The ARRL has just posted the agenda for the May 20, 2019 Executive Committee Meeting. There are a few interesting tidbits in it. Comments below.
DRAFT AGENDA – ARRL Executive Committee Meeting 9:00 AM ET May 20 – 2019
- Welcome and consideration of agenda for the meeting
- Approval of Agenda
- President’s Report
- Chief Executive Officer/Secretary’s Report
- FCC Counsel’s ReportA. FCC/Regulatory items
- Legal Matters
A. Local Antenna/RFI casesB. Other Legal/Regulatory Matters- Legislative Matters
- Organizational Matters
A. Relocation of HQ domicile from CT to DE
B. Unfiled amendments to Articles and Bylaws
C. ARRL Publication Policy
D. Graduated Life Membership Dues- Review of pending action items including work in progress by committees
- Recognition of new Life Members
- Other BusinessA. Motion to award President’s Award to Rick Murphy, K1MU
B. Motion to form committee on communications to membership
- Adjournment
Here are the items I found especially interesting:
- Relocation of HQ domicile from CT to DE. This is amusing. Would the ARRL really move to DE? Or, is this just a legal move to avoid taxes?
- Unfiled amendments to Articles and Bylaws. Are we talking about code of conduct things?
- Graduated Life Membership Dues. I’ve been advocating this for more than ten years. They should prorate the lifetime membership like the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) does.
- Motion to form committee on communications to membership. I like this idea. This committee should work on the disconnect between members—and non-members. Improved communications could help increase membership.
Make sure to contact your division director and make your thoughts on these issues known.
K1BKY says
Why does it say “April 20”? Is that a typo on ARRL’s part?
Dan KB6NU says
Yes, it was a typo. I was going to correct it here, but then forgot!
Dustin N8RMA says
If they are looking to move to avoid taxes, we may just see ARRL HQ newly located to Ireland! hihi
Chuck says
“Relocation of HQ domicile from CT to DE. This is amusing. Would the ARRL really move to DE? Or, is this just a legal move to avoid taxes?”
I can’t imagine that W1AW and the ARRL would relocate, nor do I think taxes are the motivation. I remember that during the code of conduct controversy, the former ARRL general counsel alluded to requirements of Connecticut non-profit law. It may be that moving the domicile to Delaware, whose corporate law is well-established, moderate in nature, and well understood throughout the nation, may avoid quirks in Connecticut law that the ARRL’s board prefers not to deal with. Let’s see.
Lloyd Colston, kc5fm says
I’ve advocated a move farther west for a very long time.
Travel expenses alone would be worth a look.
I have a note about this on my blog.
73
Dave New, N8SBE says
DE is a haven for US incorporations. The state regulatory environment seems to be very friendly to corporates that want to form there. No requirement to actually move there or have any physical presence there, DE just collects the fees.
Kind of like fulltime RVers tend to move their address to Texas, which is friendly to non-resident residents, so to speak. It’s easy to establish a mail drop there, and then have your mail forwarded to wherever you will be for a time, for pickup.
Ray W2RS says
N8SBE is correct. Moving the state of incorporation to Delaware does not require that HQ or any business operations actually be there, just a representative office to receive legal notices, etc.
I live in Arizona and own a Limited Liability Company domiciled in Delaware. It has no operations there; it just pays a local company to be its representative, as well as a Delaware franchise tax.
Ray W2RS