Letter from Former WPA Section Manager, Tim Duffy, K3LR, describing ARRL Forum

From: Tim Duffy
Date: Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 7:05 PM
Subject: To the Officers and Directors of the ARRL
To: k5ur@arrl.org, k0gw@arrl.org, n5zgt@arrl.org, k0qb@arrl.org, ny2rf@arrl.org, w3tom@arrl.org, w9xa@arrl.org, ka0ldg@arrl.org, k5uz@arrl.org, wa8efk@arrl.org, n2ybb@arrl.org, k0das@arrl.org, k1ki@arrl.org, k7cex@arrl.org, w6rgg@arrl.org, n2zz@arrl.org, wy7fd@arrl.org, gsarratt@arrl.org, "Richard J. Norton, N6AA" , k5rav@arrl.org

Dear Officers and Directors of the American Radio Relay League, Inc.;

I attended the ARRL Forum held at the April 2017 International DX Convention in Visalia, California, as I do every year. Dick Norton, N6AA has asked me to report on two of my observations during the ARRL forum.

One item discussed at the ARRL forum was the new ARRL code of conduct for ARRL Directors. Dick Norton covered items contained in the code of conduct. It was clear that the audience was not happy about what was being told to them. A number of forum audience participants spoke in strong opposition to certain aspects of the code. My own personal attorney (and ARRL volunteer counsel) K3LA was surprised by what N6AA presented. K3LA is also opposed to the code and seeing the audience was clearly upset by Dick's presentation concerning the code, he walked out of the room. The opposition came from the upset audience, not from Dick Norton. Norton specifically pointed out that he supports the board's positions. I have previously discussed this code and other ARRL topics with Dick. I was not surprised by the audience's strong negative response to the code. Their reaction also mirrors my own feelings.

Second, I have been asked to report that there were many other topics covered at the forum. That is true. The code of conduct was only a part of the agenda that Dick discussed at the ARRL forum.

Please do not hesitate to contact me directly if you have questions.

Very 73,

Tim Duffy K3LR

ARRL Maxim Society & ARRL Diamond Club Member

ARRL Life Member