September 2023 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:35210] HR CONFIDENTIAL
by Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) 25 Sep '23

25 Sep '23

I do not like putting HR updates out to the board via email, but I have been asked to. Please keep this as board confidential as it deals with staff. Since the January 2023 board meeting, we've been having issues with Steve Berry. He was very angry at me and the board for "forcing" him to hire a project manager for LoTW. He told me, in a status meeting with Diane shortly thereafter, that "we must have our heads up our ass" if we think he came to ARRL to manage a team or to work on Personify. He claimed that his sole purpose for being at ARRL was LoTW. I asked him for a plan to show how he envisioned doing the LoTW next gen project without a project manager. We never received one. He was asked to put together the new LoTW Committee with Mickey. I sent him and the group an email months ago suggesting some potential outside participants. Steve never followed up. I've been speaking to the board members who I rely on for IT advice (Mickey, Kristen, Fred, and Tony) about this situation with Steve since last Spring. The major issue we had with Steve, other than he refused to create any sort of plan for any of his projects, is that he refused to focus on a priority list developed with his peers. He never developed one, and while other priorities became critical, it was only then that he would pay attention to them. His solutions were Just-in-Time, and we always 80/20, where once he would take a new solution live, there were many bugs or oversights that required emergency action to rectify. A few weeks ago, as we went through all the priorities we were seeing no advancement on, most especially all the work required to handle the dues restructuring and the life member opt-in, it came to light that he had been spending significant effort building a "new ham" website. No one had that as a priority. There were no less than 10 items that required progress from IT, and yet this project consumed his time. Again, in a meeting that Diane was a participant in, he blew up and stormed out questioned about what the project was and why no one else, especially Marketing, was involved in its development. He yelled that he would not be micro-managed and wasn't coming back. I tried up through last week to establish a part time consulting relationship with him so that he could spend the next 4 to 6 weeks bringing these priorities to a conclusion. Steve demanded a one year, non-revokable agreement with no terms for termination, including non-performance. He also demanded more hours per month so that in essence he calculated what he needed to replace his salary while working part time for the full 12 months. And gave us an ultimatum that his "offer" expired close of business Friday. I declined. I am now working with the IT team to get these items completed, and we are also recruiting for a new Director of IT. One thing that we did learn, in earnest, from Steve is that a remote IT Director is a non-starter. The director needs to be here, working with the OTHER department heads on THEIR priorities, not on creative skunkworks projects that are fun to do but consume precious resources needed by the business. There's much more, but those are the important points. David

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[arrl-odv:35209] Emergency Communications & Field Services Committee Meeting
by Dale Williams 25 Sep '23

25 Sep '23

Greetings fellow Board Members, The next EC-FSC meeting is scheduled for September 26 at 8;00 PM Eastern time. The proposed agenda is attached. 73, Dale Williams WA8EFK Chairman EC-FSC Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86755100770?pwd=7l0Egq85WA9G8XxchNWyT7mbgCZswG.1 <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86755100770?pwd%3D7l…> Meeting ID: 867 5510 0770 Passcode: 033990 --- One tap mobile +13092053325,,86755100770#,,,,*033990# US +13126266799,,86755100770#,,,,*033990# US (Chicago) --- Dial by your location • +1 309 205 3325 US • +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) • +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) • +1 646 931 3860 US • +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) • +1 305 224 1968 US • +1 360 209 5623 US • +1 386 347 5053 US • +1 507 473 4847 US • +1 564 217 2000 US • +1 669 444 9171 US • +1 689 278 1000 US • +1 719 359 4580 US • +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) • +1 253 205 0468 US • +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) • +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 867 5510 0770 Passcode: 033990 Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kb5UujeBYp <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kb5UujeBYp&sa=D&sour…>

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[arrl-odv:35206] Director Ritz
by Mark J Tharp 20 Sep '23

20 Sep '23

"on some real good pain meds" Alive and well with a new titanium hip. Thanks for all the good thoughts on his behalf. 73.. Mark, HDX

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[arrl-odv:35205] Independent comment
by Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) 20 Sep '23

20 Sep '23

Here is the advice that AA9PW gives to people who want to study for their amateur radio license. (Note: his website let's you answer random questions for practice but does not teach the user anything) His comments are exactly how we are looking at the potential of the GW books fitting into our assortment. "The ARRL Ham Radio License manual gets consistently excellent reviews on Amazon and provides a great introduction to the theory and materials you'll need to know, plus it introduces the relevant exam questions as you work through the chapters. The Gordon West (W5YI) Technician Manual works a little differently, covering each question with detailed explanations of the possible answers. This has less introductory material and background than the ARRL book so would be a good test prep review book and a good complement to the ARRL manual, however, perhaps not the best single book to get if this is your first introduction to the hobby."

