The four ARRL Board members new to the ARRL Board of Directors -- ARRL Southeastern Division Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK; ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Vice Director Dwayne Allen, WY7FD; ARRL Dakota Division Vice Director Greg Widin, K0GW, and ARRL Southwestern Division Vice Director Marty Woll, N6VI -- journeyed to ARRL HQ last week for two days to learn the "ins and outs" of the ARRL Board in preparation of the Board's meeting on January 18-19 in Houston, Texas.
According to ARRL Chief Operating Office Harold Kramer, WJ1B, "The new Board members came to Newington to learn not only how the Board functions, but to see what each department does and how it interacts with and serves both Amateur Radio and ARRL members, through our four pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education and Membership. I am pleased they came to see how we support Amateur Radio each and every day here at ARRL HQ."
One of the highlights of the group's visit to Headquarters was a tour of the ARRL Lab. Ed Hare, W1RFI, ARRL Laboratory Manager, explained to the new Board members the function of the Lab and its staff: "We showed them how we support Amateur Radio through the Technical Information Service (TIS), product review testing, RFI issues such as power line noise, and support for spectrum defense, including BPL issues."
Sarratt said, "It was a pleasure visiting ARRL headquarters in Newington to attend an orientation for new ARRL Directors and Vice Directors. This orientation was beneficial covering numerous facets of what the ARRL does for Amateur Radio and ARRL members. We met many of the staff members and learned more about what they do. All the ARRL folks are knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic about their jobs."
Widin concurred: "I've been a member of ARRL for more than 40 years, but I still discovered great things going on at ARRL HQ that I wasn't aware of. I was impressed by the level of commitment to ham radio that was evident in everyone I met. I was also a little surprised that so many staffers are licensed -- truly ARRL is an organization "by and for hams." ARRL HQ is not just a bunch of people who work for the League -- it is an organization of colleagues of all members. I've always been proud to be a League member, but I left with a renewed appreciation of the great organization we share."
The group joined the Newington Amateur Radio League (NARL) for their annual awards banquet on Monday evening. ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, gave the keynote address, "Not Your Grandfather's Amateur Radio," focusing on the emerging technologies and activities that the Amateur Radio Service has to offer. Incoming NARL President Mary Hobart, K1MMH, said "It was an honor to welcome Dave and four of the new ARRL Board Members to NARL's annual awards dinner. They added both stature and luster to the evening!"
Woll summed up the two fast-paced days, saying, "I enjoy spreading the ARRL message to radio clubs and other groups, and I can now do so with even greater confidence that our members -- and indeed, all hams -- are being very well served by the ARRL. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to meet so many of the ARRL staff in Newington during the recent orientation for new Directors and Vice Directors, and I appreciate the warm welcome I was given. The high caliber of the team members at Headquarters is a real asset to our members, and to the League as a whole. What impressed me most was that the HQ staff view their responsibilities not just as jobs, but as a shared mission to grow and improve Amateur Radio. This common vision is reflected in their enthusiasm and in their eagerness to work together in a collaborative way. I've been inside hundreds of businesses in my career, and I can't think of anywhere where the collective attitude was more positive."
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