01/30/2009

ARRL Board of Directors held its 2009 Annual Meeting on January 16-17 in Windsor, Connecticut, under the chairmanship of President Joel Harrison, W5ZN. Radio Amateurs of Canada President David Goodwin, VO1AU/VE3AAQ, and IARU President Larry Price, W4RA, were guests of the Board.

The Board considered and acted on a number of organizational and regulatory issues. Election of the Executive Committee, committee appointments and awards were also on the agenda for the Annual Meeting.

Organizational Issues

ARRL Strategic Plan: At its July 2008 meeting, the Board voted to develop a timeline to review and revise the ARRL Strategic Plan. The Board directed Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, to release the Plan's long-range goals to the membership and to solicit comments from members "on the future direction and priorities of their national organization." At this meeting, Sumner led an in-depth led an in depth discussion of the membership input. The Executive Committee is tasked with developing materials for use in completing the Plan revision at the July 2009 Board meeting.

ARRL Membership and Deployed Active Duty Military: The Board voted unanimously to amend Bylaw 5 , stating that the Executive Vice President is authorized to maintain ARRL membership privileges without charge for the duration of a member's active military deployment outside the ARRL operating territory as described in Bylaw 30, with or without the delivery of QST at the member's option. Bylaw 30 delineates which states (or portions of states) belong to the 15 ARRL Divisions. This action brings in to the Bylaws a policy adopted earlier by the Board.

Budget: The Board voted to adopt the 2009-2010 Plan (as amended), as presented by the Administration and Finance Committee.

Scouting: The Board voted to offer assistance to the Boy Scouts of America and their 2010 National Scout Jamboree. By representing Amateur Radio and participating with K2BSA at the Jamboree in conjunction with the Boy Scouts, the ARRL plans to build on the success of past National Jamborees where thousands of youth learned about the value and enjoyment of Amateur Radio. Teaching the Radio merit badge program, license classes and VE exam sessions have been parts of the quadrennial event that attracts more than 40,000 Scouts and leaders.

Technology Task Force: This group, created in 1999, was formed to develop a strategy and plan of work for exploring new technologies, assessing their applicability to Amateur Radio and also developing a plan as to how to incorporate such new technology in the Amateur Radio Service. Since its inception, the Technology Task Force has carried out studies and offered recommendations -- particularly with regard to digital voice, high-speed multimedia, and software-defined radio. The Board resolved that the exploration and promotion of new Amateur Radio communications technologies shall continue to be an essential element of the ARRL's mission and that the original mission of the Technology Task Force may now be carried out more effectively by other means. With sincere thanks and gratitude, the Board voted to dissolve the group.

IARU Member-Society Admissions: The Board voted unanimously to instruct the Secretary to cast ballots in favor of admitting the Emirates Amateur Radio Society and the Kazakhstan Federation of Radiosports and Radioamateur to the IARU

ARRLWeb Redesign: A group from Fathom, a contractor based in Hartford, presented the company's progress on a new design for the ARRL Web site. As recommended by the Administration and Finance Committee, the Board voted to approve a capital expenditure to move into the third phase of the design development.

Legislative and Regulatory Matters

Legislative Objectives: The Board voted to approve five legislative objectives for the 111th Congress:

•  Objective #1: The ARRL seeks legislation to extend the requirement for "reasonable accommodation" of Amateur Radio station antennas (a requirement that now applies to state and local regulations) to all forms of land use regulation.

•  Objective #2: The ARRL opposes legislation that encourages the deployment of RF technologies such as broadband over power line (BPL) systems unless adequate safeguards against interference to licensed radiocommunication services are included in the legislation.

•  Objective #3: The ARRL opposes legislation that would diminish the rights of federal licensees in favor of unlicensed emitters, especially unintentional emitters.

•  Objective #4: The ARRL seeks recognition of the unique resources, capabilities and expertise of the Amateur Radio Service in any legislation addressing communications issues related to emergencies, disasters, or homeland security.

•  Objective #5: The ARRL supports the complementary legislative objectives of other radiocommunication services, particularly the public safety and scientific services that require spectrum access and protection from interference for noncommercial purposes that benefit the public.

