Responding to solicitations in the July and August issues of QST, ARRL members in the Central, Hudson, New England, Northwestern and Roanoke Divisions have nominated 11 candidates for the 10 positions of Director and Vice Director of each of the five divisions. Seven incumbents have been declared elected without opposition, while there will be balloting for Vice Director in the Central and Roanoke Divisions; ballots will be counted on Friday, November 20, 2009, and those elected will serve three-year terms beginning at noon on January 1, 2010.

The ARRL Ethics and Elections Committee has reviewed and confirmed the eligibility of all 11 candidates and has declared the following re-elected: Central Division Director George R. Isely, W9GIG; Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, and Vice Director Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF; New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, and Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF; Northwestern Division Director Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, and Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF. The rules state that if a candidate is running unopposed, he or she shall be declared the winner without balloting. No one from the Northwestern Division requested a petition form for the Vice Director position, so that position will become vacant at noon on January 1, 2010; William J. Sawders, K7ZM, is the current Northwestern Division Vice Director. The ARRL President is empowered by the ARRL Articles of Association and Bylaws to appoint someone to fill the vacant position.

Roanoke Division Vice Director Patricia Hensley, N4ROS, decided not to seek another term. Nominated to succeed her are South Carolina Section Manager James F. Boehner, N2ZZ, of Aiken, and former West Virginia Section Manager Hal Turley, W8HC, of Huntington.

In the Central Division, incumbent Vice Director Howard S. Huntington, K9KM, of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, is being challenged by VHF/UHF Advisory Committee (VUAC) Chairman Kermit Carlson, W9XA, of Batavia, Illinois.

The policies of the League are established by 15 Directors who are elected to the Board on a geographical basis to represent their divisions and constituents. These 15 Directors serve three year terms, with five standing for election each year. Vice Directors, who succeed the Director in the event of a mid-term vacancy and serve as Director at any Board meeting the Director is unable to attend, are elected at the same time.

Full members of the ARRL in the Central and Roanoke Divisions will be mailed ballots in late September. To receive a ballot you must be a member as of September 10. To be counted, ballots must be returned so as to be received at ARRL HQ no later than noon Eastern Standard Time on Friday, November 20. The count will be conducted on that date under the supervision of three tellers and a certified public accountant.

Absentee ballots are available to those ARRL full members licensed by the FCC but temporarily residing outside of the US. Members overseas who arrange to be listed as full members in an appropriate Division prior to September 10, 2009, will be able to vote this year where elections are being held. Even within the US, full members temporarily living outside the ARRL Division they consider home may have voting privileges by notifying the ARRL Secretary prior to September 10, 2009, giving their current QST address and the reason another Division is considered home.