One Country, One Vote
There were several items of interest in the recently published Minutes from the May 8, 2025 ARRL Executive Committee Meeting.
ARRL President Rick Roderick and CEO Minster recently attended the IARU centennial celebration in Paris. “This trip provided both CEO Minster and President Roderick with the opportunity to discuss important details regarding the restructuring with key decision-makers”. Apparently there is some not yet finalized plans to restructure the IARU:
IARU Restructuring - CEO Minster began his comments on the IARU restructuring by providing the committee with some background on ARRL’s role as the International Secretariat. He noted that ARRL serves as the financial backbone of the organization and, as a result, is guaranteed a seat on its board. Additionally, ARRL manages a collaborative process for selecting the IARU president and vice president. CEO Minster mentioned that the idea of restructuring has been discussed for approximately two years.
While the plan still needs to be finalized, the primary framework of the restructuring proposes a “one country, one vote” voting system. CEO Minster noted that this change would significantly reduce ARRL’s influence on voting regarding important directives of the IARU. Furthermore, it was highlighted that the same level of financial support that ARRL has been providing to IARU is still expected, despite the new organizational structure and the limitations on ARRL’s role.
Another item of interest had to do with printed media. The Board seems quite pleased with the latest ‘Salty Walt’ book rollout:
Thus far, ARRL has received great feedback on the different approach that ARRL took with the “Salty Walt” book. As noted by CEO Minster, this positive response encourages ARRL to follow a similar path with the remote radio book in 2026. Instead of having just one author, the Publications and Editorial Department plans to include multiple contributors and real-life remote stories throughout the book. The intention being for 2026 is to publish another book in the style of “Salty Walt” that addresses the topic of remote radio.
Not surprising given remote operation seems the hottest trend in ham radio, perhaps even surpassing POTA, ARRL also plans to double-down on creating information for ‘indoor operation’ of amateur radio equipment as well:
CEO Minster reported to the committee ARRL recently reintroduced a book about operating from indoors, and it has been an overwhelming success. ARRL launched it a couple of weeks before the January Board meeting, and by then, ARRL had already sold over a thousand copies. ARRL sold out of the first run of 2,500 books and are now into the second print cycle.
The Minutes included plenty of other items of interest. I’d recommend all members read the report as it provides considerable insight into ARRL, the national organization for amateur radio.