I was an ARRL member for 40 years, but no more!

Recently the W5YI organization, notorious for it's anti-CW leanings, initiated a Petition to the NCVEC (Volunteer Examiner's National Committee) to Request a Rule making from the FCC to DELETE the CW requirement from Ham Radio Testing. The ARRL, instead of opposing this, abstained! The explanation given by their representative was "he couldn't do anything without the BoD approval." BUT, the BoD in its July meeting REFUSED to even consider the CW situation. Therefore, as the representative himself said "ARRL Policy in the past is to Support CW Testing." He should then, have voted opposed. But wait! More mealy-mouthed obfuscation. The "ARRL Position has changed since the WRC2003, BUT we don't know what that position is, we'll let you know after the January 2004 BoD meeting."

BULL!

Now it is September 1, and there a 6 petitions to eliminate the code requirement before the FCC, and what is the ARRL doing? NOTHING! The "Party Line from the ARRL President is "Don't worry, nothing will happen for months!"....Right!

The ARRL is only concerned with keeping its ADVERTISERS happy. That's where the money is!

When the ARRL favored expanding SSB into the old Novice CW bands, They "sold out" CW, in spite of surveys showing support. The ARRL chooses to cite their own "survey." which must have been held in greatest secrecy, as no one I know was "surveyed."

In addition, they provide absolutely no support for the AM Phone Community. Why, because most of the AMers don't buy new stuff from Icom, Kenwood or Yaesu. However, the ARRL sure supports the JARL.

Decisions are based on the advertising dollar, not the membership's wishes.

Their "staff" is not even competent enough to read the rules for their own contests. See the way they handled my 2002 Field Day Club entry. Click here to see that fiasco.

I will miss K7SZ's "QRP Power Column" and K2TQN's "Old Radios." That's about all.

(Note: The ARRL has since cancelled the QRP Power Column)

On July 31, 2003 I had the following correspondence with the ARRL:

Dear Mr. Sielke,

We are canceling your ARRL membership and refunding you for the unused

portion of your dues.

73,

Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO

Customer Service/Circulation Manager

ARRL

The national association for AMATEUR RADIO

225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA

Telephone: (860) 594-0257 FAX: (860) 594-0303

Internet: kcapodicasa@arrl.org

World Wide Web: http://www.arrl.org

-----Original Message-----

From: John L. Sielke [mailto:w2agn@w2agn.net]

Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 2:14 PM

To: Pub Sales; circulation; Haynie, Jim (President)

Subject: Cancellation of ARRL Membership

I am paid up as a member of the ARRL until 2010. However, in view of the

League's totally gutless response in failing to vote against the NCVEC

petition to curtail CW testing, along with the League's policy of

seeking the almighty dollar at the expense of the QUALITY of Amateur

Radio, I can in all conscience not remain a member. I would like to

CANCEL my membership immediately and be refunded the balance. I cannot

support an organization that seeks to make Amateur radio into CB.

John L. Sielke W2AGN

Note: Refund received October 9, 2003

UPDATE!
Arrl had it's Board Meeting in January. They came up with a "No-code plan, of course, to sell magazines, etc. To add insult to injury, they passed it with a "non-recorded" vote. That means the members don't find out how THEIR Director voted.

One of the most ridiculous proposals they came up with was for a new "Novice" license, NO CODE, and a very basic 25 question multiple choice test. In other words, a CB license to use HAM frequencies! 100 watts of power!

OCTOBER 2004..The Idiocy continues!

The ARRL has come up with a “bandplan” dividing the HF Amateur Bands by emission bandwidth, rather than type. At first glance, not a bad idea, but then if you read the “plan” it is blatantly obvious it is intended to allow WINLINK PACTOR robots to operate not only in the “Digital” part of the bands, but throughout that portion now used by SSB and AM. The ARRL is aggresssively pushing this “new technology.” Note the PACTOR III takes up to 2.5khz bandwidth! AND, the PACTOR II and III modes are proprietary, only available on Terminal Node Controlers made by SCS, Inc., a GERMAN company. (Who must contribute well to the ARRL!) At the meeting of the Digital “Ad-Hoc committee that came up with this asinine plan, the inventor of PSK31 walked out in disgust. Skip Teller, the author of Digipan disagreed, and was threatened with legal action by the ARRL if he published his opinion! Fortunately it is now online at http://www.zerobeat.net/qrp/forum/viewforum.php?f=10

What next from our “friends” at ARRL?