Kudos to Central Division Director Kermit Carlson, W9XA! He recently posted all of the proposed amendments to the bylaws and his proposed modification to the “Code of Conduct” that the ARRL board is planning to take up at their January 19/20, 2018 meeting.
This is the first time—in my recollection—that these kinds of proposals have been available to the membership before the board meeting. Carlson notes:
The files in the links below are the final versions of the motions that have been distributed in advance of the ARRL Board meeting. Please note that the motions authored by the ARRL Board’s Executive Committee are considerably different from what is presented on various websites and that there is no motion proposed which would add a provision the removal of an ARRL member or officer. There is no such language in the Executive Committee proposals and it is my understanding that there will be no such provision introduced at the Board meeting. I will steadfastly oppose any such change.
I’m glad to hear that, although it’s possible that that particular proposal was retracted after such a hubbub was raised about the possibility. He also notes that he doesn’t think that there will be enough support for the proposal by NY2BB to give board votes to the president and three vice-presidents. Let’s hope that’s the case.
See the links below for the actual text of the proposals and let your directors know how you feel about them. The meeting begins in a week, so do it soon!
Lisenco AABL proposed amendments
Lisenco AABL proposed amendments.html
Norris-EC AABL proposed amendments
Norris EC 1 ARRL AABL Gramatical Revisions Motion.pdf
Norris EC 2 Art 15 Liability.pdf
Norris EC 3 Art 16.pdf
Norris EC 4 Mebership Dues.pdf
Norris EC 5 Life Member Bylaw 8 9 10.pdf
Norris EC 6 Terms of Office.pdf
Norris EC 7 Elections BLs.pdf
Norris EC 8 Recalls BL 24.pdf
Norris EC 9 Officers Duties BLs.pdf
Norris EC 10 Committees BLs.pdf
Norris EC BL 48 Dispute Res.pdf
Carlson Policy on Board Governance
Carlson Motion 1.pdf
Motion to modify
Narrative
Eric Tweton KD0NML says
The new Dakota Division Director Matt Holden K0BBC posted them on the Dakota Division ARRL member website and asked for input from our division members. It’s encouraging and I am going to give him my input.
RickB KA8BMA says
This is potentially good news. Thanks for keeping on top of it.
Frank Howell says
David Norris K5UZ, Delta Division Director, stated today via email that he is posting the same to the Division’s website.
73,
Frank
K4FMH
Dan KB6NU says
Yes, that seems like the board’s play at this point, but as Steve, KL7SB, stated on the myARRLvoice Facebook page, “Bottom line is the only change is that the Board can’t expel someone from ARRL as a way to get them off the Board, and it rewords the gag order from “Total silence” to “Must not criticize” It still leaves censure and keep off the ballot in play.”
Dave New, N8SBE says
The Election and Ethics Committee, despite being appointed by the President of Directors not currently in an election year, nevertheless has a lot of power vested in folks that may have to juggle their priorities as Directors with those of the Committee. Leaves lots of room for appearance of conflict of interest, not unlike appointing an special internal investigation unit for the local police force, etc.
The Committee has the right to disqualify any one running for election for Director, for instance. And this has apparently been used a couple of times recently, allowing incumbents to be re-appointed without balloting. As has been pointed out, this just smells, and ARRL won’t be able to get the stink off until they decide to stop appointing Committee members from among the Directors.
I’d even be in favor of using ARRL membership funds to hire an outside firm, as the Oscars do, to ensure no funny stuff during elections.
Dan KB6NU says
It appears that the Ethics and Election Committee can willy-nilly disqualify anyone running for an office. I just did a search through the ARRL website and could find no written criteria for what qualifies someone as being eligible to run for office.
Dave New, N8SBE says
The “membership dues” PDF also includes Article 12, which states (among other things) that no one can be a Director, President, Vice President, Treasurer or Vice Director unless they adhere to all the Articles, Bylaws, and Rules and Regulations of ARRL.
Once the Code of Conduct is made part of the Bylaws, Article 12 will give the board the ability to show any officer or director/vice-director the door by claiming they didn’t follow the book.
The rationale skips discussing the Article 12 change completely, effectively burying this change in a membership dues motion.