Every so often a blog posting takes on the topic of “the ARRL needs to change.” A recent one came from Dan KB6NU, referencing some worthwhile ideas he has encountered via Rotary International. (I like Dan’s blog and read it fairly consistently.) Whenever I see this kind of article, my brain immediately thinks:
The ARRL is the worst US national amateur radio organization, except when compared to all others.
Yeah, its easy to criticize the ARRL, but it is the only game in town in terms of a national organization. And they do a lot of good for amateur radio and probably don’t get sufficient credit for that. (I should point out that Dan is very clear that he just wants to see the ARRL improve, especially in attracting new hams. I believe him and I share that motivation.)
Amateur radio is not really one hobby, it is a collection of hobbies and activities. We’ve got CW-enthusiasts, QRP folks, Emcomm volunteers, HF contesters, VHF contesters, tinkerers, 75m AM operators, repeater operators and on and on and on. Because the ARRL is a member-driven organization, it tries to balance these competing interests. Just listen to the random-vector criticism that spews forth: the ARRL is too focused on QRP, doesn’t do enough for QRP, only cares about HF, doesn’t do enough for HF, is against new digital modes, is always promoting new digital modes, thinks CW is the only way to go, gave us the No Code license, hung on to the Morse Code requirement too long. This list goes on and on. It really is impossible to keep everyone happy.
It is hard being the ARRL.
Like every large organization that I belong to, the ARRL is not perfect. But the good it does clearly outweighs the stuff I don’t like, so I enthusiastically support it. Said another way, I get enough benefit out of the membership to justify the dues. The key benefits for me are: QST magazine, Logbook of the World, contests, awards and representation with the FCC. QST is clearly the biggest benefit of membership and many people just view the membership fee as a magazine subscription.
A huge threat to an organization with such a print franchise is the shift from print to new media (video, web, blogs, podcasts, social). The ARRL web site has a lot of good information and most of the bugs have been worked out of the major redesign of a few years ago. They have a basic presence on twitter and podcasts. The ARRL has a youtube channel but the content is weak. At the same time, other people are putting out some good video content. Look at what HamNation, HamRadioNow, HamRadioSchool.com are doing. The ARRL is trailing in new media, which is an existential threat.
The ARRL is a long-lived institution and like most long-lived institutions they tend to be grounded in the past and are a bit old school in nature. Attracting newly licensed radio amateurs, especially Techs, is the big challenge for the ARRL. I don’t know what market research the ARRL does but I suggest they establish on on-going program that gets inside the heads of newer licensees and potential hams to understand how they view the ARRL. This requires an ongoing investment that is coupled to strategy. I’ve seen marketing pros do “voice of the customer” focus groups, interviews, surveys, etc. that bring customer needs to the surface so an organization can respond to changes that attract new customers members.
If you are an ARRL member, what can you do to change things? Your avenue to make your views known is via your Division Director, so I suggest you reach out to him or her. (Contact information is listed in the front of every QST.) Don’t be surprised if your voice is mixed in with a whole bunch of other people’s views…kind of like Congress 🙂
If you are not a member and spend a substantial amount of time having fun messing around with radios, I encourage you to join the ARRL. You might like it.
That’s my view, what’s yours?
73, Bob K0NR
I totally agree with you the ARRL has some flaws, but its ongoing actvities and QST are well worth the membership dues. I was a ham wannabe for over forty years, finally retired, got licensed and like to have fun messing around with radios.
I suppose the ARRL could look at their median age/gender and quickly determine it needs more youth and female members. Their questions should be how can we attract youth member other than scouting, and how do we attract independent female members?
I suggest the answer is in the marketing by answering another couple questions; what does Mom need to protect her babies, and why is radio cool or how can a younger operator use amateur radio socially?
If the ARRL can successfully answer these questions and market to the answers, then membership will swell to number unimaginable. My .02…
I only offer my comments on the ARRL because I care about it and want to improve it. Heck, I even ran for Division Vice Director a couple of times, and I have held a couple of section appointments here in Michigan.
I certainly agree that it is tough being the ARRL, BUT it might be easier if we had more members. As I suggest in my post, I think the ARRL should have as a goal that 25% of licensed radio amateurs also be ARRL members. Who can argue with that?
The ARRL has done a good job promoting Amateur Radio, particularly in Congress and with the FCC.
But I am very disappointed in their international activities where they let the European Union say that FCC General Class HAMs would no longer be eligible for reciprocal licensing.
As a General Cass HAM I had previously been able to operate in Greece, Germany and the UK (where I was GM5DIG). But now I can no longer operate in Europe and the UK (where I have a second home and complete station).
As a licensed HAM for over 50 years who can still send and receive Morse code, I am very disappointed that the ARRL hasn’t stood up for us General Class HAMs overseas.
Arne,
Thanks for the comment.
Why would you hold the ARRL responsible for what the European Union decided? I don’t see that they have much influence or responsibility there.
73, Bob K0NR
So, why not upgrade to Extra?
I agree about the need for growth. I HAVE done something about it. Recently I started teaching one-day tech classes. By the end of the year I will have produced 100 new techs. I presented this, along with a bunch of facts & figures to my division director, who now has me speaking at conventions and hamfests on the subject. You can be a part of the solution too!
Tim,
Keep up the great work. I continue to be amazed at the demand for a good Tech license class.
73, Bob K0NR
Many view Amateur Radio as an adjunct to Emergency communication but there are other aspects that should also be emphasized. One of my favorites is that of education. Involvement in schools needs to be emphasized by both the ARRL AND the FCC. It is their job and both are just OK with it. With the shrinking of FCC functions there is probably little chance of anything happening with them. So the ARRL must take up the responsibility. They should flood every school with literature and E-mails promoting amateur radio. This singular hobby or avocation can raise the level of technical intelligence to much higher levels in this country. Almost every student in Japan and several other countries have ham licenses. There seem to be reports that they are excelling world-wide in technology. Communicating all of the aspects of radio needs to be done. Besides the technological aspect there is the social aspect. Young people should be communicating over the radio to other young people in the world and learning about their cultures and techical evolution. Which brings another not so savory aspect. ENFORCEMENT! Get rid of the idiots on the air! By this i mean the ones who use unsuitable language and who interfere with intelligent communication. Instead of cutting back on field offices the FCC should be enlarging their enforcement activities. But we seem to have a stingy legislative branch that should make this important technological pursuit a priority. All three branches of government should be pounded about their lack of responsibility to young people. They don’t seem to care and we need to MAKE them care! I think the ARRL is trying in this regard but it is still falling short. What I am trying to say is education and young people iare just as important as emergency communication.
I think we need more mentorship programs. Youth are our future. The ARRL has some good programs going in the education space. I think we can do better.
73
Clayton
W5PFG
I’ve been a member of Rotary now for a year. I swear, I have thought several, several times how the ARRL would do well to recruit someone to help train clubs how to do fundraising for their clubs, but primarily also the ARRL. Rotary is an amazingly efficient organization when it comes to raising capital.