Tom, I think you've made an astute assessment of the Arcala effort. I also think it appropriate for Joel to respond (as the leader of a big bunch of hams) to this overture rather than to ask the ARRL (e.g., Dave on behalf of the corporation) respond. I sense each group of hams has a mutual goal of recruiting increased numbers of new people into the Amateur Radio ranks. Jim Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director ARRL Great Lakes Division 5065 Bethany Rd. Mason, OH 45040 E-mail: k8je@arrl.org, Tel.: 513-459-1661 ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio -----Original Message----- From: Tom Frenaye [mailto:frenaye@pcnet.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 8:46 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:18002] interesting mail I'm assuming all Directors and Officers received a copy of the Radio Arcala calendar and two-page letter from Richard Crouch/N6RC (Pacific Division, Life Member), based on a quick check with two others. I don't usually respond to a letter from someone outside of the New England Division. It's a nice calendar and has USA-focused events listed (though the first four months have passed). I've been aware of the effort being made by the folks in the Radio Arcala project since early this year and it seems like an interesting effort to engage young people. Pretty hard for me to tell how successful it has been so far though. At first it seemed like an ego-filing exercise by some of the proponents, but now I'm thinking they are really trying to figure out the same thing we are - how are we going to engage the next generation and interest them in what we enjoy so much. At the end Mr. Crouch asks for help, but doesn't suggest much specific, and asks me for "a vision of the future for amateur radio". Maybe he's looking for the ARRL strategic plan? In any case, my inclination is not to respond directly. If he's sending his letter to 20 ARRL officials I think the response should come from Dave, or Joel (or Bob Vallio). Other thoughts? -- Tom ===== e-mail: k1ki@arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444