Two recent ARRL news stories caught my eye:
- Dwayne Allen, WY7FD, Resigns as Rocky Mountain Division Director
- John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, is New ARRL West Gulf Division Director
It’s kind of odd that the headlines seem to say two different things, but the upshot is that two division directors resigned their positions and the vice directors then moved up to director. This seems to be a very common occurrence on the ARRL board. My own division director, Dale Williams, WA8EFK, was also promoted to director when Jim Weaver, K8JE (SK) resigned in 2014.
I’m not questioning the directors’ motives for resigning, nor am I questioning the fitness of the vice directors to serve in these two cases, but the frequency with which this occurs, seems a bit shady to me. In this case, the directorships of the Rocky Mountain Division and West Gulf Division are both up for election this year, and these resignations allow the newly-promoted vice directors to run as incumbents. That just doesn’t seem right to me.
I know it’s an expense, but it would certainly be more democratic if a special election were held to fill a director’s seat upon a resignation. It might be worth it to head off any charges of favoritism or cronyism.
n5yhf says
I think I’d be more worried if Vice Directors were not elected.
Another solution is require the Vice Director be elected as soon as feasible instead of allowing a replacement to be appointed (maybe allow an Acting Vice Director that can not run again and if they are elevated they stay in until the election can be for both Director & Vice Director).
Dr. Frank M. Howell says
Did you catch the Board’s letting Counsel Chris Imley go?
Dave New, N8SBE says
True?
I was wondering why recent items out of the General Counsel’s office were being authored by someone else…
Jim Higgins says
I’d be concerned if the Vice Directors were appointed by the Directors, but since they’re elected by the members, I see no reason to be concerned.
And as far as speculation on motives goes… get a life! Even if accurate, the electorate is capable of voting for a non-incumbet if they want to… as we all saw quite clearly in the most recent elections.
Dan KB6NU says
Incumbents certainly can be voted out, but the reality is that it takes an exceptional situation for the membership to vote for non-incumbents. And, I’d go so far as to that it is questionable practices like this that create those situations.
Fred B says
That general practice in many professional groups..when you elect a VP you are also electing the next president ..but should be made clear.
Dan KB6NU says
You’re right, Fred, but this is a completely different situation.
Steve - W8SFC says
Ah yes, office politics at it’s finest. The one thing I don’t miss about working is this and it does smell of favoritism. It also depends on what made the people in those positions resign. Was there undue pressure put on those people that made them want to leave, or did something better happen to come along or were they forced out in favor of the new person? All the factors considered it seems there is some kind of skullduggery afoot, or is there? Those in charge always have some plausible explanation for these maneuverings and we may never know the true story. This is a case where the optics definitely look bad, I think it all depends on what the new occupant of the office does after assuming the mantle of authority. Sometimes the end result is most revealing.