The Great Lakes Division director position is up for grabs this year. Our current director, Dale Williams, WA8EFK, is not seeking re-election. There are two candidates, Michael Kalter, W8CI, and Scott Yonally, N8SY. I’m supporting Michael Kalter, W8CI.
W8CI is one of the movers and shakers behind the Dayton Hamvention, and has served in many capacities, including board member, official spokesperson, financial officer/chair, awards co-chair, and general chair in 2011 and 2012.
Here’s more information about W8CI from his website:
Objectives
- Be open and transparent with the membership.
- Promote and empower youth in Amateur Radio, as we have done at the Hamvention.
- Provide the members with a cost-effective, responsive, national organization.
- Develop a compelling win-win membership proposition so people truly understand the importance of ARRL support.
- I see the organization as “Our ARRL”. Sure we have differences but we must work together and put aside petty personal issues.
Unique Differentiators
- Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA)
- Day job consulting and coaching businesses to develop strategic business plans and increase efficiency
- Taught Board Meeting Efficiency training classes to businesses
- Served on many Boards in both non-profit and for-profit settings
- Frequent guest speaker around the world for many radio clubs and organizations
- Local area (Green County, Ohio) positions held for EMA, DARA, Dayton Hamvention, Township and NWS
- Active amateur radio operator that loves to DX while serving amateur radio communities around the world
- Believes in OUR ARRL and is stepping up to the plate to serve radio amateurs and promote two-way communications with the League that represents us
If you have ever read my blog or spoken to me in person about the ARRL, you know that I think that membership is one of most critical–if not the most critical–issue that the ARRL currently faces. This is an issue that clearly differentiates the two candidates. Here’s what Kalter has to say about ARRL membership:
ARRL only has 20.8% market share of US amateur licensees based on the membership count in the 2021 Annual Report (158,238) and the total number of licensees (761,372) as shown on the ARRL website as of 6/30/2023. While membership has remained “relatively flat for some 40 years now” the total number of licensees has grown over 75% during that period (from approximately 433,000 in 1980 to 761,372 according to ARRL.org). That means ARRL’s market share has dropped by almost half, from about 37% to 20.8% over that same period.
How did ARRL leadership miss this trend and more importantly, why have 40 years passed without any effective plans to significantly grow membership? There is still a potential market of over 420,000 prospective members after allowing for 30% inactive licensees. Admittedly this analysis is based upon high-level data and there are details that could be debated, but the overall picture is clear, there is significant opportunity for growth.
As of today, there’s nothing at all on Yonally’s website about increasing membership. The ARRL needs someone that will reach out to new members and not simply provide the same old stuff to current members.
If it’s not clear who I support in this election, give me a call, and we can discuss this more.
Jeff KE9V says
I’m sure W8CI would make a perfectly good Director. He has done a bang-up job with Hamvention!
That still leaves me questioning what can be done to increase membership. As has been seen and noted across the board in organizations and clubs, 21st century humans aren’t big on “clubs” and I have yet to see *anyone* solve this problem. Rotary, Lions, IOOF, etc. have all seen dramatic declines in membership and interest over the last few decades. It’s a clear trend that *NO ONE* has solved. That this most recent generation doesn’t want to be in a club is patently obvious. What I’d like to see is *ANY* potential elected official enumerate what precisely they will do to reverse this trend.
Being ‘open and transparent’ with members is a worthy goal, but does that include honestly telling members that nothing can be done? Because that would be WAY closer to the truth than running on a platform of increasing ARRL membership – a Herculean, if not impossible task.
Michael W8CI says
Hello Jeff,
It’s my opinion as a Board, the ARRL must put together some actions to accomplish this.
Maybe reduce membership fee to start.
Clearly define on the win win aspect of becoming a member.
Young Hams in their 20’s and 30’s have life issues and bills to pay. Why not reduce the dues for them.
Ahh, yes, same with folks on fixed income?
The league needs a strategy. It’s the boards responsibility to make this happen, follow it, let members know what we are focusing on.
de W8CI Michael