Most large organizations that have a national component also are based upon local grass roots organizations plus regional/state. The ARRL does not have the grass roots part where local hams get together and elect delegates to the regional/state level who in turn vote at a national assembly.
Here in the U.S. there are local grassroots organizations that provide delegates to the state and national conventions for political parties. You might recall the famous comment that "All politics is local." Instead, individual ARRL members vote directly for the 15 Division Directors who set league policy and also vote for the Section Managers who carry out league policies at the section level. This means that you have one person who decides what goes on in your section and district level and appoints all other positions in the section right down to the local level. Even if the local group does not support that person. Very different from the grass roots, bottom up type of organization. Expressing opinions or fact on this group, or any group, particularly if done in a reasoned, thinking manner, is the hallmark of democratic principles and should be encouraged. My goal would be to sway others to my way of thinking just as you do with yours. If they are ARRL members, as I happen to be, then they may take that into consideration if they contact their Division Director and/or vote for a Division Director in the future. You can bet that I contact my DD, but I do it sparingly as you only have so much political capital. But from what I understand, about 80% of hams are not ARRL members and have no voice with that organization. One important venue that they have are these kinds of groups where they can express their views and provide information (yes, and unfortunately some provide disinformation which you can do in a democratic environment). 73, Rick, KV9U John Champa wrote: > Rick, > > I am not a political scientist, but the description you use for the ARRL > (quasi-democratic organization) is in correct. It is, I think, an indirect > democracy just as in the case of our republic, i.e., we don't vote > directly. We elect representatives who vote on our behalf. > > So...beefing here is not very effective. You have to write to your > respective ARRL Director to make him or her aware of your concerns. > > 73, > John > K8OCL >
