Dick, the established procedure for considering changes to section boundaries is attached.

Currently there are eight states that are subdivided into two or more sections: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Washington, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. With the exception of Washington, these states were all subdivided many years ago although there have been further subdivisions more recently in the cases of Texas, Florida, and New York. The only subdivided states with fewer than 5,000 full members are Massachusetts and New Jersey. NNJ, SNJ, EMA and WMA date back to the early 1920s. If we were drawing section boundaries today we probably would not subdivide Massachusetts, but as you know NNJ and SNJ are in separate orbits around NYC and Philadelphia, respectively, which results in their being in different divisions as well.

I think it is fair to say that in most of the states that are subdivided, there are issues that do not exist to the same extent in the states in which the state and section are the same. Our subdivisions seldom correspond to those used for emergency management by states and served agencies, and never follow the boundaries of Congressional districts. State government liaison can be problematic when there is more than one SM appointing an SGL in one state; it works when the SMs and SGLs cooperate, otherwise not.

There are four states with larger numbers of full members than Arizona: Ohio, Illinois, Virginia, and Michigan. The largest by far in terms of members is Ohio, and while Ohio is a bit more compact than Arizona it has no unpopulated or underpopulated areas. The other three states all have distance issues from one end or one side to the other that are at least as significant as Arizona’s. If Arizona were to be subdivided, it would be reasonable to expect similar moves in these and other states.

Comparing the situation in Arizona with that in other states and sections, it seems to me that the problem is one of unrealistic expectations. It is unrealistic to expect the SM to personally represent the ARRL at that many events. Some delegation is necessary. In addition you have offered Tom alternative funding for some travel that is within your prerogative for employing Assistant Directors, and for whatever reason he has chosen not to take it.

In short, while it is easy to empathize with a volunteer as conscientious as Tom, in my view subdividing a state like Arizona would have a number of unintended and undesirable consequences.

73,

Dave Sumner, K1ZZ