Peabody, MA – Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, ARRL Vice Director for the New England Division spoke to the NSRA club at their regular monthly meeting on Monday April 19th. Billed as an “ARRL night”, Mike headed a delegation of ARRL officials including, Phil Temples, K9HI, Ass’t Director NE Division, EMA SM Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, EMA ASEC, Jim Palmer, KB1KQW, and EMA DEC for the North Shore, Eric Horwitz, KA1NCF.
Raisbeck and Neilsen fielded questions concerning the ongoing problem of poor service and the troubled new website project. Mike, K1TWF, counseled patience with this problem, and recommended persistence in forwarding suggestions and feedback to the ARRL.
K1TWF presented a discussion on the future of the hobby in the face of remarkable technical advances. He introduced the notion of a future world of technological advances and a continued devotion to traditional values. His technical vision of the future included discussing hobby interest in a world which will be dominated by the internet and its many derivatives. A discussion ensued surrounding the notion that interest will probably remain very strong in our traditional communication modes, even with young people. Mike relayed a story that he compared our hobby to young people as a fascinating game, where speed and skill are very important attributes.