Skipper wrote in :


It is an economic matter with the ARRL. Where would they generate their
income if all those test publications and CD's were made obsolete? That
said, I agree completely with your observations of the ARRL's bad
influence on ham clubs and amateur radio in general.

I don't fault ARRL for becoming a business. But if a business is to
"represent" ham radio, then, why not Icom or Kenwood or Yaesu or soem other
ham business.

ARRL says it's a ham club. Ham clubs survive without becoming business or
publishers or magazine companies. That's what dues are for....dues that
give members CONTROL of the club. Once Icom ad revenues overcome club
dues, the club becomes an arm for the manufacturers to move product, which
is what the ARRL is all about.