As I reported yesterday, that the Executive Committee is proposing to change Article 1 of the Articles of Association from
The name of our corporation shall be The American Radio Relay League, Incorporated…
to
The name of our corporation shall be The American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. It may be informally referred to as ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio (sic).
I was puzzled by this. I think that if you have to spell this out, then you have bigger problems than simply a naming problem.
Well, after reading a QRZ.Com post, the reasoning became clear. The post talked about the recent proposal by the ARRL to expand Technician Class privileges, Amendment of Part 97 of the Commission’s Rules Governing the Amateur Radio Service Rules Concerning Permitted Emissions and Operating Privileges for Technician Class Licensees. I took another look at the proposal and discovered that it’s not the American Radio Relay League, Inc. that is submitting the proposal, it’s the “ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio.” Apparently, the ARRL thinks the name “ARRL, the National Association for Amateur Radio” will carry more weight with the FCC.
Personally, I think this smacks a little of desperation. Has the ARRL’s standing with the FCC deteriorated so much that they have to spell out that they are the national association for amateur radio? And, since this articles of association change hasn’t been approved yet, is this proposal legally valid? Would it be legally valid even if the proposal was approved, since the change says that the ARRL can be “informally referred to” as the national association for amateur radio?
I have no problem with the ARRL changing their name if they think American Radio Relay League seems a little outdated. If you’re going to change the name, though, go for it. Don’t settle for some silly, half-way measure.
Joshua | DC7IA | KK4RVI says
Yes. To me this is very silly.
Tregonsee says
Having been through this as a corporate officer with another similar organization, it makes perfect sense. You need to establish a legal right (past usage) to whatever other names you are using, completely aside from copyrights. It also allows a transition period for the old timers who are set in their ways. There at least a few of those in the ARRL. ;)
A somewhat related issue; the small college I attended has just begun a 20 year transition from the name it has used for 150+ years to a new one because the old one is deemed too regional for the 21st century.
Steve - W8SFC says
It’s like the, “Department of Redundancy Department”, if you ask me. Making the organization’s title does in no way affect it’s priority in the scheme of things.
In my opinion, the only possible reason for this is to make some attorneys happy. They seem to always find a way to complicate and obfuscate without much logical reason behind their work other than collecting fees from their clients.
It also complicates references and serves no purpose in doing so. The ARRL is and has been the premiere amateur radio advocacy organization since the days of the spark gap.
Making your name longer does not enhance your mystical powers of persuasion.
Walter Underwood (K6WRU) says
Entirely reasonable and no big deal. We don’t want to spend all our time explaining our name to them. If they think we are “ARRL”, fine. Make it official.
Jim says
Does this seem silly? The blog posting, yes. The AoA change, no.
Brennan Price N4QX says
Dan, the practice of identifying the organization as “ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio” has been in place for nearly two decades now.
http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive/ARLB047/1999
This is hardly new. Or news.
Dan KB6NU says
What’s new is that they’re planning to add this to the Articles of Association, thus making it the official name, or an official name, of the organization.
Joe Myers, W3NSU says
Dan, My take on this is that ARRL is trying to update itself a little. Many of these new technicians will not have much reason to affiliate with a radio relay league when they don’t understand what that is and the significance to them. Joining the national organization of their new hobby, though, they may understand and think about joining. Why make the change in the group’s official documents? Only the lawyers know for sure.