Jim,
Apparently, you just "don't get it!" Or if you do, you neglect to discuss
it publicly.
For me the furor over revamping QST content was just a triggering issue.
The fundamental issue on balance is far more important in the global scheme
of things.
What I'm talking about is what I believe I expressed fairly clearly in my
email, on which you were copied.
To abuse Clinton one more time... IT'S THE BOARD'S PROCESS, STUPID!
It appears to me that, had this Admin/Finance report and proposal not leaked
out, there would have been the usual affirmative vote from the Board and
some form of the proposal, perhaps the exact recommendation, would have
been enacted. Enacted without any membership input whatsoever. On a major
item dealing with our organization's Journal.
To you and the Board this appears to be merely a "balance the numbers"
exercise. To me, it has become a fundamental question of whether this Board
can distinguish ahead of time which issues are mundane and which are of
substance - and act accordingly. Why wasn't the report and its
recommendation posted on the web site with a suitable (like a month) period
of time for the affected communities to discuss it and any alternatives, and
then get with their directors? Why wasn't this, or a similar process, used?
Then, after you all acted appropriately by delaying action given the poor
upfront process that brought you to that point, Walt Stinson W0CP throws a
grenade into the discussion.
You're the Prez. Please exert your considerable leadership skills and get
the Board under some control. R0eview your membership responsiveness and the
processes by which you achieve it. Right now, I think you're broken.
Thank you and 73,
Gary Ferdinand W2CS LM ARRL
Apex, NC
-----Original Message-----
From: W5JBP@aol.com [mailto:W5JBP@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 6:55 PM
To: anders@erols.com; W2CS@bellsouth.net; w0cp@arrl.org; ki4la@arrl.org;
w4pwf@arrl.org; Jimk8mr@aol.com; mrrc@contesting.com; ncc@contesting.com;
cq-contest@contesting.com; w5jbp@arrl.org
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] What the ARRL Board did
Thanks for putting me in the loop.
I just want to point out that not only did we suggest that instead of
putting the board minutes on the web to save pages, we also offered to only
print pages 10 and 12 (directors and SM listings) once a quarter to save
pages. We wanted to be fair.
I know that this has become an emotional subject, but one has to look at
the other side as well. The cost of paper to print QST is up, postage is up
and going up again the middle of this year by 8%. Health insurance is out of
sight (if you get it as a perk from your employer you are lucky) and going
up even more. We have to face all of these issues as a prudent business man
or in the future their may not be a League.
Our thoughts were not to just "dump" contests but rather improve on the
"soap box" part with more copy and photos. 99% of the contesters here in
Dallas know pretty well how they did on Monday after the contest. By putting
the results (line scores) on the ARRL web, you would get them 4 to 6 weeks
faster.
So, my thoughts in a brief moment.
73
Jim Haynie, W5JBP
President, ARRL
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