[TxHam] ARRL Elections in the West Gulf Division

[TOM BLACKWELL (nt)]

Quoted from the ARRL's "Candidate Information Pamphlet"
(which is published but apparently not available on
the Internet)

"There are a number of aspects to travel
that bear on the ethics of campaigning. The
League does not wish to discourage an
incumbent director from properly discharging his
responsibilities to the membership simply
because an election is in progress. At the same
time, it must be clearly understood that a director
must take special care to avoid impropriety or
the appearance of impropriety in League-related
travel. If the purpose of a trip is to campaign for
office, the traveler is not eligible for
reimbursement for the trip from League funds. If
the purpose is a legitimate appearance in his role
as a director, at an ARRL forum, club meeting,
or the like, the director may receive
reimbursement provided that a discussion of the
election is not the purpose of the meeting. If a
director is invited to appear at a meeting solely
because he is a candidate, no reimbursement may
be claimed from the League."

... "Articles by or about an incumbent
director, or a candidate, (or photos of same) will not
be published in an issue of QST that will appear
during the period of the election process."

"In any contested Director, Vice Director
or Section Manager election, during the
campaign period no mass communication at
League expense in whole or in part, dealing with
any candidate in any way or issued by a
candidate, League or section official in the
Division of the candidate, shall contain election
campaign material. Campaign material is any
material that might reasonably be expected to
affect the outcome of such election. The
campaign period is defined as the period from
the deadline for receipt of nominating petitions
for Director, Vice Director or Section Manager
until the day ballots are due in the election. Mass
communication is defined as communications by
mail, electronic distribution, posting to a web
site, email, hand delivery or by any other means
of distribution to League members in the
particular Division or Section involved in the
contested election."

"Within the limits of a budget which is set
by the Board at each Annual Meeting, the
League reimburses directors for approved travel
and administrative expenses within their
divisions upon the submission of standard
expense forms. Meals, hotel accommodations,
and train and coach air fare are reimbursed at
cost while automobile mileage is reimbursed at a
rate which is reviewed periodically.
Administrative expenses such as postage,
stationery, and telephone charges are
reimbursable. To conform with IRS regulations,
a receipt or other documentation is required for
most items of expense. Some out-of-division
expenses are also authorized for directors, such
as attendance at national conventions, and
attendance at one Executive Committee meeting
each year.  Expenses for attendance at Board
meetings or Committee meetings are paid from
separate accounts, not from the division budget.
A vice-director may attend Board meetings while
in office at League expense."

The current mileage rate is 50 cents per mile.  In other words, if an
ARRL official was at your Field Day site, he could submit an expense
report for travel at this rate, since no campaign period was involved at 
that time.

Roy Rabey, AD5KZ wrote:

> Hi Tom,
> 
> To which regulations do you refer regarding travel expenses charged to the 
> membership? I can find nothing in the ARRL rules and regulations posted 
> at...
> 
> http://www.arrl.org/arrl-rules-regulations
> 
> 73,
> 
> Roy Rabey, AD5KZ
> 
> 


-- 


               Regards, TOM BLACKWELL, PO Box 25403, Dallas, Texas 75225
               ARRL Life Member  http://N5GAR.Org   214-361-5275