The ARRL Board of Directors holds its 2010 Annual Meeting this coming weekend -- January 15-16 in Windsor, Connecticut. Directors, Vice Directors and ARRL Board officers will be in attendance. The meeting will be preceded on Thursday, January 14 with meetings of the Administration and Finance Committee and the Programs and Services Committee.

The Administration and Finance (A&F) Committee is chaired by Northwestern Division Director Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF. This committee studies, advises and makes recommendations for all administration and financial matters of the League, including recommending the annual budget to the Board, making recommendations in regard to staff management and monitoring investment of ARRL funds. "The preliminary results from 2009 indicate a positive financial result that directly benefits members," Fenstermaker said. "Given the nation's fiscal woes in January 2009, these results are attributed to good financial management and increased membership during 2009. As the League moves into 2010, the implementation of a revised Strategic Plan, a new, modern Web site and new programs that employ updated technologies should provide better communication and tools for our membership."

As the A&F committee finalizes the 2010 fiscal plan and merges it with the ARRL Strategic Plan, Fenstermaker said the committee's focus is on providing enhanced benefits to the membership, "with the understanding and realization that the combined needs are more than the ARRL has resources to accomplish. The amount of work needed to manage the financial operations of the ARRL is daunting, and I congratulate the staff for their focus on the ARRL's finances, as well as our members for their support for the work that the League has accomplished during the past year."

The Programs and Services Committee (PSC), headed by Midwest Division Director Bruce Frahm, K0BJ, studies, advises and makes recommendations for all programs and services provided by the League, including operating activities and the Field Organization. "The Programs and Services Committee has far less awards to recommend in January than July, but we have the pleasure of reviewing International Humanitarian nominations and we will be proposing the recipients of the inaugural George Hart Distinguished Public Service award to the full Board," Frahm said. "Our Official Observer program review subcommittee issues its report to us and the board. They have enjoyed the service of retired FCC Enforcement point man Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, as they studied this vital program. With the release of The Commercialization of Amateur Radio: The Rules, The Risks, The Issues, some EmComm questions were answered, while others were raised or newly contemplated. Along with the resignation of ARRL's Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager, this has complicated seeking strategies to best facilitate the public service and EmComm role of Amateur Radio. This will be a sizable part of our deliberations."

Frahm said that contesting and awards continue to thrive: "In fact, activity is growing, even as we wish the new sunspot cycle would really take off. Our committee, staff and the various advisory committees are working on projects to enhance these healthy programs."

This meeting will be Frahm's final meeting as chair of the PSC. "It's been a rewarding and interesting two years," he explained, "but I will be glad to hand over the reins. My thanks to the staff and members of the DX, Contest and VHF/UHF Advisory Committees. Special thanks to the PSC members in 2008 and 2009 -- we concluded the Section Manager governance study, tackled detailed and thorny on-air program issues, as well as dealt with a diverse and large collection of issues involving the ARRL's many membership programs and our volunteer Field Services people."

Per the Articles of Association, the ARRL Board of Directors meets twice a year, in January and July.