My 2 Cents WorthAn editorial message from Jim Heedles, WW1Y
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My 2 Cents WorthAn editorial message from Jim Heedles, WW1Y
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Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines volunteerism, or voluntarism, as “The principle or system of doing something by, or relying on, voluntary action”. It would be hard to think of almost any activity in amateur radio without volunteerism. From your last DX contact sending you a QSL, to those who have offered, and in some cases, given, their lives to help others in times of natural disaster, this system of individuals freely offering the their time and effort permeates our hobby and has played a significant role in generating the respect and reputation of honesty and integrity in which the amateur community is held in the US and abroad.
But volunteerism is not without its pitfalls. Any organization that relies on volunteers is dependent on the kindness and goodwill of those volunteers. Destroy that, and the organization dies. The individual who “volunteers” to perform in a leadership role in any amateur group must keep this in mind always. This can be difficult with any group, much less a group of widely varying personalities that have nothing in common except a desire to participate in amateur radio.
As a Volunteer Examiner, it has been my privilege to be the team liaison for the Nashua examination sessions for the last 3 years. I don’t “run” the sessions, I coordinate them. Every VE who serves at a session does so of his or her own choosing. I am not their boss. I am the person they have agreed to let handle the pre and post session activities for them. When I make assignments, it is never without the consent of the individual being assigned. If someone doesn’t want a particular job, I don’t give it to them. To do otherwise is just plain stupid. If I annoy a VE, or make them do something they don’t want to do, that’s the last session I’ll see them. Who could blame them? We’re all doing this for fun or personal satisfaction. Take either away and the desire to stay involved vanishes also.
I won’t say I haven’t ruffled a few feathers. I have. And I’ve only have to deal with a small group of people. It’s a lot harder as more people are involved, and increasingly more important never to forget that each volunteer chooses to be involved, and only as long as it remains a rewarding experience. This is what makes the actions of the ARRL New Hampshire section manager, Al Shuman, N1FIK, so upsetting.
It would seem that Mr. Shuman has some sort of agenda for amateur radio and the National Traffic System in New Hampshire, and what anyone else thinks about it appears to be irrelevant. Why else would he “fire” the New Hampshire Section Traffic Manager, Richard Critz, KB4N? In an announcement dated 21 December 1995, Mr. Shuman announced the appointment of Thomas Mangels, WA1JVV, as NH STM effective January 1, 1996. Rich did not resign. He had not failed to perform the duties required of the STM. Far from it in fact. Besides being the STM, Rich has been a member at large of the Eastern Area Net of the NTS.
The EAN is at the highest level of the National traffic service. It handles the routing of normal and emergency traffic within the entire eastern seaboard and interacts with the Central Area Net for passing messages across the country. There are only two members at large in any area net, and they are elected by the area staff for a 2 year term. Rich is currently in his 3rd term. He acts as the Net Control Station for the EAN one or more times a week. If you have ever get an opportunity to see Rich run the Eastern Area Net, it is truly an impressive sight.
He also operates one of the more popular packet bulletin board systems in the southern New Hampshire area, and has acted as the Official Observer Coordinator for New Hampshire for the last several years. Along with holding two senior ARRL staff positions and a senior NTS staff position, Rich is also an active VE. He deserves significant credit for helping make the huge examination sessions at the 1993 and 1995 ARRL New England Division Conventions such a success.
So what is Mr. Shuman’s rationale for such an action? He claims it is his “concept of continued growth through involvement of various qualified individuals”. Are you as confused as I am by that statement? Isn’t KB4N qualified? Is he not “various” enough? If it is the Section Manager’s idea to increase the number of people who are both qualified and willing to perform in demanding ARRL staff positions, shouldn’t he work with the current staff members to help involve more amateurs? Building on the available talent, rather than just discarding all that experience and ability seems the wiser choice. Apparently he does not.
There were no discussions of this sort between the two. Rich was not even notified of this unilateral decision face-to-face, or even by phone. His “pink slip” arrived by email. Needless to say, Rich resigned his position as OOC. A position traditionally difficult to fill due to the perceived unpleasantness required in its fulfillment now needs filling.
Fortunately for the National Traffic System and for every relative of someone in a disaster area, Rich’s replacement is one of the few people in the state qualified to handle the position of STM. The actions of the section manager in no way reflect on the abilities of Tom, WA1JVV. However I have to ask, will the amateur community be as lucky the next time Mr. Shuman decides to summarily replace a hard working volunteer?
If the president of a company made a habit of firing his best employees he wouldn’t be president very long. There wouldn’t be a company very long. We can’t afford to let that happen to the amateur community. With this latest proof that the current section manager does not understand the idea of volunteerism perhaps someone should think about volunteering to replace him when his current term expires in July 1997. I can only hope that more “volunteers” are not treated similarly between now and then.
73, de Jim Heedles