ODV, I appreciate Dick's comments. Regarding QRZ.COM, I'm glad to see Ed Hare post comments there from time to time. Last year I posted my campaign platform on QRZ.COM and I've posted a few comments there since being elected to the Board. There are obvious risks in posting comments on such sites, but there can also be significant rewards for the ARRL. I understand that once the Board adopts a policy on a specific issue, there should be no public dissension among the Board members regarding that decision. However, before a final decision on a specific issue is made by the Board, I think we should discuss that issue with the ham community in as many ways as possible, including such avenues as QRZ.COM. 73, Mickey K5MC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard J. Norton" <richardjnorton@gmail.com> To: "arrl-odv" <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 8:45 AM Subject: [arrl-odv:17577] ARRL Expands Influence Working With Others - WB6X Examples

I assume most of you will have seen the favorable news about the judges decision invalidating the City of Palmdale California's 2008 order that WB6X remove his tower. The story has been on the ARRL home page.

I'd like to bring to your attention some details of two positive outcomes of this episode demonstrating the value of ARRL working with others who have common interests.

1) The volunteer attorney, Len Shafer, WA6QHD, was not an ARRL Volunteer Counsel when this started. His only association was as a League member and he was not involved in League affairs. Len's connection to Alex Zubaru, WB6X, was through the PAPA repeater system, a 440 linked system in Southern California. Working with Len and others concerned with providing support for antenna issues irrespective of their affiliation has resulted in positive gains for the ARRL. PAPA members now support the ARRL as they see the ARRL supporting their interests. Attorney WA6QHD is now an ARRL VC, contributing to the betterment of Amateur Radio and makes useful suggestions concerning other antenna issues in the division.

2) We have also worked with Terry Graves, K7FE, Editor of QRZ.COM. I've had discussions with him about Amateur Radio web-sites, using volunteers, and controlling discussion groups. Terry started a thread on the QRZ.COM forums giving the ARRL plenty of credit for the WB6X case outcome, probably more than the ARRL deserves. See http://www.qrz.com/index.html . The response has been very positive. The messages from chronic ARRL detractor, W6EM, were even moderate and brought no chorus of support for his criticism..

Members of most other Amateur Radio groups consider the ARRL to be the National Association for Amateur Radio and are very supportive of the League taking the lead in negotiations with the non-amateur world. Albeit through other organizations, these people volunteer their time and resources for the betterment of the avocation just like we do. If we work with them, we have a good chance of eventually bringing them under a big ARRL tent. They should be considered our allies, not our competitors.

73,

Dick Norton, N6AA