At the end of April, David W. Brandenburg, K5RQ, of Osprey, Florida, agreed to chair the ARRL Second Century Campaign. This multi-million dollar campaign will focus on building the ARRL Endowment to further secure resources to fund the League’s commitment to the future. One important focus of the campaign includes the development of a robust national program geared at young people, enabling them to experience and develop skills in scientific and technological discovery through Amateur Radio.

Introduced at the Annual ARRL Donor Reception -- held in Dayton just prior to the Dayton Hamvention -- Brandenburg shared the vision of the campaign to the more than 150 guests. He told of the impact that Amateur Radio has had on his personal and professional life and why he decided to accept the leadership of the Second Century Campaign. Brandenburg then introduced the members of the Second Century Campaign Committee: Mike Valentine, W8MM, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Bob Allphin, K4UEE, of Marietta, Georgia; Frank Donovan, W3LPL, of Glenwood, Maryland; Ken Byers, K4TEA, of Atlanta, Georgia, and L. Dennis Shapiro, W1UF, of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. During Hamvention, Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, of Bemidji, Minnesota, also joined the committee. ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, and Vice President Rick Roderick, K5UR, are also on the Second Century Campaign Committee, as are ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, Chief Financial Officer Barry Shelley, N1VXY, and Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH. All members of the committee serve in a volunteer capacity.

Attendees at the reception noted that Brandenburg’s remarks mirrored their own experiences, giving them pause to think about how much Amateur Radio has meant to them and how they can join him in supporting the ARRL’s future. Brandenburg said he plans to add two or three additional volunteers to the group before the first working committee meeting, to be held August 11 at ARRL Headquarters.

The Second Century Campaign is planned to last through ARRL’s centennial year in 2014. More information on this important initiative will be soon forthcoming. See the link to below to find out more about this exciting endeavor.