On November 16, ballots were counted in the races for Director in the Hudson Division and for Director and Vice Director in the Northwestern Division. This year, there were only three contested races for Director or Vice Director in the five Divisions holding elections. In the Hudson Division, Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, defeated Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF, for the top slot in that Division. In the Northwestern Division, Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, defeated William Balzarini, KL7BB, for Director, while James Pace, K7CEX, was elected as Vice Director in a three-way race. Terms for Directors and Vice Directors begin at noon on January 1, 2013 and run for three years.  

The following incumbents ran unopposed and were declared the winner of their elections by the League’s Ethics and Elections Committee this past August: Central Division Director Dick Isely, W9GIG, and Vice Director Vice Director Kermit Carlson, W9XA; Hudson Division Vice Director William Hudzik, W2UDT; New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, and Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF; Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, and Vice Director James Boehner, N2ZZ. The rules state that if a candidate is running unopposed, he or she shall be declared the winner without balloting.

For the first time, ARRL members who live in Divisions where there was balloting were able to vote via electronic ballot. The election was conducted by Survey & Ballot Systems of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, which has more than 20 years of experience with association elections. Whether cast electronically or on paper, all votes were by secret ballot. ARRL Dakota Division Director Greg Widin, K0GW, was on hand to oversee the balloting and observe the tabulation of the results; Widin is Chairman of the ARRL’s Ethics and Elections Committee.

Hudson Division

Incumbent Hudson Division Director Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF, Ridgewood, New Jersey, faced ARRL New York/Long Island Section Manager Mike Lisenco, N2YBB, of Brooklyn, New York. Lisenco was declared the winner, with 836 votes. Birmingham came in second with 533votes. Lisenco has served as ARRL New York/Long Island Section Manager since 2009. Prior to being elected Section Manager, he was Section Emergency Coordinator from 2007-2009. Birmingham was elected as ARRL Hudson Division Vice Director in 2003 and was re-elected for two more terms in 2006 and 2009. When then-ARRL Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, resigned from the Board in January 2011, Birmingham moved into the Director’s position.

Northwestern Division

Incumbent Northwestern Division Director Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, of Vancouver, Washington, faced challenger William Balzarini, KL7BB, of Auburn, Washington. Fenstermaker was declared the winner with 1485 votes to Balzarini’s 497. Fenstermaker has served as Director since 2005. Prior to being elected as Director, Fenstermaker was appointed Northwestern Division Vice Director in 1999, replacing Greg Milnes, W7AGQ, when Milnes moved up to Director upon the death of then-Director Mary Lou Brown, NM7N.

Incumbent ARRL Northwestern Division Vice Director Grant Hopper, KB7WSD, of Everett, Washington, chose not to seek election for his first full term as Vice Director of the ARRL’s Northwestern Division. Hopper was appointed Vice Director in February 2010 when the position became vacant due to no one submitting the materials necessary for running for Vice Director during the regular election cycle. Three hams vied to be the next Northwestern Division Vice Director: James Pace, K7CEX, of Centralia, Washington; William Sawders, K7ZM, of La Pine, Oregon, and Daniel Stevens, KL7WM, of Kent, Washington. After all votes were tallied, Pace was elected as the new Vice Director in the Northwestern Division with 701 votes. Sawders came in second with 672 votes, while Stevens came in third with 583 votes.

“This year was the ARRL’s first-ever experience with electronic voting for Division Directors and Vice Directors,” Widin explained. “Our choice of external partners was validated by an extremely smooth process on all electronic voting. We will be reviewing our experience after voting is complete to determine the best direction for future elections. In electing Directors and Vice Directors, ARRL members have a chance to chart the League’s direction for the future. It is gratifying to see that our members care about their League and support it through voting. Thanks to all the candidates, and to all members who voted, for their participation.”

The next scheduled Division elections are next fall for the ARRL’s Pacific, Rocky Mountain, Southeastern, Southwestern and West Gulf Divisions. In accordance with League’s Bylaws, ballots will be counted on November 15, 2013.