CUT AND PASTE THE LINK BELOW IN YOUR WEB BROWSER TO VIEW THE LATEST EDITION OF THE NEWSLETTER:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-mUmrCiBiEfVZZSTy2gd0cx6YNp-8gCU/view?usp=sharing
Here's an excerpt from the Section Manager's editorial:
Hello from Knoxville! I’m hoping this edition of the section newsletter finds you well and getting ready to enjoy some spring weather.
There’s a couple of news items I’d like to bring to your attention in this edition: First, the Tennessee Section ARRL website is now back up and running. Earlier this year, we experienced an equipment failure that brought down tnarrl.org and tnares.com. Our great IT guys (Jay Daniel KG4DCI and Sam Davidson KK4RGU) have invested lots of time and effort rebuilding everything from the ground up. TNARRL.ORG was the first to be brought back online, but due to the excessive amount of information contained on the TNARES.COM website, it will take a bit more time to get that going again.
Second, I’d like to mention the free ARRL Student Membership program. Did you know that all students age 21 and under are eligible for a free associate membership in the league? This qualifies them for no-cost access to all the magazines online, the life-long learning center, and most all other member benefits (except voting privileges and email forwarding service). This is a great opportunity for getting young people involved in amateur radio and giving them the tools to enable them to start on a life-long journey of enjoyment. I encourage every member and every club to be promoting free student memberships.
There’s a rumor going around that the FCC is wanting to abandon licensing for amateur radio operators. While there’s a lot of uncertainty about the future (not only at the FCC but at most governmental agencies), there has been no serious proposals made to suggest getting rid of amateur radio licensing. What we can accurately and honestly report is this: a recent Public Notice was published soliciting public input on any FCC rules in any service that members of the public believe should be deleted or modified “for the purpose of alleviating unnecessary regulatory burdens.” This is the latest in a series of similar proceedings going back to 1996, when the Communications Act was amended to require the FCC to periodically review its rules. A March 30 press release from the league states “ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®, through its Executive Committee and FCC Counsel, is conducting a review of the provisions in Part 97 and other related rules that apply to radio amateurs. ARRL is also soliciting feedback from its members. It is expected that the Commission will incorporate suggestions that it decides worthy of its consideration in a future Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that could be issued later this year. There will then be an opportunity for public comment on the specific rules that the Commission proposes for deletion or modification”. At that time, the league will certainly be providing further details to members along with encouraging them to participate in the FCC’s public comment process.
At this time, it appears most of the scuttlebutt about doing away with amateur radio licensing is coming from internet chatter instead of valid news sources.
While I’m on the topic of internet chatter, I’d like to take a moment to share some of my personal thoughts with you. If you like, consider the following as an “editorial”.
It often seems that whenever far-fetched rumors or undue denigration of the ARRL comes up, it stems from internet sources. We have many, many amateur radio folks who contribute greatly to the hobby by creating fantastic, positive content online, but some folks (for one reason or another) have an axe to grind with executive leadership at the league, or a board member, or even a section official….others are simply creating drama and fanning the flames from safely behind their keyboard (or camera) to create online traffic and clicks (often monetized for their own financial gain).
And let’s face the reality of our world today: a social media post about Field Day or ARRL Youth Rally at the Dayton Hamvention won’t garner nearly the reaction that a post flaming the CEO of the league would generate. Just like the political climate of our nation today, the “talking heads” need to “stir the pot” and get folks good and “riled up” to generate clicks, views, likes, and comments on social media. I’m of the opinion we should leave the divisiveness and sensationalism that permeates the world today out of the hobby.
Now, that’s not to say that there’s no room for criticism of the ARRL. Anyone who has ever belonged to an organization knows that there’s always something that can be improved. I’m of the opinion that we have a duty and responsibility to offer constructive criticism of the league when we perceive a problem.
There are two principal types of criticism: destructive and constructive. Destructive criticism attacks and tears down, while constructive criticism builds together by identifying a problem and offering a solution. I’m always open to constructive criticism of not only the ARRL as a national organization, but the Tennessee Section as well…..not only those who hold appointments here, but on my job as your Section Manager. If you see a problem with the ARRL and are willing to help in offering a solution, then that’s the best kind of criticism there is….the kind that builds a solution together.
As your Section Manager, I’m always open to listening to the constructive criticism coming from league members in Tennessee. That’s part of my job, and it’s one of the things I promised to do when I first ran for this office. One of my responsibilities is to listen and pay attention to what ARRL members in Tennessee are thinking, and to take those views and opinions up the ladder to our Directors and national leadership.
So, the next time you run across someone online who’s raising their voice to attack the ARRL (especially in non-specific, generalized ways) or going on about how league membership isn’t worth anything, just ask yourself: Is this person offering destructive criticism or constructive criticism? If it’s the destructive type, I’d recommend clicking elsewhere or spinning the dial, because those who participate in this kind of criticism have nothing positive to offer.
In closing, I’d like to express my appreciation for your being a part of this wonderful hobby we call ham radio. Thank you for being an ARRL member. For over 110 years, the ARRL (with all it’s imperfections) has done a dang good job to promote amateur radio, defend our RF spectrum, coordinate thousands of ARES volunteers, lobby our elected officials for our best interests, work with the FCC for our betterment, and operating a vast Field Organization that includes 71 different Sections in 15 different Divisions.
David Thomas – KM4NYI Section Manager