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Author Topic: AMSAT BB Censorship  (Read 1242 times)

W4HIJ

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AMSAT BB Censorship
« on: October 24, 2020, 01:18:44 PM »

I have to wonder if the rank and file amateur community knows what's going on with AMSAT right now.
 After getting fed up with the endless self promotion of a fellow amateur, I let my anger get the better of me and criticized them for it openly. I was then put on "moderated status" for a "personal attack". I'm willing to admit a mistake and it was probably warranted but it's what happened afterwards that was interesting.
 From then on, anytime I made a post that was the slightest bit critical or showed any sort of dissent with  the direction of AMSAT, it would be censored.
 After a particularly contentious election process where many people questioned the direction of AMSAT and their use of membership funds, the entire BB was put on "emergency moderation status". After making a tongue in cheek critical comment about AMSAT's penchant for FM birds, I now find myself booted from the board completely. No matter, I was tired of the stagnation and about to move on anyway but it bears pointing out that this is a non profit organization that now actively censors any sort of criticism or dissent within it's ranks. Such a sad state of affairs with a once great organization that I once counted myself a member of and supported proudly.
73,
Michael, W4HIJ
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W3WN

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2020, 02:07:06 PM »

Sounds like you need to have a word with the AMSAT forum moderator(s).
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KF4HR

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2020, 02:30:53 PM »

...  actively censors any sort of criticism or dissent within it's ranks.

Seems like a sign of the times, eh?

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W4HIJ

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2020, 04:19:43 PM »

Sounds like you need to have a word with the AMSAT forum moderator(s).
That's just it though, I tried that and it does no good. E-mails about why certain comments were censored have gone  unanswered. As I said, I went too far in calling out one certain individual but when we have no voice to give the slightest little bit of criticism or dissent  to the organization as a whole then something is wrong. I stopped supporting them with my dues awhile back because of my dissatisfaction and I am moving on to other challenges but I just needed to vent a little because what's going on now is just not right.
73,
Michael, W4HIJ
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N9LCD

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2020, 05:00:27 PM »

Quote
I stopped supporting them with my dues awhile back because of my dissatisfaction

I've been treasurer of several nonprofit 501.3c organizations.  ANY nonprofit with annual revenue is REQUIRED to file a "return" on Form 990.

I believe that any nonprofit MUST, provide a copy of their 990 return to any one who requests it. 

Try requesting a copy of AMSAT's 990.  If they refuse, you might be able to get them in trouble with the IRS!
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WE4B

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #5 on: October 24, 2020, 06:28:43 PM »

This is just 'par for the course' for the current leadership/direction of AMSAT-NA. The legacy, incumbents use the organization as their personal clubhouse. I, too, was removed and banned from the AMSAT-BB and their social media even though I was following AMSAT-NA bylaws during the previous election. The legacy, incumbents cannot handle criticism. If they encounter criticism, you will be banned. If anyone thinks that ARRL politics are bad, they don't have a clue to when it comes to AMSAT-NA politics. These legacy, incumbents will continue to further erode the confidence of members and other donors. This is happening when other organizations such as Open Research Institute have received $600K in grants this year. The best that AMSAT-NA can do is beg members to join the President's Club... oh and they asked on social media for people to donate $50. You are right, it was once a great organization but now it's just a clubhouse for the legacy, incumbents while they illegally spend (this is a fact and they don't deny it, this was proven during the last election cycle) the organization's money.  Unless the members wake-up and hold the incumbents accountable, it will just continue to get worse and the organization will die. It's already become second-rate with many donors no longer donating. I'm sorry that the clubhouse members treated you the way they did, but that's how AMSAT-NA operates. If you don't agree with what the legacy incumbents do, say and think, you will be banned.

