The races are now set for this year’s ARRL Board of Directors elections, and it includes one big surprise! According to an ARRL news item:
In the Central Division, Incumbent Director Kermit Carlson, W9XA, is being challenged for the seat by Valerie Hotzfeld, NV9L. Vice Director Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, is unopposed for re-election.
In the Hudson Division, Director Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, faces a challenge from Ria Jairam, N2RJ. Vice Director Bill Hudzik, W2UDT, is unopposed for re-election.
In the New England Division, Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, is being challenged for re-election by Fred Hopengarten, K1VR. Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, has no opposition for re-election.
In the Roanoke Division, the incumbent Director and Vice Director face challengers. Director James Boehner, N2ZZ, is being opposed for re-election by George Hippisley, W2RU, while incumbent Vice Director Bill Morine, N2COP, will be facing off against John Humphrey, W4IM, to retain his seat.
In the Northwestern Division, both the Director’s and Vice Director’s chairs are up for grabs, as incumbent Jim Pace, K7CEX, has opted not to seek a new term on the Board. Incumbent Vice Director Bonnie Altus, AB7ZQ, is in a three-way race for the Director’s seat. The other two candidates are Horace Hamby, N7DRW, and Mike Ritz, W7VO. A three-way race also exists for the Vice Director’s seat that Altus is vacating in order to run for Director. The candidates are Delvin Bunton, NS7U; Daniel Stevens, KL7WM, and Mark Tharp, KB7HDX.
That Ria, N2RJ, and Mike, W7VO were running is no surprise, but in the Central Division, Valerie, NV9L, will challenge Kermit, W9XA. Valerie is, of course, a co-host of Ham Nation and this year’s Dayton Hamvention Ham of the Year. There are also challenges for the director’s seats in the Roanoke and New England divisions.
What I like is that we have three women running for seats on the board. I’m not sure that there has ever been more than one woman on the board at the same time, and should all three prevail, it would truly be precedent-setting.
I have invited all of the candidates to appear on the No Nonsense Amateur Radio Podcast. Stay tuned for more info.
John Fuller says
It is good to hear that more people are stepping up because they want to see change. I hope they take you up on your offer as I am looking forward to hearing from them what they plan to accomplish.
JohnnyF, WJ0NF
Eric (KC9YJP) says
I’ve been a member since around the time I was licensed seven years ago. I don’t really recall any of the past elections. Can you tell me when and how we vote?
Dan KB6NU says
You should receive a paper ballot from the ARRL. If you are in one of the divisions that’s holding an election (New England, Hudson, Roanoke, Central, and Northwestern), look for it in the mail. The ballots should be mailed out soon, so start looking right away.
Steve - W8SFC says
Dan – Your post on the leadership challenges on the ARRL board echoes the same answer to current situations with elected leadership at every level; if you don’t feel that person is serving with the interests of the people that elected them, it is time to say so when the next election comes up before the voters. This should be applied across the board at every level that uses elected representatives to make policy decisions that affect those they are trusted with the authority to lead. Thank you for pointing this out because it seems there are many people who complain, but few are prepared to do anything about it. It’s easy to criticize but without a solution it has no effect on the problem.
I agree with you that it is time for more women to get involved, and it wouldn’t hurt ARRL to include younger qualified hams to serve on the board as well. That alone might be a boost to ARRL membership when people see that the leadership is made up of people who are not content to let ham radio die on the vine, so to speak.
73!
Steve – W8SFC
Ria, N2RJ says
Well, without giving away my age, I count myself in the younger qualified ham segment (<40).
What's also good about me is that I've been working in tech since I was 16, full time since I was 18. So I have amassed a ton of experience in several different industries in IT and technology in general including industrial process control.
That said, my ham experience is what I care about the most for this position. I have been awarded three separate times by an Amateur Radio SDR manufacturer for mentoring of their customer base. I am a volunteer tester with a very popular aspect of the cutting edge of Amateur Radio – WSJT software, as a volunteer tester. I also count Joe, K1JT as a close acquaintance, dare I say friend. (He has publicly endorsed me). I give talks and hold mentoring sessions at conventions, and I write my own free software. Without tooting my own horn too much, this is what I'd like to see more of on the board. I joke that I may be the only candidate running who has an active GitHub account.
Valerie makes how-to YouTube videos in addition to her work on Ham Nation. I (among others) heavily encouraged her to run and I am absolutely THRILLED that she is running. She would make a GREAT director and I would be happy to work with her when I win my election as well.
My current director does not have any of these credentials inside or outside of Amateur Radio. Most of his involvement has been with emcomm and similar activities. He dabbles in DXing and contesting but I've never seen him give a technical talk anywhere. Meanwhile myself and Valerie are all over YouTube. Emcomm is not bad, and it is vital to Amateur Radio, but I think the future growth of the hobby lies in technological progress, education and mentoring. We need people who can push that along and I and the other director candidates have some great plans in store once we clear our elections.
Dave New, N8SBE says
Dan, I thought it enlightening on your recent podcast that it seems the ‘old guard’ at ARRL believes that no one should be running for Director, unless they’ve ‘earned their stripes’ by first coming up through the field organization, finally as Section Manager, then Vice-Director, and finally Director.
No wonder the average age of our Directors tends toward being older, rather than younger.
It’s time for a shake-up, that’s for sure.
Dan KB6NU says
On his website, k7cexcom.com, Jim Pace, K7CEX, the current Northwestern Division director really makes some outrageous statements along these lines. For example, he touts Bonnie Altus, AB7ZQ as having “substantial experience in the ARRL.” For Bonnie, that seems to be several terms as Oregon Section Manager and several years as Vice Director, a position that she was appointed to. While that’s nothing to sneeze at, I’m not sure that would be enough to make her my choice to be division director. For one thing, aside from some EmComm work, she seems to have very little operating or technical experience.
Chrsitian Sweningsen KD2LIN says
Tlhanks for this. But I am seeing almost no information about the actual voting. I tried the League site to no avail. I had *heard* that email voting would be a factor. I have not received a ballot; what do I do then?
Dan KB6NU says
First of all, you have to live in one of the divisions that are having an election. If you are, you shall receive a paper ballot in the mail shortly. If you do not in a week or so, contact the ARRL directly. There is no email voting.
Eric says
Well… My membership expires next year and my address is in Illinois–Central Division. I haven’t seen anything in the mail yet! :(
I’ve searched the ARRL website a couple of times to see if I could find out if the ballots have been mailed out yet, with no luck.
Eric says
Hurray! I got my ballot in the mail today.
Chris Scibelli NU1O says
What is the date of the election? I misplaced my ballot. I called ARRL today and said a written request was needed for a new ballot. I just sent an email to N1ND for a new ballot.