[SFDXA] ARRL Member Bulletin for January 21, 2026

[Bill]

ARRL Member Bulletin for January 21, 2026

	

January 21, 2026

*ARRL Board Commits Federal Advocacy Funding; Creates New DXCC 
Single-Band Honor Roll; Elects Officers*

The ARRL Board of Directors met in Windsor, Connecticut, for its Annual 
Meeting, January 16 - 17, 2026. ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, 
presided over the meeting.

President Roderick welcomed new Division Vice Directors including Carol 
Milazzo, KP4MD – Pacific; Marty Newingham, AG3I – Atlantic; Mel Parkes, 
NM7P – Rocky Mountain, and John Kitchens, NS6X – Southwestern.

/Prior to the Board meeting, Board committees met on January 15, 
resulting in the following actions highlighted below:/

*Programs & Services Committee.* Among the Committee’s deliberations was 
a decision to move forward with a new single-band DXCC (DX Century Club) 
Honor Roll Award for qualifying operators.

*Administration & Finance Committee.* The Committee discussed and 
approved the 2026 plan, later approved unanimously by the Board, 
amending it to include additional funding for advocacy efforts in 
Washington, DC. These efforts include continuing work to advance the 
Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act (bills H.R.1094 and S.459) 
through committee and toward final passage.

*Emergency Communications and Field Services Committee*

  * Approved removing the annual limit on the number of ARRL-sanctioned
    hamfests a group may sponsor. The change allows, for instance, radio
    clubs to seek sanctioning for recurring events such as monthly
    swapfests or tailgates.
  * Agreed to evaluate a standardized reporting form to streamline the
    Section Traffic Manager’s monthly reporting process.
  * Reviewed the monthly reporting process for the Amateur Radio
    Emergency Service® (ARES®), including interest in advancing broader
    adoption of the new Form 4 and its impact on the accuracy of
    reported volunteer hours.
  * Unanimously approved setting a minimum eligible age of 21 for the
    position of ARRL Section Manager.

/Here are highlights of some of the actions taken at the Board meeting:/

  * Board members discussed the final report from the Election Review
    Committee that was formed at the Board’s Second Meeting in July 2022.
  * *ARRL Foundation.* The Board heard a report from ARRL Foundation
    President David Norris, K5UZ. The Foundation provides philanthropic
    support for amateur radio by way of the ARRL Foundation Scholarship
    Program, Division Convention Grant Program, and through other grants
    and funds. In 2025, the Foundation awarded 171 scholarships totaling
    approximately $800,000 through the generosity of ARDC – Amateur
    Radio Digital Communications, individuals, and clubs. Norris also
    reported that the Foundation awarded 35 grants valued at $60,580,
    and two Division Convention Grants totaling $13,264. The Foundation
    will hold its annual meeting on January 29, 2026.
  * The Board approved several ARRL awards as recommended by the
    Programs and Services Committee, including the 2025 Doug DeMaw
    Technical Excellence Award, the 2025 George Hart Distinguished
    Service Award, and the 2025 ARRL International Humanitarian Award.
    In addition, the Board recognized several ARRL Affiliated Clubs in
    honor of their long-standing anniversary milestones.
  * *Elections.*
      o /ARRL Officers./ The Board re-elected ARRL President Rick
        Roderick, K5UR; First Vice President Kristen McIntyre, K6WX, and
        International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD. ARRL
        Foundation Treasurer Rick Niswander, K7GM, was elected as Second
        Vice President, succeeding Mike Ritz, W7VO, who held the
        position since 2024 and resigned on December 31, 2025. The Board
        also re-elected David Minster, NA2AA, as Chief Executive Officer
        and Secretary, and Diane Middleton, W2DLM, as Chief Financial
        Officer.
      o /Executive Committee (EC)./ Directors re-elected to the EC
        include Bill Lippert, AC0W (Dakota); Art Zygielbaum, K0AIZ
        (Midwest); Jim Boehner, N2ZZ (Roanoke), and Scott Yonally, N8SY
        (Great Lakes). Newly elected to the EC is Ed Wilson, N2XDD
        (Hudson Division).
      o /ARRL Foundation Board:/ ARRL Director Bill Lippert, AC0W
        (Dakota), was re-elected, and Foundation Board Directors Craig
        Thompson, K9CT, and Dr. Ed Snyder, W1YSM, were re-elected for
        3-year terms.

The complete minutes of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of 
Directors will be available soon on the ARRL website.

The next meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors is scheduled for July 17 
- 18, 2026.

Copyright © 2026 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and 
distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted 
for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other 
purposes require written permission.

	

	

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