http://we4bravo.com

I have to wonder if the rank and file amateur community knows what's going on with AMSAT right now.
 After getting fed up with the endless self promotion of a fellow amateur, I let my anger get the better of me and criticized them for it openly. I was then put on "moderated status" for a "personal attack". I'm willing to admit a mistake and it was probably warranted but it's what happened afterwards that was interesting.
 From then on, anytime I made a post that was the slightest bit critical or showed any sort of dissent with  the direction of AMSAT, it would be censored.
 After a particularly contentious election process where many people questioned the direction of AMSAT and their use of membership funds, the entire BB was put on "emergency moderation status". After making a tongue in cheek critical comment about AMSAT's penchant for FM birds, I now find myself booted from the board completely. No matter, I was tired of the stagnation and about to move on anyway but it bears pointing out that this is a non profit organization that now actively censors any sort of criticism or dissent within it's ranks. Such a sad state of affairs with a once great organization that I once counted myself a member of and supported proudly.
73,
Michael, W4HIJ
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WE4B

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2020, 06:31:40 PM »

Quote
I stopped supporting them with my dues awhile back because of my dissatisfaction

I've been treasurer of several nonprofit 501.3c organizations.  ANY nonprofit with annual revenue is REQUIRED to file a "return" on Form 990.

I believe that any nonprofit MUST, provide a copy of their 990 return to any one who requests it. 

Try requesting a copy of AMSAT's 990.  If they refuse, you might be able to get them in trouble with the IRS!

AMSAT-NA does publish their form 990 on the AMSAT-NA web site. What's more likely to get them in trouble with the IRS is the fact that they violate bylaws of the organization and violate Washington, DC corporate code. The legacy, incumbent leadership does not deny doing so. They just think they know more than members are they seem to think that rules and laws don't apply to them.

http://we4bravo.com
« Last Edit: October 24, 2020, 06:35:30 PM by WE4B »
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W4HIJ

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #7 on: October 24, 2020, 08:28:59 PM »

Just noticing that the "moderator" of the BB who has imposed all this censorship and squelching of criticism and dissent has now been elected by the board as the new President. That pretty much shows the direction they are headed in and it's not a good one. The "good ole boy" club seems to be alive and well and it resides at AMSAT.
73,
Michael, W4HIJ
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WE4B

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2020, 09:45:27 PM »

Just noticing that the "moderator" of the BB who has imposed all this censorship and squelching of criticism and dissent has now been elected by the board as the new President. That pretty much shows the direction they are headed in and it's not a good one. The "good ole boy" club seems to be alive and well and it resides at AMSAT.

Yep. They have anointed him as President. Of course he's just a puppet with no real power. He must do as the legacy incumbents tell him to do or they will replace him. It's very sad what this group of legacy incumbents has done to the organization. They don't even try to hide it, just like they never have denied breaking bylaws and violating Washington, DC corporate code.

One of the (good) AMSAT-NA board members, WD9EWK, keeps a blog of his activities as a board member and what he's uncovered during his time in office in a blog. You can find it here:

http://amsat.wd9ewk.net

I also keep a blog on my web site and have done so since running for a position on the board. I will not stop speaking out against the unethical and illegal actions of board members and their cronies. I will continue to attempt to enlighten people about what is really happening within AMSAT-NA.

Your original post tells it just like it is. The legacy incumbents can not handle any criticism. They view it as 'personal attacks' and their solution is to just 'silence' members that speak out against these unethical actions. Fortunately, there are many within the organization and from outside that are finally starting to see what has been happening and what the legacy incumbents have been doing. It's affecting AMSAT-NA in the pocketbook. Sadly, that's what it's going to take for change to occur within the organization's leadership. If there isn't change, soon, there organization will fail to survive as it is surpassed by other organizations which are flourishing.

An example of a flourishing organization that is working on amateur radio satellite projects is Open Research Institute. Just this year, they have received $600K in grants. Guess what? AMSAT-NA does not seek grant money. This has been stated by the EVP of AMSAT-NA and the outgoing President at last week's AMSAT-NA Symposium. I guess they think money grows on trees. It doesn't.

I am an AMSAT-NA member and I have the right and responsibility to speak out against the elected officials of AMSAT-NA. As elected officials, they must accept these criticisms from me and other members just like any elected official of any organization or government. Sadly, they are not able to handle criticism and just find the quickest way to silence and censor members that speak-out. I'm sorry you have been censored but that's how they operate. The best thing you can do is to continue to speak out and to educate others. You may also want to post your original complaint that you posted here onto QRZ.com's satellite forum so that even more people can see it and know what is happening to members of AMSAT-NA.

