I got a letter in December from the League stating that they are in dire straights and need $160K to make ends meet for the 2004 budget.....could I please help my sending them a donation.
Three days later the Vintage Issue arrives. They could have auctioned that Ranger II for thousands.
Interesting, too, is now that "vintage operating" is trendy (and money-making for folks like Heill, etc).......the ARRL re-discovers its roots (and Rangers sitting in their basement).
Where was the ARRL twenty-plus years ago when the AM'ers were struggling for frequency space and recognition.
The League is the only organization really fighting for the rights of the amateur, unless you subscribe to the IARN club.
The $160K is a pittance in comparison to what it costs to protect our bands each year?
What would the collective group of amateurs pay to defend our spectrum, bet it would be much more than 160 large?
Could the League have sold the Ranger on eBay?
Certainly, but I would wager the good press and new memberships which have generated out of Stu's efforts to build and document the project will be worth far more.
Indeed, rather than auction the Ranger and have one person enjoy the project, Stu's efforts have allowed hundreds, nay thousands to see and experience the joy of building a vintage kit!
Is AM trendy and fun, yes indeed, and I am enjoying every minute of it!
I know that in Maine, vintage operation is on a huge upswing.
When I moved here in 2000, there were perhaps a dozen vintage gear folks who were active.
The number has easily doubled in the last 4 hours, perhaps even tripled. Why is that a bad thing?
In closing, may I suggest you do something to aid the efforts of the amateur service rather than just pissing and moaning?
I have read your posts for the last few years and the tone is always negative.
In closing, may I inquire why you bother to be in the hobby or post here if the only comments you have to say are just pissing and moaning about the efforts of other who are doing good things for the amateur service?
