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ARRL BOARD RETURNS TO IN PERSON MEETING FOR SECOND 2021 SESSION DURING THE
JULY MEETING, THE ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED A LICENSING GRANT PROGRAM
FOR YOUNG AMATEURS, CREATED A NEW COMMITTEE, AND CONFERRED AWARDS TO
DESERVING APPLICANTS.  WITH THE COVID 19 TRAVEL AND GATHERING RESTRICTIONS
DECREASING, THE ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MET IN PERSON ON JULY 16 17 IN
WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JANUARY 2020 THE BOARD AND
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN MEETING IN VIRTUAL SESSIONS SINCE THEN.
DURING THIS MEETING, ARRL FORMALLY ENDORSED A PROPOSED YOUTH LICENSING
GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH ASKS ARRL TO COVER THE 35 APPLICATION FEE FOR HAM
RADIO LICENSE CANDIDATES YOUNGER THAN 18 YEARS OF AGE.  THE FCC ISNT
EXPECTED TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW APPLICATION FEE SCHEDULE UNTIL 2022.  THE
CONCEPT BEHIND THE PROGRAM WAS FIRST RAISED BY ARRL SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION
DIRECTOR MICKEY BAKER, N4MB, AT THE BOARDS ANNUAL MEETING IN JANUARY.  AN
AD HOC COMMITTEE REVIEW SUBSEQUENTLY EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THE ORIGINAL
MOTION.  THE PROGRAM GOALS INCLUDE EXPANDING THE RESERVOIR OF TRAINED
OPERATORS, TECHNICIANS, AND ELECTRONICS EXPERTS WITHIN THE AMATEUR RADIO
COMMUNITY, AND REMOVING A FINANCIAL OBSTACLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WISH TO
ACQUIRE AN AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE.  THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO HELP ENCOURAGE
CAREERS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS.  UNDER THE
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