The legacy incumbents of AMSAT-NA are totally responsible for all the bad press they generate for the organization. They have no one to blame but themselves due to their draconian methods of censoring paid members of the organization.
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AC7CW

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2020, 11:49:48 AM »

It is typical of introvert personality types to think themselves superior and to associate with other introverts. AMSAT has formed it's mutual admiration thingy and there is little that can be done about it. There are other introvert traits that make things very difficult for people that are a lot more intelligent.
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Novice 1958, 20WPM Extra now... (and get off my lawn)

AC2EU

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2020, 12:26:45 PM »

American "cancel culture" has found Ham radio too, eh?

The whole "good ol boy" and "mutual admiration clique" is not unique to AMSAT.

I am an ex-member of a club that was taken over by 2 guys. ( one of them held secretary, treasurer and VE coordinator titles!)
The rank and file finally had enough of the triple title guy and started calling him out on various things.

His response was to send a scathing rebuke of the club in an email blast, renounced his titles and quit the club.
Mind you, it took 8 years before this happened recently.

Maybe there will be a similar event at  AMSAT...eventually.

W4HIJ

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2020, 06:12:04 PM »

I was hoping this last election was going to change things but sadly the majority of the voting members must be happy with the status quo and the decade of stagnation that has gone on. It will be interesting to see what the breaking point is but for right now it seems the rank and file is happy with the launch of a flying repeater every few years.
 I never got the dogged insistence that AMSAT had for promoting how "easy" satellites were. There's certainly a place for birds that can be worked with minimal equipment like an Arrow and full duplex or either two handhelds. (Half causes needless QRM and all around bad operating practice.) However I got into this side of the hobby for the challenge and once you've exchanged a few grid squares on an FM sat, it gets old and boring awfully fast.
 They just steadfastly refuse to try to do much more than that though. ITAR has become a crutch and a convenient excuse, so much so, that they seemed more upset than happy when ORI did the heavy lifting and the work to show them how to get around it.
 Of course anytime you say anything about an HEO they start blathering about their newest catchy marketing acronym "GOLF" which is nothing more than pie in the sky promises along the lines of the now defunct and shelved "Eagle" project except it's "cubesats" now. If they can't figure out a way to help AMSAT DL get P3E in to orbit, an already built bird that I assume is languishing in storage somewhere, what's to make anyone believe they can pull off GOLF? I've asked about all this, both publicly (censored) and privately (no answer).
73,
Michael, W4HIJ
« Last Edit: October 25, 2020, 06:21:15 PM by W4HIJ »
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AC2EU

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #12 on: October 25, 2020, 07:07:40 PM »

Educate me. I looked up ITAR which excludes sharing info outside the U.S. ABOUT the satellite design?
OK, so what's the problem? US nationals build and fly it, but everyone can still USE it globally right?

I've watched our club members use the tracking software and do the contacts. It seemed like a whole lot of setup and work for a window that only lasts a few minutes!

If you want a challenge , have you ever considered moon bounce DX? I understand that there are a lot of technical challenges with that, but it may be possible with moon terrain mapping and obit dithering corrections.
Something like that would work for a longer window as long as there were hams on the other side of the planet with similar gear.
I haven't done that much research on it yet as you can tell, but maybe you can elucidate on that subject?

N6MST

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #13 on: October 26, 2020, 08:35:35 AM »

Educate me. I looked up ITAR which excludes sharing info outside the U.S. ABOUT the satellite design?

My (admittedly rudimentary) understanding of the ITAR issue is that certain technologies are prohibited from being distributed to individuals, organizations, and governments that intend to use those technologies for military and/or self-defense projects. I believe ORI collaborates with individuals and orgs around the globe but participants must not be participating in the project for the benefit of military or defense projects wherever they are. I don't know how the "non-military" or "non-defense" intentions are vetted, maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can chime in on that aspect...
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W1VT

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Re: AMSAT BB Censorship
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2020, 08:51:51 AM »

A change in leadership is unlikely to solve the biggest reason why AMSAT NA can't put up advanced satellites.
With the launch of Oscar 13,  a big HEO satellite, the folks who were building satellites retired. 
Many did this for decades and were no longer able to do what they did when they were young.

What AMSAT needs are hams with tons of time and the skills needed to build space qualified hardware.

Zak W1VT
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