by Jim Weaver, K8JE

How the ARRL operates seems to be a mystery to many members. The confusion probably comes from the fact that many members assume ARRL in organized and operates the same way as their local club. It doesn’t. Somewhat like the U.S. Government, ARRL has three branches of its organization. These are the Board of Directors, the Field Organization and the HQ Staff.

The Board of Directors, including the Vice Directors, are elected by members of the divisions they represent. In the case of the Great Lakes Division (GLD), these members are from Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. The Board of Directors establish policy for the ARRL and is headed by the ARRL president who, along with the other officers, is elected by the Board.

The Field Organization is the group of volunteers that provide eight crucial services: emergency communications, message traffic, volunteer monitoring, RFI problem-solving, support of affiliated clubs, government liaison, encouragement of technical activities, and dissemination of on-the-air bulletins. The field organization is headed in each section by the section manager (SM).

Section managers are elected by members of the Sections they represent and head activities in their Sections to put League policy into effect at the field level.. The GLD consists of three sections, the Kentucky Section, the Michigan Section, and the Ohio Section. Each section spans the entire state.

The biggest part of the SM’s job is coordinating the activities of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) in his or her section. Each section has hundreds of ARES members, so you can imagine what a gargantuan effort this is. Being an effective SM means a person must be willing to dedicate great effort to the job and must be an excellent, skilled leader.

The ARRL HQ staff support the field organization and provide a variety of other member services. The staff is headed by our Chief Executive Officer, who is hired by the Board and reports to the Board. The CEO is responsible for putting Board policy into action at headquarters and, through the services HQ performs, for the members.

Even though many members believe their SM reports to their Director, this is incorrect. Dale Williams, WA8EFK (MI), Jim Brooks, KY4Z (KY) and Frank Piper, KI8GW (OH) do not report to me. They report to Dave Patton, NN1N at HQ, who heads the ARRL membership services department, which supports the Field Organization.

The three Sections in the Great Lakes Division are extremely fortunate to have members who care enough for Amateur Radio and the ARRL to be willing to devote the extensive amount of time and effort to doing the job and, finally, who have the skills and knowledge to be successful, top-notch SMs.

It is obvious from their success that Dale, WA8EFK; Jim, KY4Z; and Frank, KI8GW are excellent SM. Their past successes are indisputable evidence that they have everything needed to do the job. We in the GLD are indeed fortunate to have such high-quality SMs leading our sections.

NOTE: This article first appeared in Weaver’s Words, an e-mail newsletter sent to members of the Great Lakes Division. It did such a good job of explaining the ARRL organization, I got permission from K8JE to post it here……Dan

The September 2011 issue of Spectrum Defense Matters is now out. It’s mostly a plea for donations to the Spectrum Defense Fund, but you might find something interesting in it.

The ARRL claims that they need $189,005 to reach their fund-raising goal for 2011. Is 15 kHz in the 600m band worth that kind of money?

Part 97.1(e) lists one of the reasons for amateur radio is the “continuation and extension of the amateur’s unique ability to enhance international goodwill.” That being the case, if you know of someone who’s enhanced international goodwill using amateur radio, please consider nominating him or her for this award….Dan

Nominations are open for the 2011 ARRL International Humanitarian Award. This award is conferred upon an amateur or amateurs who demonstrate devotion to human welfare, peace and international understanding through Amateur Radio. The League established the annual prize to recognize those radio amateurs who have used ham radio to provide extraordinary service to others in times of crisis or disaster.

As one of the few telecommunication services that allows people throughout the world from all walks of life to meet and talk with each other, Amateur Radio spreads goodwill across political boundaries. The ARRL International Humanitarian Award recognizes the Amateur Radio Service’s unique role in international communication and the assistance amateurs regularly provide to people in need.

Nominations should include a summary of the nominee’s actions that qualify the individual (or individuals) for this award, plus verifying statements from at least two people having first-hand knowledge of the events warranting the nomination. These statements may be from an official of a group (for example, the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, a local or state emergency management official) that benefited from the nominee’s particular Amateur Radio contribution. Nominations should include the names and addresses of all references.

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From ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN:

In a move designed to demonstrate amateur utilization of the 33 cm through 9 cm amateur bands, the ARRL Board established a UHF Band Plan Committee at its July 2011 meeting.  This committee, described in Minute 39 of the meeting minutes, has been populated.  Vice President Rick Roderick, K5UR will be its chair.  Remaining members are ARRL CEO Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, retired ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, Central Division Vice Director Rod Blocksome, K0DAS and Southwestern Division Vice Director Marty Woll, N6VI.

This committee will work in cooperation with the National Band Plan Threat Assessment committee chaired by International Affairs VP Jay Bellows, K0QB.

As outlined in Minute 39, the committee shall present a preliminary report containing recommended Band Plans at the 2012 ARRL Board of Directors Second (July) Meeting.   The general charges to the Committee are:

1.  To determine current band usage in the United States.
2. To seek input and comments from the amateur community.
3. To consider international issues.
4. To look toward emerging technology and projected future usage.
5. To keep the ad hoc National Broadband Plan Committee apprised of its progress.
6. To, above all else, be conducive to increasing amateur usage in these bands.

The primary purpose of this committee is to map the use of the 33 cm through 9 cm. band segments by amateurs and to determine how best to expand this usage.  As directed in item 2, the committee will obtain input from amateurs on current use as well as of any steps that may be developed to increase our use of these frequencies.

This from the July 27, 2011 issue of  ”Weaver’s Words,” from ARRL Great Lakes Division Director, Jim Weaver, K8JE:

+++ Want to Receive BoD Agendas and Minutes? +++

In response to requests from members, agendas and minutes for its meetings, the ARRL Board of Directors voted to make these available automatically.  Agendas and minutes have been available on the website for some time; however, it is now possible to receive them automatically as they become available.

To be  added to the list of automatic recipients, go to the ARRL website and click on EDIT YOUR PROFILE.  At the next screen, click on EDIT EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS.  Check the box for ARRL BOARD MEETING AGENDAS AND MINUTES.

There are quite a few different e-mail newsletters that you can sign up for that can be very useful.  You do, though, have to be an ARRL member to sign up for these e-mails..

The ARRL Annual Report for 2010 — now available online and in print — reviews the major events of the year and documents the renewed growth of both the ARRL and the activities of the Amateur Radio Service.

The Web page announcing the report lists several highlights, including:

• For the fourth consecutive year, ARRL membership grew — totaling 156,475 members at year end.
• The volunteer leadership passed from outgoing President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, to Kay Craigie, N3KN.
• Financial results were somewhat better than expected.

I’ll have more to say after I’ve slogged through the entire report.