At the risk of making things worse. I only meant I don't think the ARRL should be so obsessed with membership at all costs that they contribute to watering down the quality of Ham Operators for the sake of quantity of operators. I did not mean to imply they were all bad all the time or have not done a great service for our hobby in the past.
its always been quantity over quality. Quality doesn’t increase revenue
That must be an introspective analysis or an attempt at self deprecating humor because it is not at all reflective of the mission or activities of the ARRL. Consider the following sampling of "quality" improvement activities of the ARRL:
BooksThe ARRL is a prolific publisher of high quality books designed to educate the amateur on all facets of technology, operating, propagation, station building, and licensing. The ARRL Handbook and the ARRL Antenna Book are the industry standards for reference material.
PeriodicalsThe ARRL publishes three magazines - QST, QEX, and NCJ all of which are designed to educate and inform. QST magazine is the most widely read and cited magazine in the industry.
Teacher EducationThe ARRL developed and delivers an education outreach project to introduce teachers to Amateur Radio as an instructional resource and to provide an educationally sound curriculum focused on wireless communications.
Operating EventsThe ARRL sponsors dozens of on the air contests and operating events designed to get hams on the air and to sharpen operating skills. The highly popular annual ARRL Field Day, for example, promotes public awareness, provides camaraderie, and enhances field deployment readiness.
Technical ResourcesThe ARRL maintains a network of volunteer, appointed technical resources in each district to assist the average ham with technical questions and challenges and to provide educational seminars for ham radio clubs and events. In that role I have given scores of lectures on technical topics in order to enhance the technical acumen and skills of the hams in my and my neighboring district as well as resolving RFI issues for hams and government agencies.
Legal DefenseThe ARRL has been a tireless advocate and resource to help protect the rights of hams to install and operate the antenna systems necessary for our hobby. The recent favorable NJ Supreme Court decision is an excellent example of bringing these resources to bear for the general good of our hobby. Without these efforts on behalf of the ARRL, our capabilities would be severely diminished in many municipalities.
SpectrumThe ARRL is the leading funding source and advocate for maintaining our existing allocations and the acquisition of our new allocations. Their work on a global scale is unequaled by any other ham radio member society or individual.
ScholarshipsMore than 90 scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 are awarded through the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Program.
The list goes on but this sampling demonstrates that clearly the ARRL is not all about "quantity over quality" or "membership at all costs". Most hams entering this hobby are in every sense of the word novices from both a technical and an operating practices perspective. The ARRL has clearly positioned itself to not only attract these perspective hams into the hobby but to help these neophytes broaden their horizons and gain the skills necessary to fully enjoy their chosen aspects of the hobby with the bulk of the ARRL activity focused on the latter.
You don't need to agree with every position of the ARRL but it is clear, on the balance, that the ARRL plays a vital and central role in keeping our hobby visible, relevant, and moving forward. Amazingly, you do not even need to be a member of the ARRL to benefit from many of their services and offerings.
- Glenn W9IQ