Annex to Document 25
Study of
Procedures and Qualifications
Concerning the Election of Honorary Vice Presidents
Background
Minute 72 of the July 2001 Board Meeting reads:
72. On motion of Ms. Craigie, seconded by Mr. Kanode, it was unanimously VOTED that the Executive Committee shall study the procedures and qualifications concerning election of Honorary Vice Presidents. They shall report the results of the study, including any recommended changes, at the annual meeting in January 2002.
Standing Order 69, adopted at Minute 84 of the 1981 Second Meeting, sets out the terms of reference for Honorary Vice President:
69) Distinguished members of the League may be elected as Honorary Vice Presidents of the League in order to recognize their outstanding contribution to ARRL and Amateur Radio. Candidates may be nominated in accordance with the following criteria.
Service Eligibility:
(a) Volunteers: Not less than 20 years of service as an official of the
League, elected by the Board or the membership.
(b) Staff: Not less than 30 years of service to the League, which could include prior or subsequent service as an elected official, similar to (a) above.
Achievement Eligibility:
(a) Volunteers: Must have made an exceptionally notable contribution to the health and strength of ARRL which is clearly and demonstrably above and beyond the call of duty. Must have demonstrated leadership among leaders.
(b) Staff: Must have contributed significantly, above and beyond the call of duty, to the efficiency and unity of League affairs.
General Considerations:
(a) There shall be an upper limit of ten Honorary Vice Presidents.
(b) Not less than 60 days before the election of Honorary Vice Presidents, which will take place only at those Annual meetings in which other Officers of the League are elected, the Officer or Director making a nomination must supply a written biographical sketch to the Executive Committee. This sketch shall fully substantiate the candidate's term of qualifying service and shall spell out in detail the candidate's extraordinary accomplishments which justify election as an Honorary Vice President. The Executive Committee shall screen the nominations and forward to the entire Board only those nominations which the committee feels strictly meet the criteria.
(c) No nominations will be accepted by the Executive Committee if there is no current vacancy.
(d) No elected official of the League or member of the staff may serve simultaneously as an Honorary Vice President.
Our present Honorary Vice Presidents, with the year of election, are:
Edmond
A. Metzger, W9PRN -- 2001
Marshall Quiat, AG0X -- 2000
Hugh Turnbull, W3ABC -- 2000
Jay Holladay, W6EJJ -- 1996
George Hart, W1NJM -- 1984
Robert York Chapman, W1QV -- 1975
Robert W. Denniston, W0DX - 1974
Honorary Vice Presidents who are now Silent Keys include:
Paul
Grauer, W0FIR - 1993
L. Phil Wicker, W4ACY -- 1988
Vic Clark, W4KFC -- 1980
J.L. McCargar, W6EY -- 1980
John Griggs, W6KW -- 1980
J. A. "Doc" Gmelin, W6ZRJ -- 1979
David H. Houghton -- 1976
Roemer "Doc" Best, W5QKF -- 1974
Charles G. Compton, W0BUO/W0AF -- 1974
Wayland G. "Soupy" Groves, W5NW -- 1974
F.E. Handy, W1BDI -- 1966
Alex Reid, VE2BE -- 1966
The Board will be considering electing longtime Southeastern Division Vice Director Evelyn Gauzens, W4WYR, at its 2002 Annual Meeting.
Report and Recommendations
The Executive Committee considered the following questions and offers its respective recommendations:
1. Are the service eligibility requirements still appropriate, or should they be raised or lowered? On two occasions the Board has chosen to count a year of simultaneous service on the ARRL Board and the ARRL Foundation Board as two years toward service eligibility; is this appropriate, or does it indicate that the 20-year requirement may be too high?
The Committee could not reach consensus on shortening the longevity requirements by 5 years, although some members were in favor. The Committee suggests that the Board consider the two options of keeping them at 20/30 years or reducing them to 15/25. The Committee did reach consensus that a year of simultaneous service on the two Boards should not be counted as two years.
2. Are the achievement eligibility requirements appropriately worded?
The Committee recommends that service as either a committee chairman or an officer be added as a specific requirement for volunteers. If "leadership among leaders" is a requirement, it stands to reason that the individual should have been elected or appointed to a leadership position by his or her peers.
3. Is the upper limit of ten Honorary Vice Presidents still appropriate, or should it be raised or lowered?
The Committee finds that the limit of ten is still appropriate.
4. Are the procedures for the election of Honorary Vice Presidents still appropriate? On more than one occasion, by unanimous consent the Board has waived the procedures when time was thought to be of the essence. Does screening by Executive Committee serve a useful purpose? Could elections be held at all Annual Meetings, or at all Board Meetings, instead of just when other officers are elected (every two years)? Should nominees still be required to submit a biographical sketch documenting the candidate's eligibility?
The Committee finds that requiring a biographical sketch is useful. First, it requires the nominating party to think about whether the potential nominee truly meets the achievement eligibility requirements. Second, it educates the rest of the Board. However, the Committee questions whether screening by the Executive Committee adds any value to the process and recommends deleting this step. The Committee also recommends that the election of Honorary Vice Presidents be permitted at all Annual Meetings, not just the one at which the other officers are elected. We elect the Executive Committee and Foundation Directors at every Annual Meeting; there is no particular reason we could not also elect Honorary Vice Presidents. The Committee also recommends adding a provision that the election of an Honorary Vice President requires eight affirmative votes cast by secret ballot and that only the fact of election or non-election be announced by the tellers, not the vote count.
A proposed motion to revise Standing Order 69 by incorporating these recommendations is attached.
David Sumner, K1ZZ
Secretary
For the Executive Committee
December 20, 2001
Motion EC 1
Moved that Standing Order 69 is amended to read as follows:
69) Distinguished members of the League may be elected as Honorary Vice Presidents of the League in order to recognize their outstanding contributions to ARRL and Amateur Radio. Candidates may be nominated in accordance with the following criteria.
Service Eligibility:
(a) Volunteers: Not less than [20/15] years of service as an official of the
League, elected by the Board or the membership.
(b) Staff: Not less than [30/25] years of service to the League, which could include prior or subsequent service as an elected official, similar to (a) above.
Achievement Eligibility:
(a) Volunteers: Must have made an exceptionally notable contribution to the health and strength of ARRL which is clearly and demonstrably above and beyond the call of duty. Must have demonstrated leadership among leaders, including service as either a committee chairman or officer.
(b) Staff: Must have contributed significantly, above and beyond the call of duty, to the efficiency and unity of League affairs.
General Considerations:
(a) There shall be an upper limit of ten Honorary Vice Presidents.
(b) Not less than 60 days before the election of Honorary Vice Presidents, which shall take place only at Annual meetings of the Board, the Officer or Director making a nomination must supply a written biographical sketch to the Directors. This sketch shall fully substantiate the candidate's term of qualifying service and shall spell out in detail the candidate's extraordinary accomplishments that justify election as an Honorary Vice President.
(c) No nomination may be made unless there is a current vacancy.
(d) No elected official of the League or member of the staff may serve simultaneously as an Honorary Vice President.
(e) The election of an Honorary Vice President requires eight affirmative votes cast by secret ballot. Only the fact of election or non-election shall be announced by the tellers. The vote count shall not be announced.