[bulletins] URGENT! -- FW: WEAVER'S WORDS -- A QUESTION

[Fred Stone W8LLY]

-----Original Message-----
From: ARRL Web site [mailto:memberlist at www.arrl.org] 
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2006 8:35 PM
To: w8lly at dayton.net
Subject: WEAVER'S WORDS -- A QUESTION

(REPLY ONLY TO K8JE at ARRL.ORG.)

I would like your input on a very serious matter that just might be
discussed among the ARRL Directors informally, if not during a formal
session of the Board this coming week.  To share your opinion with me
so that I will have time to record all votes, I need you to follow a
set of very specific rules that I will describe in a minute.  First,
the situation:

1.	AT PRESENT:  No one can run for elected office on the ARRL Board of
Directors if they MIGHT POSSIBLY develop a conflict of interest that
could influence how they vote on matters that come before the Board. 
For example, a person who works for certain electronics or
communications companies that deal on spectrum management with the FCC
might be judged ineligible to run for election for Director even though
there is no evidence of conflict at the time of the election.  The key
is that this person MAY POSSIBLY be put in a position of conflict of
interest in the future in which a matter before the ARRL Board would
conflict with the goals of the Director's employer and, therefore,
effect his salary and his position in the voting of the Board.  This
person would not be allowed to run for election.

2.	POSSIBLE CHANGE:  Instead of being prohibited from running for
office, the person in situation No. 1, would be allowed to run and, if
elected, to serve as Director.  When and only when this person is put
into a position of conflict of interest between his job and his service
on the ARRL Board of Directors, he/she would be required to
"recuse" himself (report the conflict, stay out of any
discussion on the issue and not vote on it).  His seat at the Board
table by the Vice Director of the Division who would participate in any
discussion and vote on it.

Keep in mind that the present rule definitely has prevented worthy
people from running for election.  On the other hand, the present rule
has allowed us to avoid becoming involved in difficult debates
concerning if and when conflicts of interest arise during an elected
official's term in office.

WHAT I ASK OF YOU

Please consider the above issue (quickly) and send me one of the
following answers:

1.	Keep the rule.
2.	Change the rule.
	
Please do not send a reply wordier than the above.  I leave for the
Board meeting on Wednesday and will not have time to read anything
other than a keep or change reply.  I need your reply by Tuesday noon.

Tnx, 73,

Jim

Jim Weaver, K8JE
Director, Great Lakes Division
Chairman, Legislative Action Committee
5065 Bethany Rd.
Mason, OH 45040
K8JE at arrl.org; Tel., 513-459-0142; FAX, same
ARRL, the Reason Amateur Radio is!
Members, the Reason ARRL is!

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ARRL Great Lakes Division
Director: James Weaver, K8JE
k8je at arrl.org
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