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.
• 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.
• 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).
• 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.