Welcome to the Big Island ARRL News update.
Our post today discusses some of the recent ARRL Board Decisions affecting radio amateurs.
Content supplied by Joseph Speroni (AH0A)–The ARRL Pacific Section Manager.
Accessed on 10 February 2020, 2350 UTC, Post 1313.
Source (email from Joseph Speroni — AH0A):
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxwGDNKtLmdVfbTCdtJczxFKfqSG
Please click link or scroll down to read your selections.
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-board-of-directors-re-elects-president-rick-roderick-k5ur
The link to the invitation to make comments on the ARRL band plan
revisions is
http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-hf-band-planning-committee-seeks-comments-on-recommendations
The link to the full minutes is
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ODV/Board%20Meeting%20Jan%202020/Board%20Minutes%20Jan%202020.pdf
QUOTE
Meeting January 17 – 18 in Windsor, Connecticut, the ARRL Board of
Directors re-elected ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, to a third
2-year term. Roderick outpolled the only other nominee, Pacific Division
Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, 8 – 7.
New England Division Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, was elected
First Vice President, succeeding Greg Widin, K0GW, who did not seek
another term. Raisbeck was the sole nominee. A successor will be
appointed to fill the Vice Director seat that Raisbeck has vacated. Bob
Vallio, W6RGG, was re-elected as Second Vice President as the only
nominee.
On a 9 – 6 vote, the Board voted not to re-elect Howard Michel,
WB2ITX, as Chief Executive Officer. Michel was in the post for 15
months. Former ARRL Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer
Barry Shelley, N1VXY, has come out of retirement to serve as interim
ARRL CEO. He also was elected as Secretary. Shelley was ARRL’s CFO for
28 years and served as CEO during 2018 before his retirement, following
the departure of former CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF. The ARRL Board has
appointed a committee to spearhead the search for a new CEO. That panel
will screen suitable CEO candidates, presenting three to the Board for
consideration.
Former ARRL President and IARU Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, was
elected International Affairs Vice President, succeeding Jay Bellows,
K0QB, who did not seek another term. Also re-elected by the Board were
Treasurer Rick Niswander, K7GM, and Chief Financial Officer Diane
Middleton, W2DLM.
Elected as members of the Executive Committee were Atlantic Division
Director Tom Abernethy, W3TOM; Central Division Director Kermit Carlson,
W9XA; Roanoke Division Director Bud Hippisley, W2RU; New England
Division Director Fred Hopengarten, K1VR, and Great Lakes Division
Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK. The Executive Committee addresses and
makes decisions regarding ARRL business that may arise between scheduled
Board meetings.
Hudson Division Director Ria Jairam, N2RJ, was elected as a member of
the ARRL Foundation Board for a 3-year term. Tim Duffy, K3LR, and Jim
Fenstermaker, K9JF, were elected to the Foundation Board for 3-year
terms as non-ARRL Board members.
Relief from Private Land-Use Restrictions
The Ad Hoc Legislative Advocacy Committee provided the Board with drafts
outlining three legislative approaches to address relief for radio
amateurs facing private land-use restrictions impacting outdoor
antennas. The Board signed off on the draft legislative approaches “as
presented and possibly modified” and directed the committee “to
proceed to obtain congressional sponsorship, employing any of these
three approaches and using its best judgment on any alterations or
modifications that our advisors or sponsors may require or suggest.”
HF Band Planning
Outgoing chair of the HF Band Planning Committee Greg Widin, K0GW,
presented the panel’s report and entertained questions. Board members
noted that staff turnover and funding limitations at the FCC might
impact ARRL’s efforts to tweak the bands. The Board agreed that ARRL
would post the report and solicit comments from members on it.
Contests and Operating Awards
The Board approved raising the maximum number of contacts a Field Day
GOTA station can make to 1,000. It amended the ARRL RTTY Roundup rules
to add Multi-Two and Multi-Multi categories and to permit multioperator
stations to operate for the entire contest period, and it divided entry
categories into RTTY only, Digital only (i.e., no RTTY), and Mixed (both
RTTY and digital).
Matt Holden, K0BBC, presented the DX Advisory Committee report, telling
the Board that the panel engaged in extensive discussion on a proposal
to change the 5-Band DXCC award from the current required bands to offer
credit for any five bands. The committee unanimously rejected the
proposal.
ARRL Elections
The Board revised rules governing ARRL Division and Section Manager
elections to clarify some terminology, to extend the campaign period
from the call for nominations to the deadline for ballots received, and
to make other miscellaneous changes. Revisions will become effective by
February 15, 2020.
In the interest of “openness and fairness,” the Board also approved
a measure that would offers candidates and members an opportunity to be
present during the counting of ballots. Candidates also may designate
one ARRL member to attend as a surrogate if they’re unable to observe
ballot counting, or to accompany them at the count. The Board further
approved an amendment to permit ARRL members, upon petition, to travel
at their own expense to witness the counting of ballots from their
Division.
The Board charged the Programs and Services Committee to consider
changes to the ARRL By-Laws that would give members, upon petition, the
opportunity to attend the public portion of the Annual Meeting in
January. The number of members permitted to attend would be subject to
available space and fire code regulations.
Public Service Enhancement Working Group Chair, Roanoke Division
Director Bud Hippisley, W2RU, reported that with field adoption of the
2019 ARES Plan now under way, the group is putting increased focus on
the National Traffic System, including plans for dialog with
representatives of Radio Relay International.
Reduced Dues for Younger Applicants
The Board approved an amendment giving the CEO discretion to raise the
eligibility age for reduced full ARRL membership dues from 22 to 26,
provided the rate not be less than one-half of the established rate. In
addition, the Board approved the establishment of a reduced-rate,
revenue-neutral Life Membership for individuals age 70 or older, with
cumulative annual membership of 25 years or more, at an initial rate of
$750. Headquarters staff will work out the administrative details of the
program, subject to approval of the Administration and
Finance Committee.
The Board also agreed to allow for a “digital-only” access
membership, at the discretion of the CEO, discounted no more than 10%
from the established dues rate.
Other Business
In other business, the Board:
• approved a grant of $500 to the Youth on the Air (YOTA) in the
Americas program, which is sponsoring a camp in June for young radio
amateurs. Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, a former ARRL Youth Coordinator, is heading
the initiative, which is funded through the non-profit Electronic
Applications Radio Service Inc.
• authorized creation of an Emergency Management Director Selection
Committee, with its chair and members to be named by the president
UNQUOTE
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ARRL Pacific Section
Section Manager: Joseph Speroni, AH0A
ah0a@arrl.org
For the latest Amateur/Ham Radio News and Information, please check the blog sidebars and links. These news feeds are updated daily and weekly. Thanks for joining us today.
Aloha es 73 de Russell Roberts (KH6JRM)
Public Information Coordinator
Hawaii County, ARRL Pacific Section
https://atomic-temporary-116934757.wpcomstaging.com.
https://www.simplehamradioantennas.com.
https://paperl.li/f-1576465810 (breaking Amagteur/Ham Radio news).