As has been explained to me, the purpose of division director reports is to bring things to the attention of the board and officers that might be addressed at the upcoming meeting. The purpose was not to either present individual director travelogues or simple cheer-leading messages.

This report is intended to comport to the initial objective.

1)  ARRL Division Population Balance Restructuring.

A reasonable plan has been detailed in a previous ODV message. A one-year implementation plan has also been shown. Adoption of this plan will greatly address what is probably the most significant inequity in ARRL member representation. I urge its adoption.

2) ARRL Board Background Briefings

Thursday evening gatherings were at one time devoted to providing board members with knowledge about other organizations and systems, so that they would be better able to steer the League in a manner that benefits Amateur Radio overall. I propose we return to that model. Some appropriate briefings might include:

a) Responsibilities, liabilities, and insurance related to board and officer activities.

What actions can a board member be sued for? What kind of insurance does the ARRL provide to cover this? Which staff members are "bonded?" What does this mean?

How much does the League pay for this coverage? Has the League ever been successfully sued in court, and what was the outcome? What did insurance cover?

b) Status of other large domestic Amateur Radio organizations.

Review a list of other significant USA Amateur Radio operations, including their size, budget if available, popularity, membership trends, and perceived staying power. Included would be QRZ.com eHam, contesting.com, QCWA, AMSAT, Winlink, silentkeyhq, and others.

c) Status of other large international Amateur Radio organizations.

Review a list of overseas Amateur Radio operations, including their size, budget if available, popularity, apparent membership trends, and perceived staying power. Included would be RSGB, WIA, JARL, REF, SARL, and others. 

d) Status of Amateur Radio equipment museums

Review museums and private collections with significant amounts of Amateur Radio history. Include AWA, California Historical Radio Society, Vintage Radio and Communication Museum of Connecticut, New England Wireless and Steam Museum, W9EVT Collection, WA6MHZ collection, K6JAD collection, and any others. Include size, funding, popularity with both hams and the public, and perceived staying power.

e) Status of Amateur Radio Equipment manufacturers

Review a list of significant manufacturers, including their financial reputation, and history with ARRL advertising.Are there any that we might expect to fold or severely retrench?

f) Status of Amateur Radio legal issues

Review the overall status of anti-antenna court decisions. Review the term "reasonable accommodation," and the apparently disparate meanings being presented toward HOA-related issues and local government issues.

3) ARRL Policy Discussions

Currently, some portion of the board spends Friday evenings of board meetings watching movies that appear to have no relevance to Amateur Radio.  

I suggest we start Friday night policy forums, where concepts can be discussed. I would hope vice directors would be able to participate orally. Discussion topics might include:follow-up to any of the six briefing topics suggested in 2), plus specifically the following:

a) Relations between ARRL and other domestic Amateur Radio organizations. 

Should we be in any way partners with any of them? Does the fact that QRZ.com has more members than the ARRL deserve any discussion? Should we have a very low-cost life membership option with no benefits, or would that significantly eat into paid membership numbers?

The ARRL has been very insular. For example, management cooperation with N4MC's VanityHQ site (now silentkeyhq) did not seem to be enthusiastic.

b) Relations with Amateur Radio museums

Should the League adopt a policy toward museums similar to its club policy? Should there be ARRL-affiliated museums? Would museums welcome such action? Would Amateur Radio's primary age cohort support museums? Is it to the League's benefit to be at all concerned with history?

It has been reported that certain ARRL officials have publicly stated something like, "The ARRL is concerned with the future of Amateur Radio, not the past." Is this a known board position, or a personal view?

We also have a League employee actively working on small museum area in the Newington facility. Are his actions within League policies?

c) Should the League adopt a more aggressive policy toward assisting Amateurs with antenna issues? 

The status of antenna litigation and overall legal picture should be discussed. The General Consul's report seems to paint a pretty bleak picture. Are we all knowledgeable about current happenings?

Thank you for your consideration of these proposed changes to League and board operation.

73,

Dick Norton, N6AA