At 06:44 PM 8/11/2003 -0400, K8JE wrote:

Why NOT look into this?

I agree with Jim W and Jim H on this, I think we should look into it closely and see if there is a way to make it happen. Whoever gets there "first" would have a open playing field. I'd hate to see a CWPAC or any PAC organized to represent Amateur Radio that does not closely align with ARRL goals. Sure it can't be controlled by ARRL, but it can be organized and run by former ARRL Board members (maybe even Vice Directors...). They would certainly have the same interests in mind that we do. As the ARPAC or ARRLPAC is organized, it can even be structured to say that the goal is to influence legislation as described in the Legislative Positions of the American Radio Relay League ( http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/ ). I hope it does take a little money away from ARRL fund raising. I'd gladly budget $25k of ARRL money for direct political influence, and we can't do it today. So if a PAC can raise $25k I think it'd be money that would be used well and do a lot more good than some things we spend $25k on today... Maybe we can get some research on this done in the next few months so we can do some serious study in advance of the January meeting. -- 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