On Mon, 19 Jul 2004 16:52:32 -0400, Dave Bernstein wrote:
>I have been a member of the ARRL since the day I received my novice ticket
>in 1990. There is nothing in my postings that can be construed as ARRL
>bashing, unless you're among those who consider constructive criticism to be
>bashing. The day an organization's members stop providing constructive
>criticism is the day that organization knows its dead -- because no one
>cares enough to improve it.
I strongly agree. Constructive criticism, including, but not limited to,
opposing
points of view as to how things ought to be handled is NOT bashing, no matter
how strongly stated. I am also an ARRL supporter and member. I first joined
about 1955 when I got my novice ticket, and have been a member off and on
ever since (my years of membership tended to correspond to my years of active
hamming, and I've taken some time off).
Any organization, as well as any people within an organization, that can't take
criticism and process other points of view as potentially useful input are a
liability to the membership the organization is supposed to serve. I don't
view
Dave's comments and suggestions as bashing at all.
Several years ago, I wrote strong letters to my public radio jazz station
criticizing
their program management, and telling them that I was withholding my usual
large annual contribution until they corrected those problems. It took a couple
of
years, but the problems did get corrected (in the form of a new program
director
who read my letters and called me). Six months later, I sent them a check for
three years back contributions. In other words, I put my money where my mouth
was, and I put my criticism in sufficiently strong terms that they knew I was
serious.
Dave Bernstein has done the same thing, and I applaud him for it. I have made
some other strong criticisms, but have not withheld funding (and won't). For
the
good of our hobby, I hope that ARRL will take our input into consideration (and
put it into action). No organization that won't accept input from its
membership
can expect to keep me as a member.
Another point. I make my living as a consultant in the design of audio systems.
While it is vital that my technical background and skills be strong, technical
things are only a small fraction of my job. I'm a failure if I can't see the
big picture
myself and sell it to my client, if I can't help them make the right decisions
(which
usually include spending 2-4 times as much for their system as they thought
they
needed to spend), get them to buy it from a good contractor rather than a
cheaper "trunk-slammer" or music store, and treat that contractor right.
So in response to Ed's questions -- of course the technical work needs to get
done and done well. But that is still only a small part of what it takes to win
the
war. ARRL has traditionally learned how to work the politics of international
frequency allocation and local politics of FCC rule making. The League would
be a failure in representing us if our leadership did not do that. PR is just
as
important.
Jim Brown K9YC
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