SB QST @ ARL $ARLB008 ARLB008 Board meeting news ZCZC AG74 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 8 ARLB008 >From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT January 26, 1995 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB008 ARLB008 Board meeting news The ARRL Board of Directors met in San Antonio, Texas, January 20 and 21, 1995. Here are the highlights. The Board adopted a Strategic Long Range Plan that has been in preparation since May 1994, and instructed President George Wilson, W4OYI, to begin implementation. President Wilson appointed three new committees to coordinate the most critical aspects of plan implementation. A package of legislative goals was adopted, including positions on special call sign and licensing fees, spectrum allocations, liability protection for volunteers, RF susceptibility of consumer equipment, better rules enforcement, and commercial competition for spectrum. A fund raising effort in support of the AMSAT Phase 3D satellite project was approved, including a 150,000 dollar matching fund program. An operational plan and budget for 1995 and 1996 was approved. ARRL dues were raised by one dollar per year effective April 1, 1995. Repeater coordinators will be invited to an open meeting to discuss ways of strengthening FCC support of local and regional coordinators, and related issues. A draft petition for greater flexibility in spread spectrum operation was revised to limit such operation to bands above 420 MHz, and the General Counsel was instructed to file the petition with FCC. The ARRL will file comments supporting participation by radio amateurs in state and local emergency communications operating plans under the new Emergency Alerting System that will replace the Emergency Broadcast System. The final report of the Ad Hoc 219 MHz Committee was adopted, in preparation for an expected announcement of an amateur allocation in this band. The Hiram Percy Maxim Birthday Celebration that was so popular in September 1994 was made an annual event. Directors Harrison, Kanode, Mendelsohn, and Quiat were elected to one year terms on the ARRL Executive Committee. Helen Grauer, N0BCI, and Directors Metzger and Butler were elected to three year terms as Directors of the ARRL Foundation. Studies were ordered of ways to oppose restrictive covenants that limit amateur operation, and to increase FCC enforcement of its amateur rules. The complete minutes of the meeting will appear in March QST. NNNN /EX