I hope that the board is aware that the current disqualification effort will likely be publicized something like what is shown in the following example. I hope the board is also aware that this is also very likely to lead to legal action. Neither of these can benefit the Amateur Radio, the ARRL, or members. It is a muscle flexing exercise that, at best, is a poor business decision. I urge the board to let the Southeastern Division members decide who they want to represent them. 73, Dick Norton, N6AA -------------------------------- In an action so bold that it might make a political operative such as Boss Tweed envious, a group of ARRL directors appear to have strengthened their political positions by the simple act of declaring that the campaign rhetoric of one of their political opponents on the board was "materially unethical," and then finding that "it was necessary to disqualify him as a candidate for re-election." This action was taken in spite of the fact that the League's bylaws actually contain no objective criteria for disqualification other than the basic requirements of age, licensing, membership, absence of business conflict and validity of nominating petition. As the populations of ARRL divisions have changed over the last century, the ARRL's members now have widely differing political impact, depending on where they reside. Members of the smallest division have 4.6 times the voting clout of those in the largest. Directors of the larger divisions have recently attempted to even out this inequity by reapportionment. With this "disqualification," directors of the three smallest divisions may have struck a serious blow to the reapportionment effort. Disqualifying reform director Rehman, with no apparent consideration to the glaring conflict of interest, might even be characterized as being more than bold. The director of the second smallest division, initiated the removal effort. A presentation of reform director Rehman's campaign campaign rhetoric was made to the Elections and Ethics Committee, who then effectively declared it to be blasphemous. The E&E Committee is currently made up of three directors who were all appointed to their positions rather than being elected. They include the directors of the smallest and third smallest divisions, solid opponents of reform director Rehman's reapportionment efforts. ARRL members who believe in equitable representation may find this disturbing.