The ARRL Board of Directors held its 2013 Annual Meeting January 18-19, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana, under the chairmanship of President Kay Craigie, N3KN. The Board welcomed two newly elected members to the Board family: Hudson Division Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, and Northwestern Division Vice Director James Pace, K7CEX; Lisenco and Pace were elected in November 2012. At its meeting, the Board set its legislative objectives for the 113th Congress, approved the organization’s amended financial plan, elected members to the Executive Committee and ARRL Foundation, bestowed awards and more.

Here are some highlights of the actions taken at the meeting:

• Legislative Objectives: The Board set seven legislative objectives for the 113th Congress of the United States:
  • To seek legislation instructing the FCC 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.
  • To oppose legislation that would lead to the reallocation of amateur spectrum or to sharing arrangements that reduce the utility of existing allocations.
  • To oppose legislation that diminishes the rights of federal licensees in favor of unlicensed emitters or encourages the deployment of spectrum-polluting technologies.
  • To seek recognition of the unique resources, capabilities and expertise of the Amateur Radio Service in any legislation that addresses communications issues that are related to emergencies, disasters or homeland security.
  • To support the complementary legislative objectives of other radiocommunication services -- particularly the public safety and scientific services -- that require spectrum access and protection from interference for non-commercial purposes that benefit the public.
  • To oppose “distracted driving” legislation that does not clearly exempt two-way mobile radio transmitters or receivers used by FCC-licensed radio amateurs.
  • To support legislation authorizing FCC Commissioners to appoint an electrical engineer or computer scientist as an additional member of their staffs to ensure that Commissioners have adequate access to technical expertise when making decisions.
• 2013 Plan: The Board ratified the 2013-2014 budget plan, as approved by the Administration and Finance Committee. According to ARRL Chief Financial Officer Barry Shelley, N1VXY, income from operations was positive in 2012, with membership dues, program fees and advertising revenues producing strong results, while expenses in total for the organization were under budget. ARRL Treasurer Rick Niswander, K7GM, reported that the value of the ARRL’s investment portfolio stood at $17.7 million at the end of 2012.
• Logbook of The World ad hoc Committee: The Board voted to create the Logbook of The World (LoTW) ad hoc Committee. This committee has been tasked with reviewing policies and practices associated with how LoTW runs today (including the fixed and variable costs), issues concerning user interface and usability, and economic value of an LoTW award point or credit. The committee will provide the ARRL Board with a progress report and preliminary recommendations at the 2013 Second Meeting in July.
• Symbol Rate Rule Modernization Committee ad hoc Committee: Since 1989, when the FCC’s rules concerning symbol rate limitations were codified, digital communications techniques have rendered these limitations obsolete , As such, the Board voted to create the Symbol Rate Rule Modernization ad hoc Committee. This committee has been tasked with evaluating potential modifications to the Amateur Service rules to permit and facilitate the use and development of high symbol rate digital communications techniques. The committee will recommend modifications to the ARRL Board at the 2013 Second Meeting in July.
• ARRL Foundation: ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, as ARRL Foundation President, reported that the Foundation now oversees and facilitates more than 70 scholarships, with eight new scholarships added in recent months. The Board elected the following as ARRL Foundation Directors: ARRL West Gulf Division Director David Woolweaver, K5RAV, ARRL Central Division Director Dick Isely, W9GIG, and former ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM. ARRL Foundation Directors serve three-year terms.
• Scouting and Amateur Radio: Upon the recommendation of the Programs & Services Committee, the Board approved the creation of the ARRL Amateur Radio Service to Scouting Award. This square knot award will be administered consistent with the Community Organization Award program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The award’s qualification criteria, nomination process, administration and implementation will be jointly determined by ARRL staff and members of ARRL’s previous ad hoc Committee on Scouting.
• Emergency Communications Advisory Committee: The Emergency Communications Advisory Committee (ECAC) was created at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the League’s Board of Directors, with a sunset date of January 31, 2013. As the ECAC needed more time to complete current pending tasks, the Board extended the ECAC’s current charter to January 31, 2014.

