The ARRL has just announced that they have set up three new mailing lists (they’re using groups.io) to allow all radio amateurs—not just ARRL members—to “discuss issues and topics in two-way conversation with ARRL leadership.” These new mailing lists are “aimed at enhancing communication among ARRL leadership, staff, members, and prospective members, in a manner that enables timely updates and collegial discussion.”
The three new groups include:
- ARRL-Contesting — moderated by ARRL Contest Advisory Committee Chairman Dennis Egan, W1UE.
- ARRL-Awards — moderated by ARRL Radiosport and Field Services Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ.
- ARRL-IARU — moderated by IARU Secretary Dave Sumner, K1ZZ.
I say these are “yawners” because I can’t see any of these groups tackling anything very controversial, at least not outside their communities. What’s controversial in the contesting community, for example, is probably not of much consequence to amateur radio as a whole. And, I’d guess that more than half of all radio amateurs don’t even know what the IARU does, much less care about it.
Down near the end of the article, it does say, “In the months ahead, the Committee [on Communications] envisions creating more online groups to support two-way communication focusing on areas of additional interest to radio amateurs, including ARRL activities, services, initiatives, and policies. Those are the issues that are really important as far as the future of amateur radio is concerned. These are the groups that will make a difference and where ARRL leadership participation will be important.
I don’t see anything wrong with these groups, so long as the individuals acting as moderators have the time to devote to it. There’s an opportunity cost for those people.
Personally I’m not deeply involved in contesting or awards, but I do have an interest in IARU to the extent it influences what happens at the WRCs.