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[arrl-odv:35204] FW: Club Recognition
by Martin, Sabrina 19 Sep '23

19 Sep '23

Good afternoon, Please see below regarding club recognition. Thank you. Sabrina Martin Executive Assistant ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio(r) 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 (860)594-0242 [cid:image002.png@01D9EB06.F5BB1530] From: Walters, Michael, W8ZY <mwalters(a)arrl.org> Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 2:38 PM To: Martin, Sabrina <smartin(a)arrl.org> Subject: Club Recognition Hello, I have attached a spreadsheet of the anniversary clubs for 2023. This has been an ongoing topic and I was asked to send this to all. The list is sorted by 100, 75, 50 and 25 year anniversaries. The list is then sorted by division. If you have a club on this list that you wish to recognize or you have other clubs please let me know. Our process in the past has been to issue plaques to the 50 year and above clubs and certificates to those lower than 50 years. As you might imagine this size order of plaques will take time so plan for that. The certificates can be emailed to you for Director and Vice Director signatures. The cost of the plaques is $54.95 plus shipping and that will be charged to your division. As orders come in I will ship them to you or the club at your discretion. I look forward to hearing from you on this. Thanks Mike Mike Walters, W8ZY Field Services Manager ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio(r) 225 Main Street Newington CT 06111-1400 860-594-0305 mwalters(a)arrl.org<mailto:mwalters@arrl.org> www.arrl.org<http://www.arrl.org/> [cid:image001.png@01D9EB06.DBC3BE70]

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[arrl-odv:35203] 2022 Master Publishing/ARRL Letter Of Intent
by John Robert Stratton 19 Sep '23

19 Sep '23

All See the enclosed 2022 draft of Letter of Intent between the ARRL and Master Publishing. _______________________________________ John Robert Stratton N5AUS Director West Gulf Division Office:512-445-6262 Cell:512-426-2028 P.O. Box 2232 Austin, Texas 78768-2232 *_______________________________________***

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[arrl-odv:35184] Special Board Meeting - Monday, September 18
by k5ur＠aol.com 18 Sep '23

18 Sep '23

Hi all: Thus far I have 13 Directors requesting a special Board meeting regarding the request of the A&F Committee concerning a business opportunity. Therefore, we will have a special Board next Monday, September 18, at 8:00 PM Eastern time. Zoom info will be provided prior to that time. Thanks. 73,Rick - K5UR

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[arrl-odv:35197] Hip Surgery
by Michael Ritz 18 Sep '23

18 Sep '23

Just a note that I will be undergoing a hip replacement surgery first thing tomorrow morning, and will be off ODV for a full week following. Vice Director Tharp will be filling in for me in the call tonight, and will be filling in for me for the next week (Sept 19-26 as well). See you all on the other side! 73; Mike W7VO

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[arrl-odv:35200] In-Newsletter
by Martin, Sabrina 18 Sep '23

18 Sep '23

Attached is the IN-NEWSLETTER, covering weeks from August 12 - September 15 Sabrina Martin Executive Assistant ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio(r) 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 (860)594-0242 [cid:image001.png@01D9EA45.D360A6B0]

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[arrl-odv:35196] New ARRL video on license renewals!
by Michael Ritz 17 Sep '23

17 Sep '23

I have a ham that's having issues with renewing his license, and have had a few others in the past also. I was thinking this morning, "Why doesn't ARRL have a step-by-step video that goes over the complicated process?". Well, as of three days ago we do! Thanks to Maria and Jehrica for putting together a great video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI8nmjRJjg4 73; Mike W7VO

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