Awards

• ARRL International Humanitarian Award: The Board voted to bestow the 2012 ARRL International Humanitarian Award upon John Bush, KH6DLK/V63JB, of Hilo, Hawaii and Federai, Ulithi, Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. Bush was recognized for his promotion of the development and welfare to the population of the Island of Federai in the Ulithi Atoll of the Federated States of Micronesia. In addition, he was acknowledged for his efforts in the development of an electronic infrastructure on the island, including electronic technologies and Amateur Radio. The ARRL has established the ARRL International Humanitarian Award to recognize those who have used Amateur Radio to provide emergency communications on an international level.
• George Hart Distinguished Service Award: The Board voted to bestow the 2012 ARRL George Hart Distinguished Service Award upon ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Traffic Manager Marcia Forde, KW1U, of Concord, Massachusetts. Forde was recognized for her dedication to the National Traffic System (NTS). Since the early 1980s, she has held many positions within the NTS, including serving as Section Traffic Manager for the Eastern Massachusetts Section, Net Manager for the Eastern Area Net and as a Director of the Trans-Continental Corps. Forde, who has run various digital message systems -- from a packet node to a Winlink classic node -- is active in recruiting volunteers for all levels of the NTS. The Board created the George Hart Distinguished Service Award at its 2009 Second Meeting. It is presented to an ARRL member whose service to the ARRL’s Field Organization is of the most exemplary nature.
• Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Awards: This year, the Board recognized two professional journalists with the Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Award. This award is a national level award that is given each year to honor up to three professional journalists whose outstanding coverage best reflects the enjoyment, importance and public service value the Amateur Radio Service. This award -- created as a tribute to the late CBS News President Bill Leonard, W2SKE, an avid Amateur Radio operator -- is divided into three categories, each with its own award: audio, visual and print (no video award was bestowed this year).
  • Audio: Lucy Ann Lance, a radio show host with WLBY 1290 AM in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was recognized for a March 2012 interview with three ARES/RACES hams who volunteer with SKYWARN in Michigan’s Washtenaw County. Thanks to the three hams, Washtenaw County’s Emergency Services Department was able to activate its warning sirens prior to an EF3 tornado in Dexter, Michigan. Their early action contributed to no lives being lost in the tornado.
  • Print: Lynn Anderson, an editor with The Best Times, a newspaper catering to older adults in Johnson County, Kansas. Her article “Johnson County Hams: Cruising the Air Waves for Fun and Service” featured radio amateurs with the Johnson County Radio Amateurs Club (JCRAC) and their passion for Amateur Radio. JCRAC members told the nominating committee that they were “all impressed with the accuracy of the information presented in the article. It is clear that Ms Anderson did a thorough review and let the hams in the article help her with the facts. She cared!”

Committee Elections and Appointments

• ARRL Executive Committee: The Board elected the following Directors to the League’s Executive Committee: Bob Vallio, W6RGG (Pacific); David Woolweaver, K5RAV (West Gulf); Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF (Northwestern); Dick Isely, W9GIG (Central), and Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT (Rocky Mountain).

President Craigie announced the following committee assignments for 2013:

• Administration & Finance: Chairman Tom Frenaye, K1KI (New England); Greg Widin, K0GW (Dakota); Dennis Bodson, W4PWF (Roanoke); Cliff Ahrens, K0CA (Midwest); Bill Edgar, N3LLR (Atlantic); Vice Director Marty Woll, N6VI (Southwestern), and Treasurer Rick Niswander, K7GM.
• Programs & Services: Chairman David Norris, K5UZ (Delta); Greg Sarratt, W4OZK (Southeastern); Mike Lisenco, N2YBB (Hudson); Dick Norton, N6AA (Southwestern); Jim Weaver, K8JE (Great Lakes), and Vice Director Tom Abernethy, W3TOM (Atlantic).
• Ethics & Elections: Chairman Greg Widin, K0GW (Dakota); Cliff Ahrens, K0CA (Midwest), and Dennis Bodson, W4PWF (Roanoke).
• Public Relations: Chairman Kevin O’Dell, N0IRW (chair); Don Carlson, KQ6FM; Steven Polunsky, W5SMP; Mark Kraham, W8CMK; Ed Tyler, N4EDT; Bill Morine, N2COP; John Sovik, KB8WPZ; Alan Bauld, VE3CBR (RAC); Vice Director Jim Boehner, N2ZZ (Roanoke -- Board liaison), and Allen Pitts, W1AGP (interim staff liaison),
• Youth in the Second Century: Chairman Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT (Rocky Mountain); Andrea Hartlage KG4IUM; Nathaniel Frissell, W2NAF; Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ; Sterling Coffey, N0SSC; Joel Monza, KC2SNL, and Marcel Stieber, AI6MS.
• Centennial Celebration: ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN (Chairman); ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ; Vice Director Dwayne Allen, WY7FD (Rocky Mountain); Greg Widin, K0GW (Dakota); David Woolweaver, K5RAV (West Gulf); Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF (New England); ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R; ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N; QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and Allen Pitts W1AGP.
• Advisory Committee Chairs: Al Dewey, K0AD, Contest; Arne Gjerning, N7KA, DX; Jim Cross, WI3N, Emergency Communications, and Steve Clark, AG4V, VHF/UHF.

Due to illness, ARRL Second Vice President Bruce Frahm, K0BJ, Atlantic Division Director Bill Edgar, N3LLR, and Southeastern Division Vice Director Jim Millsap, WB4NWS, were unable to attend the meeting; Atlantic Division Vice Director Tom Abernethy, W3TOM, was present and assumed the Atlantic Division seat for the meeting. During the meeting, Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton, N6AA, fell ill and left the meeting for a time; during Norton’s absence, Southwestern Division Vice Director Marty Woll, N6VI, assumed the Southwestern Division seat.

All photos by Harold Kramer, WJ1B.