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HEARD THE REPORT OF THE ARRL FOUNDATION FROM ITS PRESIDENT, NEW ENGLAND
DIVISION DIRECTOR TOM FRENAYE, K1KI, WHO TOLD THE BOARD THAT THE FOUNDATION
APPROVED THE AWARDING OF APPROXIMATELY 80 SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING SOME 130,
000.  AWARD RECIPIENTS NAMED  AT ITS JULY MEETING, THE ARRL BOARD OF
DIRECTORS NAMED THE RECIPIENTS OF SEVERAL AWARDS AND HONORS  RUTH WILLET,
KM4LAO, OF CANA, VIRGINIA, WAS NAMED THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2018 ARRL HIRAM
PERCY MAXIM MEMORIAL AWARD SEE THE SIDEB

ARRL BOARD ADOPTS VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAM, OFFICIAL OBSERVER PROGRAM
TO BE RETIRED  THE ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS ADOPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE OFFICIAL OBSERVER PROGRAM STUDY COMMITTEE, WHICH WOULD RETIRE THE
VENERABLE OFFICIAL OBSERVER OO PROGRAM AND INSTITUTE THE VOLUNTEER
MONITORING VM PROGRAM.  THE ACTION CAME AT THE BOARDS JULY 20 21 MEETING IN
WINDSOR, CONNECTICUT, WITH THE BOARD INSTRUCTING THAT THE TRANSITION BE
IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE.  UNDER THE TERMS OF THE NEW PROGRAM,
CURRENT OFFICIAL OBSERVERS WILL BE INVITED TO APPLY FOR APPOINTMENT AS
VOLUNTEER MONITORS.  THE BOARD EXPRESSED ITS APPRECIATION FOR THE OOS AND
THEIR DEDICATED VOLUNTEER SERVICE OVER THE YEARS.  RATIONALE AND LOGISTICS
THE ACTION IS EXPECTED TO RE ENERGIZE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN THE AMATEUR
RADIO BANDS AND WAS UNDERTAKEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE FCC IN THE WAKE OF
SEVERAL FCC REGIONAL OFFICE CLOSURES AND A REDUCTION IN FIELD STAFF, THE
BOARD SAID.  UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, COORDINATION OF CASES AND EVIDENCE
GATHERING WOULD BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ARRL HEADQUARTERS STAFF, WHILE
THE FCC WILL RETAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINAL DECISIONS REGARDING ACTION
IN SPECIFIC CASES.  THE STUDY COMMITTEES REPORT SPELLED OUT THE ADDITIONAL
STEPS NECESSARY TO LAUNCH THE VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAM.  AMONG THEM
WOULD BE THE APPOINTMENT OF A DEDICATED HEADQUARTERS STAFF MEMBER OR AN

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR WORKING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ARRL HEADQUARTERS TO
ADMINISTER THE NEW PROGRAM AND INTERFACE WITH ITS PARTICIPANTS.  THE
VOLUNTEER MONITORING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR WOULD, AMONG OTHER DUTIES,
CREATE A VETTING AND ACCREDITATION PROCESS FOR PROSPECTIVE VOLUNTEER
MONITORS.  THE AUTHORITY TO ACCREDIT, APPOINT, AND DISMISS VMS WOULD BE
ASSIGNED TO ARRL HEADQUARTERS STAFF.  SECTION MANAGERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE
A PART OF THE VETTING PROCESS FOR VMS, ALTHOUGH THEY WILL NOT HAVE
APPOINTMENT OR DISMISSAL AUTHORITY.  VOLUNTEER MONITOR ACCREDITATION WOULD
SERVE A 3 YEAR TERM, RENEWABLE BY SATISFYING REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO
ENSURE COMPETENCY.  A NEW TRAINING MANUAL IS BEING DEVELOPED.  THE
ADMINISTRATOR WILL CREATE A TARGET FOR THE NUMBER OF GEOGRAPHICALLY
DISTRIBUTED VOLUNTEER MONITORS.  PRELIMINARY PLANS WOULD INCLUDE UP TO FIVE
VOLUNTEER MONITORS PER ARRL SECTION AND UP TO 250 VOLUNTEER MONITORS
OVERALL.  THE ADMINISTRATOR WOULD ALSO DEVELOP A RUBRIC OR OTHER AID FOR
PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO HIGHLIGHT OFFENSES AND OTHER CRITERIA THAT THE FCC
CONSIDERS A PRIORITY, THE MOTION SAID.  THE ADMINISTRATOR FURTHER WOULD BE
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