ARRL CEO Is Out! YouTubers Bunch #10
A while back, several other Ham Radio YouTubers and myself started these collaboration videos and the feedback we have received on them has been very positive. Thanks to all in the Ham Community who support our efforts.
In this 10th episode of our Collaboration efforts, we talk about the most reent CEO of the ARRL, Howard Michel, WB2ITX, and how his term was so short-lived. I hope you enjoy the episode, feel free to comment below.
Thanks!
Great video with good information. I’m a new ham at 67 as I got into this at retirement and want to really learn about it and use it.
I’m one of the “old guys” but worked in training and tech most of my adult life and can see where this could be really interesting for ‘young’ people too. Keep up your good work and I’ll keep checking in.
Many organisations have a fear of communications dealing with the public. A radio society should have no fear e.g sending morse code if you make a mistake go back and correct it. The fear of the keyboard warriors and the law have taken over. Everyone should rember the first QSO the fear factor at the start and it went away. If every one goback to basic communications the fear factor will lift. A very good presentation are positions on the board of a society a badge of honour?. Best of 73 Gerard.
I wanted to put my cents in on this. I am not a member of arrl. I have been a ham for a few years. Honestly I don’t see the point in becoming a member. I am almost 38 and they have failed to reach me. I get more from YouTube videos than I feel I would from arrl.
It is too bad that some of these cheap Hams don’t want to support the ARRL magazine that they do a lot of hams.after I got my ticket I bought the magazine over 20 years ago and still subscribe to it.👍
I attended a recent hamfest and the non-renewal of WB2ITX was a major topic of discussion with ARRL reps in attendance. Two comments:
1. The non-renewal of the CEO’s contract is a personnel issue and, therefore, a potentially sensitive question for open discussion. Understandable problem when asking for more information on his “departure”.
2. ARRL is a member driven organization, with the CEO role therefore different in nature from a traditional CEO job where the CEO is the leader and ultimate decision maker. This difference can cause friction when a traditional CEO is put into a role where he takes direction rather than the other way around. The role at ARRL is more akin to that of Executive Director rather than that of CEO.
I’ve been involved in both types of organizations – that of my employer (the traditional CEO) and the member driven organization where we hired an Executive Director – so I understand the problem. One question that was asked at the hamfest had to do with search criteria for the new CEO. First and foremost was being an active ham operator which, one when reads between the lines, suggests that WB2ITX may not have been as widely active on-air as one might hope. As for the CEO role and potential friction, I came away with the impression that WB2ITX may have had a problem adjusting to Board input and control. Just my two cents – impressions gleaned from the Q & A.
As for the comments above about ARRL membership in general, it is not just in support of the magazine, QST. ARRL has been our voice in Washington and internationally for many, many years. It has been effective in both preserving our operating bands and in gaining access to new ones. It has been effective in antennal ordinance issues nationwide and continues to work for national guidelines beneficial to hams. If they have failed to “reach” you, you probably haven’t been paying attention.