[VHFcontesting] Update on the VHF components of the new ARRL Web Site

[Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO]

Gene W3ZZ wrote:

> Please do NOT blame the working staff. In fact without the
> intervention of Sean Kutzko we would have nothing. Part of
> the problem is lack of manpower...

ARRL has been using for-profit fund-raising organizations to beat the drum 
for extra donations for years. We've all received their many mailings. I 
don't know how effective this has been, but obviously these organizations 
don't work for free. Is the League getting its money's worth out of these 
consultants? I personally tend to doubt it, but of course I could be dead 
wrong.

In any case, while I suppose this is heresy of some sort, hams being where 
they generally are on the political spectrum (yours truly excepted), maybe 
it's time for the ARRL to think seriously about the necessity of a 
significant dues increase, along with perhaps some other fees. You can't run 
an organization without adequate funds, and non-profit organizations are 
especially vulnerable because they typically have nothing to fall back upon 
in tough times.

My gut feel is that they are afraid to raise dues for fear that the 
membership would rebel en masse -- and I suppose some members might in fact 
do that. I think that would be very short-sighted, but what do I know.

I do know that the ARRL staff I'm personally acquainted with make a LOT less 
money working for the ARRL than they could make in an equivalent or even a 
lesser job in the private sector. This is true pretty much throughout the 
non-profit sector; people who choose to work in such organizations do so out 
of a sense of personal passion and commitment. I personally think it's high 
time the rest of us stepped up and showed where OUR personal commitment is, 
and supported a well-reasoned and sensible increase in dues and fees revenue 
for the League.

Just MHO. Flame away.

Bill W5WVO


--------------------------------------------------
From: "Eugene Zimmerman" <ezimmerm at erols.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2010 20:57
To: <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
Subject: [VHFcontesting] Update on the VHF components of the new ARRL WebSite> I would like to bring the community more up to date about the status of 
VHF+
> information on the new ARRL Web.
>
>
>
> As most of you know the transition to the new Web site which occurred this
> spring has been a very rocky one. Much of the content on the previous web
> site is either not there on the new site or the navigation on the new site
> is so bad that no one can find it. In addition there are serious problems
> with the new site which have to be fixed before anyone will see any
> improvement in those issues.
>
>
>
> Happily with the help of Sean Kutzko KX9X who will be responsible for
> updating the World Above 50 MHz section of the new site once the site is
> working properly we have been able to resurrect much of the old site. You
> can locate the site at
>
>
>
> www.arrl.org/the-world-above-50-mhz
>
>
>
> Look on the upper left hand section of that page and you will see most of
> the old content.
>
>
>
> Click on V/U/SHF Clubs to see information about VHF+ clubs.
>
>
>
> Click on WA50 Standings to see the current Standings.
>
>
>
> Click on 6 Meter First to see the first Q between the US and other
> countries.
>
>
>
> Click on Distance Records to see the VHF+ distance records on each band.
>
>
>
> Just today I found that the Grid Chase is already on the Web though no one
> could find it. I am going to try to get a link to it posted on the World
> Above page this week. In the meantime go to
>
>
>
> www.arrl.org/grid-chase
>
>
>
> CAVEATS:  First the linkage to the database that creates Standings tables 
> is
> broken. New information needs to be entered manually and the site freezes
> when you do that. So please DO send your updates to standings at arrl.org but
> realize that they may not get entered until the problems are fixed. But
> eventually they WILL be entered.  It is possible that the grid chase data
> also has the same sort of problem. The Distance Records were just restored
> Thursday and I need to contact Al Ward W5LUA who maintains those records 
> so
> if you have an update you sent Al and it is not listed yet please QRX 
> until
> he knows that he can work with Sean to get the information updated. The
> Distance Records and the 6 Meter Firsts are NOT linked to databases so 
> once
> we get the process going updates to them will not require fixing the rest 
> of
> the website.
>
>
>
> This process has been very frustrating to me. I absolutely refuse to write
> websites. And the transition to the new ARRL site has been a disaster.
> Please do NOT blame the working staff. In fact without the intervention of
> Sean Kutzko we would have nothing. Part of the problem is lack of 
> manpower.
> I understand at least one new person has been added and maybe he will be
> able to fix some of this. [Don't ask me why the developer hasn't fixed 
> it -
> either they can't or the ARRL has decided not to pay them to fix the mess
> they left behind]. I cannot tell you when all or any of the problems will 
> be
> fixed or when LoTW and VUCC will be linked. The latter is pretty far down
> the priority list at the moment. Since very little has been fixed in the
> months since the new site went live, your guess is as good as mine as to
> when we will see any progress.
>
>
>
> What you can do
>
>
>
> The VHF community's only recourse is to write your Director. Ask when LOTW
> and VUCC will be linked. I have done so and I see others have as well. I
> don't know if it will do any good but nothing else is likely to do any 
> good
> either.
>
>
>
> 73  Gene  W3ZZ
> World Above 50 MHz
> FM19jd  MD
> 50 => 10 GHz
> Grid Pirates Contest Group K8GP
> Information Officer, CQWW Contest Committee
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>