[Fourlanders] FW: [GARS] Mickey Baker, N4MB

Sun Sep 29 22:51:09 EDT 2019

In case you ARRL members have not been made aware of this candidate for ARRL
Southeastern Division Director.

Ron
WW8RR

From: GARS at groups.io [mailto:GARS at groups.io] On Behalf Of John Davis, WB4QDX
Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2019 7:38 PM
To: GARS at groups.io
Subject: [GARS] Mickey Baker, N4MB

I an effort to provide ARRL members with information on candidates for the
upcoming Southeastern Division Director election, the following email was
received by candidate Mickey Baker, N4MB.

Mickey Baker, N4MB
Candidate for Director - ARRL Southeastern Division

Advocate for Transparency, better responsiveness to members and growth of
ARRL and Amateur Radio.

We have had the same ARRL Director of the Southeastern Division for nine of
the last 12 years.
Are you happy with the ARRL over that time?
>From 2011 until 2018, the percentage of amateurs that are ARRL members
shrank from 22.4% to 20.7%. The number of members shrank while the number of
licensees increased by 7.6% over that period.! (Most recent statistics
available from ARRL Annual Reports published on arrl.com)
More people are being licensed - but fewer of the newbies are joining ARRL.
Why?
Something must change. From reading ARRL CEO's Howard Michel's Second
Century column in QST, it is apparent that Dr. Michel is generating good
analysis to show direction for change - he needs support from the Board and
from the membership.
If the rate of membership loss over the past 8 years continues, ARRL will
not survive this Century. The ARRL must be more responsive to the needs of
newer and less experienced amateurs so that we can leave the legacy of
Amateur Radio to future generations.

Election of Board Members is the only way members can make change to the
ARRL. Choose carefully.

The incumbent Southeastern Director voted NAY to the resolution to hire Dr.
Howard Michel as CEO in the special ARRL Board meeting on August 22, 2018. 
The incumbent's record of Board votes on transparency is troubling to me.
For example, here is what can be found in Board minutes during his most
recent term:
.      Sarratt voted in the January 2017 Board Meeting to establish a "Code
of Conduct" for directors, which, among other things, prohibited members of
the Board from criticizing actions of the Board publicly.
.      In a special Board Meeting held in November 2017, Mr. Sarratt voted
to censure a fellow board member, Dick Norton, N6AA, ostensibly because he
"publicly criticized the ARRL Code of Conduct for Board members at a public
Amateur Radio gathering." 
.      In the January 2019 meeting, he was one of only 3 Directors (out of
15) who voted AGAINST repealing this onerous ARRL "Code of Conduct." 
.      When a motion to rescind the censure of N6AA was raised in the July
2019 Board meeting, it was SECONDED by 11 Board Members - an unusual and
exceptional show of support. Mr. Sarratt THEN moved to TABLE the motion
until the next day. A vote was held on Sarratt's motion and it failed. The
rescission of N6AA's censure was then passed by voice vote.

I believe that the ARRL needs a fresh view with LEADERS that are not afraid
to challenge the status quo but are willing to work with others to develop
policy for effective change. We need a Director that can work with the CEO
and other Board members in a positive direction to accomplish common goals.
I'm a proven "servant leader", 42 year ARRL member, 49 year licensee that
has lived in the Division all my life I have no personal agenda other than
the betterment of the League through improvement of the services offered to
the amateur community - that's you! I am willing to grow amateur radio and
make the ARRL an active catalyst in that growth.
What I will do if elected:
.      Transparency - The Division will hear from me DURING my term, not
just a month or two before each election! I will answer my phone, return
emails and phone calls, and keep an active dialogue with members. I will NOT
VOTE on ANY ISSUE to take away members rights to know what is going on!
.      The Division web page will reflect all the activity in the division,
not just that in my home part of the division. You will know about issues
before the board shortly after I do. 
.        Issues and Ideas - You will know about issues before the board when
I do - I'll publish my thoughts and INVITE INPUT AND IDEAS. I will be
respectful and will consider (and perhaps respectfully argue) opposing
views. I am not the Smartest Man in the World, as my wife tells me every now
and then. and certainly not knowledgeable about all issues.
.      Equity for ALL Sections - I will recruit Assistant Directors and
listen to them and the Section Managers and field appointees as advisors. I
will communicate with everyone frequently with an emphasis on Social Media
and electronic communication. These people will be ACROSS the DIVISION in
ALL sections and will help promote ALL Hamfests, QSO Parties and other
events!
I'm a member of Palms West ARC, Palm Beach ARG, the current Trustee for
W4AB, the Broward ARC repeaters and active on 160m-70cm - all modes. I am a
'know code' Extra - I took my test at the Atlanta Hamfest years ago in the
World Congress Center. 
As a past president of the Broward Amateur Radio Club, I grew membership and
the treasury by 10X, replaced the aging FM repeaters and installed a D-STAR
and Fusion repeater.
I live in North Central Palm Beach County, west of Jupiter, FL. I have DXCC,
WAS, WAZ, and 
I need supporters to go to help get the word out. I don't have the
information advantages of an incumbent, so I need your help! Please email me
at  <mailto:n4mb at arrl.net> n4mb at arrl.net or view my web site at
<http://n4mb.com/> http://n4mb.com if you can help or want to know more
about me.
Ballots are being mailed the last few days of September. I would appreciate
you returning the ballot to the ARRL and voting for me - Mickey Baker, N4MB
- to be your next Director.
I hope to meet you at a hamfest or club meeting near you soon!
73 and thank you for considering voting for me. 
Mickey Baker, N4MB
Palm Beach County, FL

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