 Call Sign Allocation Study: The Board voted to instruct the Executive Committee, with advice and input from the Programs and Services Committee, to study the FCC sequential, vanity and special call sign programs.

Amateur Radio and Driving: The Board noted that local municipalities, as well as state legislatures, have made laws or are considering laws that apply to drivers who use cellular telephones while driving. Recognizing that this sort of legislation often inadvertently prohibits -- or can be construed to prohibit -- Amateur Radio mobile communications, the Board instructed the Executive Committee to develop a policy statement and recommend language that protects the ability of licensed radio amateurs to prudently conduct mobile amateur communications.

Other Items

Committee Elections and Appointments

Executive Committee: The Board elected the following Directors to the ARRL Executive Committee: Bill Edgar, N3LLR, Atlantic Division; Dick Isely, W9GIG, Central Division; Jay Bellows, K0QB, Dakota Division; Tom Frenaye, K1KI, New England Division, and Bob Vallio, W6RGG, Pacific Division. Members of this committee serve one year terms.

President Harrison appointed the following Board members to committees:

Administration and Finance Committee: Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, Chairman, Northwestern; Jim Weaver, K8JE, Great Lakes; Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, Roanoke; Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, Rocky Mountain; Dick Norton, N6AA, Southwestern; Vice Director Cliff Ahrens, K0CA, Midwest, and Treasurer Jim McCobb, K1LU.

Programs and Services Committee: Bruce Frahm, K0BJ, Chairman, Midwest; Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Southeastern; Coy Day, N5OK, West Gulf; Mickey Cox, K5MC, Delta; Frank Fallon, N2FF, and Vice Director Greg Widin, K0GW, Dakota.

Ethics and Elections Committee: Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, Chairman, Southwestern; Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, Rocky Mountain, and Jay Bellows, K0QB, Dakota Division.

Ad Hoc Scouting Committee: Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, Chairman, Rocky Mountain; Bill Edgar, N3LLR, Atlantic Division; Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, Northwestern, and Staff Liaison Larry Wolfgang, WR1B.

Ad Hoc Committee on the ARRL Foundation: Vice President Rick Roderick, K5UR, Chairman; Tom Frenaye, K1KI, New England; Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, Northwestern, Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, and Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH.

Chairman and Liaison Appointments

Public Relations Committee: Bill Morine, N2COP, Chairman; Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, Liaison, New England.

Historical Committee: Vice Director Gary Johnston, KI4LA, Chairman, Great Lakes.

Legal Defense and Action Committee: Jay Bellows, K0QB, Chairman, Dakota Division.

Electromagnetic Compatibility Committee: Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, Chairman, Roanoke.

Band Planning Committee: Vice President Rick Roderick, K5UR, Chairman.

Microwave Band Planning Committee: Tom Clark, K3IO, Chairman.

RF Safety Committee: Greg Lapin, N9GL, Chairman.

VHF/UHF Advisory Committee: Kermit Carlson, W9XA, Chairman.

DX Advisory Committee: To be announced

Contest Advisory Committee: Dick Green, WC1M, Chairman.

Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator: Joe Moell, K0OV.

Awards

2008 International Humanitarian Award: The Board selected the Amateur Radio operators of the Sichuan Radio Sports Association, the Chinese Radio Sports Association and the many operators from around China who supported communications efforts in the aftermath of the May 2008 earthquake, as the recipient of the 2008 International Humanitarian Award.

2008 Bill Leonard, W2SKE Professional Media Award: The Board selected Ted Randall, WB8PUM, of Lebanon, Tennessee, as the recipient of the 2008 Bill Leonard, W2SKE Professional Media Award; Randall is host of the QSO Radio Show. He was cited for his ongoing coverage of Amateur Radio through his profiling of key figures and personalities. Randall's reporting of their contributions "best reflects the enjoyment, importance and public service value of Amateur Radio."

The complete Minutes of the 2009 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors are available on the ARRLWeb.

The next meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors is scheduled for July 17-18, 2009.