatexactly does “rebranding” entail? A name change?
Are they afraid of the term AMATEUR?
Rebranding changes the form but not the substance.
This sounds to me like a Wizrd of Oz “Don’t look behind the curtain!” move.
BTW I’m a 50-year member and life member of ARRL.
I have great confidence in my Section and Division leadership.
Newington, not so much.
Jerry Bosak says
The ARRL only represents about 25% of all licensed amateurs in the USA.
Maybe only 22% after deductions for club licenses and (sk) licenses.
I have to laugh when one month they publish all the sk members and 5 years later, the call sign is still in the FCC data base because the family was too dumb to cancel the license and the friends of the license holder didn’t cancel it and so it stays on the payroll until it expires.
The worst part about the FCC is that they don’t yell at their members, telling them that what they are doing is wrong .. They don’t want to upset anyone and they don’t publish anything negative.. They don’t spend any time teaching these hams how to operate properly. Just give us your money and you are automatically a ham..
Does ham in a day classes really produce any REAL HAMS? NO!
Why – because people today are not joiners, they don’t join clubs, they don’t join The ARRL, they don’t seek the advice of a true Elmer. They hang out, they hang out on the radio, they hang out on the repeaters, they hang out on the internet.
Ever hear the saying – Birds of a Feather, Flocks Together?
This is true of all the nets, all the round tables on 80 / 160 meters, even 7.200 MHz
Places like The WARFA NET – cesspools of waste. Where people with no radio skills and that doesn’t know the rules or even cares what happens to amateur radio, so long as they get what they want.
I say flush the whole damn system down the drain and start over.
Bring back the code – that will get rid of 70% of the Lids..
For the ones that passes, enforce the rules, so that it doesn’t turn back into another 7.200 Mhz
Jay WJ0X says
Let’s go for a new name and new image!! We do great things and have great members but no one knows who we are or what we do. ARRL needs to take the lead and re-work our image, name, purpose, etc… I want to be part of a growing hobby, organization and be recognized as a group that makes a difference !!!
Mark Purnell says
Interesting threads. I became interested in amateur radio after listening to conversations on a scanner. Decided to purchase a $25 Baofeng that essentially functions as a mobile scanner for me.
I recently passed the General exam through studying Dan’s book. A combo of learning the questions and learning about radio and electronics simultaneously. As previously posted this is just the beginning for me.
We live in a plug and play society where credentials and access trumps time and mastery. My question for me: Do I help people get what the want or what they need? Is there a way to do both? I’m still working on the answer and will continue to support my local clubs – local is where people will be the most effectively inspired and motivated. 73, Mark KE0VFT