Everyone:
I will try and respond to all the comments made to this point. I apologize in advance if I miss one as the emails have been flying all evening.
First, let’s agree that all of this is the result of a mistake. We did not intend to post the “emergency” vote (my words) of the EC as it was not a meeting and, as a result,
no announcement was being planned. I asked for the vote because closing the loan required quick action to make sure we had the specific authority to sign the documents to accept the loan that we had agreed to try and get, in conjunction with and with the approval
of the A&F Committee. We were under a deadline.
As for making an announcement now that it is public to a degree, I’m not sure I agree with that. I need to think about it, but my first thought is that any statement now makes
it look like we’re ashamed of what we did and we’re apologizing for it. I’m not ashamed of what the organization did. Like tens of thousands of companies across the country, we took advantage of a Congressionally approved program which was intended as support
for keeping Americans employed and to provide support for companies that were impacted by the pandemic. I don’t think there are many companies announcing that they’re participating in the program, but I only see the CT and SC press. Further, we met and are
complying with all the appropriate rules and regulations of the loan program and will use it to help fund the appropriate expenses (mostly payroll) for a minimum of 8 weeks as required under the loan terms. If that sounds like I’m being defensive, I’m sorry,
but I don’t know any other way to say it and I’ll say that to any member or Division or Section leadership official who asks. We did it because it was in the ARRL’s best interest which means it was in the members best interest and that should be the response.
As we discussed in the A&F meeting yesterday, we have seen, and will continue to see, a significant financial impact as a result of the pandemic. We are exactly the kind of organization for which the program was intended. I believe I said to the Board in an
earlier email there are people who believe they know better than the SBA who should get take advantage of this program and I was sure that the loan would be made public when our audited financial statements for 2020 were published. So far, at least one of
those things has proven to be true.
Ria, to your point about the subscription service for people who get minutes from the Board and, I believe, the EC, this takes an affirmative action on Carla’s part to create
that email to send it to the list and that has not taken place.
Bud, to your challenge regarding informing the Board of actions we take before it’s made public, as I said above, this one was not intended to be made public at this time so
no announcement was planned. As for the larger question about somehow informing the Board of Directors before any action is publicized, I think that we need to discuss this. I believe in notifying the Board of important actions and pronouncements from HQ prior
to publication and I believe I’ve tried to err on the side of more rather than less, but I haven’t sent the Board everything. I though we had come to an agreement on the EC review of certain stories and are doing so. If you really want to know everything before
it’s published in any media we use, I think we need to discuss this which I am perfectly willing to do. But to be up front, I think that is an unattainable standard.
As for a “story” on ARRL’s participation in the PPP program, I will draft something tomorrow after the 8:30 am managers meeting where we’ll be discussing reopening plans and
will submit it to the EC for review under our current policy. I would like to continue the discussion regarding the appropriateness of publishing a story on this topic. I see it as no win situation. The only voices we’ll hear from are those people who, for
whatever reason, don’t think we should participate in the government program.
Thank you for listening tonight. I hope I responded to everyone’s questions or issues. If not, please let me know and I’ll try and respond tomorrow.
73,
Barry, N1VXY
From: arrl-odv <arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org>
On Behalf Of Mickey Baker
Sent: Sunday, May 17, 2020 8:23 PM
To: Hippisley, George (Bud), W2RU, (Dir, RK) <w2ru@arrl.org>
Cc: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@arrl.org>
Subject: [arrl-odv:30317] Re: EC minutes
Yes, I agree, George.
So it is time for an explanation to membership, as Ria stated, before we get queries from membership, or it appears in the Hartford Courant.
Mickey Baker, N4MB
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
“The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead." Robert K. Greenleaf
On Sun, May 17, 2020 at 8:06 PM Hippisley, George (Bud), W2RU, (Dir, RK) <w2ru@arrl.org> wrote: