The AM Forum

Licensed, active amateurs holding the Noivce Class ticket are not eligible to be elected to the League's Board of Directors.

The new guy in Newington, who is from Arkansas, might want to fix this pronto, since he likes to invoke the name of U.S. Congressman Mike Ross quite often.  That's WD5DVR.

Interesting discussion underway about this ARRL leadership problem at:

http://www.qrz.com/ib-bin/ikonboard.cgi?s=930e4a6f2365386dfcdf8a6dfb57d9ea;act=ST;f=7;t=125546

From the ARRL Articles of Association and the By-Laws:
Article 11 states:
"No person shall be eligible for the office of Director, Vice Director, President, Vice President, or Treasurer who has not been a Full member of the League for at least four continuous years immediately preceding nomination and throughout the subsequent term of office, nor shall any person be eligible who has not held continuously during that period a valid authorization as a radio amateur in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the United States. No person shall be eligible for, or hold, the office of Director, Vice Director, President or Vice President whose business connections are of such nature that he could gain financially through the shaping of the affairs of the League by the Board, or by the improper exploitation of his office for the furtherance of his own aims or those of his employer. The primary test of eligibility under this Article shall be the freedom from commercial or governmental connections of such nature that his influence in the affairs of the League could be used for his private benefit."

And, under By-Laws:
General Provisions As to Officers and Directors:
"13. No person shall be President, Vice‑President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director or Vice Director of the League unless, at the time of nomination, he has reached his 21st birthday and is a Full member of the League."

There is no reference in the Articles or By-Laws where there is a mention that a Director candidate has to have a Technician or higher class of license. Dave has indicated to me that the Articles and By-Laws govern. His statement was in error under the current Articles and By-Laws.

So, if you're a Novice, and meet the other printed requirements, you can run for Director or Vice-Director.

However, if you want to run for Section Manager:

Under Rules and Regulations of the ARRL Field Organization, item 4 states:
"Any candidate for the office of Section Manager must be a resident of the section, a licensed amateur of Technician class or higher, and a Full member of the League for a continuous term of at least two years immediately preceding receipt of a petition for nomination and throughout the subsequent term of office."

As far as the Notice license, the ARRL has also proposed creating a new class of license that would in effect resurrect the Novice license with updated privileges. I can't remember if the FCC killed this proposal yet or it's still floating around somewhere with the rest of the outstanding proposals before the FCC.

ARRL Prints Correction.
From the ARRL Letter
Vol. 25, No. 26
June 30, 2006

"Correction regarding Director/Vice Director eligibility: The July QST "It
Seems to Us . . ." editorial misstates the eligibility requirements to run
for ARRL Director and Vice Director. The membership/licensing requirements
are four years of continuous full membership and four years of continuous
holding of a valid authorization as a radio amateur in accordance with the
applicable laws and regulations of the United States immediately preceding
nomination."

So: Licensed, active amateurs holding the Novice Class ticket are eligible to be elected to the League's Board of Directors.