[NCC] Fwd: By-Law changes

Thu Dec 28 21:04:19 EST 2017

Hi Jamie,

Think the proposals you mentioned are the ones being floated by N2YBB. As I understand it, they will be proposed at the League board meeting in January.

73,
Ron 

Sent from AOL Mobile Mail

On Thursday, December 28, 2017 Jamie WW3S <ww3s at zoominternet.net> wrote:
Thanks for the update Ron, I just saw the proposed bylaw changes on the ARRL
website, and unless I missed it, I don’t see the voting privileges for the
executive committee listed.....not saying its aint gonna happen, but not in
the proposed changes.....there ARE several proposed changes however, aren't,
in my opinion, in the best interest of an open and democratic organization.
Not sure where the push is coming from, but it appears some on this current
board want to make it more of a secret, self perpetuating society....

-----Original Message-----
From: Ronald Harps via NCC
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2017 2:30 PM
To: ncc at contesting.com
Subject: [NCC] Fwd: By-Law changes

Hi all,

Just got this response from ARRL Great Lakes director, Dale, WA8EFK related
to my concerns about the upcoming ARRL BOD meeting in January. I would urge
others to contact him and make your opinions known.

Hope to see everyone at K8AZ on Jan. 20.

73,
Ron, K8NZ

-----Original Message-----
From: Dale Williams <dale.wms1 at frontier.com>
To: Ronald Harps <nzharps at aol.com>
Sent: Wed, Dec 27, 2017 1:24 pm
Subject: Re: By-Law changes

Thanks for your e-mail, Ron

I have seen it reported that there is a proposal that one Director
plans to submit requesting that the ARRL Board grant voting privileges to
the President and Vice Presidents of the League. All of these officers
were former member-elected Board members, having served as Directors
immediately prior to their being elected by their fellow Board members to
hold the executive offices. At that point, they lost their voting
privileges. The Director submitting the proposal feels it in unfair to
these officers, after having served for several terms as Board members,
that they should loose those voting privileges, especially in view of
their long-term experiences as serving the ARRL.

While I can see the point of offering these officers voting
privileges, my opinion differs, however. Our current By-laws have
served us well over many years, as have those who have held the officer
positions at ARRL. Those holding the position of offices, both now and
in the past, clearly understood the consequences of their positions and
that they would loose their ability to vote, while still retaining the
ability to speak and thereby influence the vote by their accepted
experience and wisdom. I personally favor retaining the current policy
and making no accommodations to allow the Board-elected officers the
right to vote.

The Board of Directors did make some changes to the By-Laws based
upon very strong recommendations by our Connecticut attorneys. These
changes were necessary to bring us into full compliance with Connecticut
laws. At their recommendation, we also imposed a Code of Conduct upon
the Board, based upon guidelines supplied to us by nationally recognized
not-for-profit organizations. A key requirement of the C of C, was for
the protection of ARRL Employees and the policy that is imposed upon the
Board members to not interfere with their daily duties. Other factors
involve insuring employee privacy in personnel matters that may come up
at Board meetings. At no time do these changes impose anything upon
ARRL Board members from continuing to express their personal opinions
about League matters. It does quite logically call for unity after a
Board decision has been made, so that a Board member does not openly
disparage the collecti
ve vote of the 14 other Board members.

It is my feeling that some of the verbiage of the Code is unclear
relative to the ability of the Board member to continue to be open about
his/her opinions. I favor the Board taking a renewed look at the Code
in conjunction with our attorney's recommendations to make this portion
more clearly understood by the membership. Perhaps this will be done at
the January Board meeting.

Again, Ron, my thanks for expressing your concerns so clearly and
concisely.

73,

Dale Williams WA8EFK
Director
Great Lakes Division
ARRL

734-529-3232

On 12/27/2017 1:07 PM, Ronald Harps wrote:

Dale,

As a long time ARRL member (50+ years and more than 40 years as a
Life Member), I urge you to oppose the proposed by-law changes
that will be voted on in January.

In my view, the League is a representative democracy (we the
members vote for directors and the BOD sets policy). Adding
additional members of the BOD who are not in any way directly
connected to the voting membership goes against that ideal.
Additionally, by being able to "get rid of" members for no
apparent reason smacks of a totalitarian organization that is
only concerned with it's own self preservation.

I think many members hold this view.

73,

Ron Harps, K8NZ

1997 Willow Glen Ln

Columbus, OH 43229

440-477-0142

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