I don't want to be responsible for inducing atrial fibrillation in anyone in our midst or responsible for destroying passionate beliefs regarding on which side of darkness some amongst us stand, but ... I find Jay Bellow's proposed "Sample Code of Conduct" to be a voice of reason in a cacophony of competing interests. Were it to be adopted with the necessary minor tweaks to match the ARRL's posture, it would do much to eliminate the distrust and dissension amongst the Membership. Yes, the adoption of the "Sample Code" would require the repeal of the existing COC — a Code and its use that is one of the primary rallying points for the opposition to the League. Repealing the existing Code and replacing it with something as simple as Jay's "Sample Code" would be a mark of maturity and good governance that would stun the League's current opponents. There is a rumor /(euphemism alert)/ that there will be a concerted effort at this weekend's EC meeting to reinstate the suspended Section 8 of the Code along with some other "/improvements/". If the Board continues on that course, it will be handing the tools of destruction of Amateur Radio and the ARRL to our enemies — and by enemies I do not mean our Members. If any amongst us believe the myARRLVoice has packed up its tent and gone home and the deeply resentful opposition to the League's past actions based on the current Code and the "control" efforts typified by the "Norris" and "Lisenco" motions has dissipated you are tragically mistaken. I have attended two recent hamfests —one in Midland, Texas and one in Claremore, Oklahoma. Although ~550 miles apart there was no distance between the positions of the Members in the two very different states. There was universal scorn of the League's rabid devotion to the current Code and what are viewed as anti-Member proposed "control" revisions of the AOI and Bylaws. We are as close to a full blown open revolt of the Membership as we can get without stepping over that line. For those who dismiss these sentiments —mine or the Ladies & Gentlemen of the West Gulf — as "junk mail" or the whining of those "not in my division" I respectfully suggest you terribly underestimate the seething anger of the Members, and not just those in the West Gulf. I respectfully suggest, particularly in light of pending threats to Amateur Radio and the League, that the EC terminate the current bloodletting over a Code of Conduct and the "control" revisions of the AOI and the Bylaws. The first step would be to recommend the repeal of the existing Code and its replacement with a Code essentially identical to Jay's "Sample Code." _______________________________________ John Robert Stratton N5AUS Vice Director Legislative Director West Gulf Division Office:512-445-6262 Cell:512-426-2028 P.O. Box 2232 Austin, Texas 78768-2232 *_______________________________________***