To the ARRL Board: The ARRL has had a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Weather Service since 1986. It's in our list at http://www.arrl.org/served-agencies-and-partners under SKYWARN. Just because of the passage of time, it's in need of an update. The attached draft was prepared by NWS staff and reviewed by ARRL staff, and also has been reviewed by President Craigie. There appear to be no policy implications with regard to any of the proposed revisions. Kay has prepared the following summary of the proposed changes: I. PURPOSE Adds reference to NOAA. II. RECOGNITION Updates number of Amateurs. NWS recognizes ARRL paragraph has cosmetic edits to read more smoothly. ARRL recognizes NWS paragraph fills in omissions, re-phrasing. III. ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN RADIO RELAY LEAGUE Updates number of ARRL Sections. IV. ORGANIZATION OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Rephrases and updates description of the NWS and its internal structure. Adds map. Rephrases description of Skywarn program. V. PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATION A. Updates NWS terminology. Notes need to conform to FCC rules & regs. B. No change. C. Updates principal point of contact information for both organizations. The bylaws give the EC responsibility for "periodically reviewing and recommending to the Board any changes in the ARRL Articles of Association, By-Laws, Standing Orders, and Memoranda of Understanding with other organizations." Because there are no policy issues, the most expeditious way of proceeding is for the Board to review the attached draft and, assuming there are no objections or concerns, for the Executive Committee at its March 19 meeting to authorize President Craigie to sign the updated MOU on behalf of the ARRL. 73, David Sumner, K1ZZ Secretary <<Draft Skywarn NWS-ARRL MOU Revised 01 Mar 2011.doc>>