After more than 14 years as the ARRL Hudson Division Director, Frank Fallon, N2FF, announced his retirement from the Board at the conclusion of the 2011 Annual Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors. Per the ARRL’s Articles of Association, Hudson Division Vice Director Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF, immediately moved up to the Director position to fill the remainder of Fallon’s unexpired three year term, which runs through December 2012. In the coming days, ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, will appoint a new Vice Director to fill Birmingham’s unexpired three year term, also running through December 2012.

Calling it “both a thrill and an honor to serve as the Director from the ARRL’s Hudson Division,” Fallon said that retirement was not a decision he made lightly: “It has been interesting and very rewarding seeing ARRL from the inside out and I was thrilled to be a part of the Board team at a point where we made some very interesting decisions and changes. Our BPL battle appears to be in its final stages, Logbook of The World is up and running and QST is now in color. I came on the Board before QST went to color and before we decided to create a Development Office. Back in January 1997 -- when I attended my first meeting as Director -- we were facing real problems with deliberate jamming on 2 meters. Those were the days before Riley Hollingsworth. Now Riley is retired and I am, too.”

But even though Fallon has retired from the Board, he said he plans to stay active with the ARRL and in Amateur Radio, both on-the-air and off. “I plan to be on the bands and at hamfests inspecting fleas. I’m also looking forward to staying involved in local clubs and I plan to do more contesting and DXing. At 72, I think it’s time to cut down on night driving and to turn things over to Joyce and let her have her turn in the front seat at Board meetings. I know she will do a great job. She has been doing an outstanding job for years -- she is great to work with. I want to thank her for the fine job she did for both me and the Hudson Division.”

Fallon also thanked the Section Managers who served while he was Director, saying that they made his job “very easy. The ARRL depends on volunteers and we had many excellent ones. Hudson Division Assistant Directors volunteered weekend time to attend meetings over many years and provided valuable support and advice. Thanks everyone.”

Birmingham began her ARRL career in 2000, when Fallon asked her to be an Assistant Director in the Hudson Division after her husband Andy, WB2RQX, became a Silent Key. In 2003, she was elected ARRL Hudson Division Vice Director; she was re-elected for two more terms, in 2006 and 2009. Birmingham also serves as the District 2 Chairperson of the Young Ladies’ Radio League (YLRL) and as the President of the East Coast DX Association (ECDXA), an ARRL Affiliated Club whose members are actively involved in DXing, contesting, public service and mentoring.

With more than 30 years of active Amateur Radio involvement, Birmingham holds an Amateur Extra class licensee and is involved in many areas of Amateur Radio. She especially enjoys DXing -- both phone and digital modes -- as well as contesting. Joyce is active in Public Service events and enjoys mentoring new hams, helping them establish their first contact on HF. She has more than 330 DX entities confirmed, making the ARRL DXCC Honor Roll.

Birmingham has successfully completed all levels of the ARRL Emergency Communications Courses and is an Advanced Level SKYWARN Spotter with the National Weather Service’s Upton (NY) SKYWARN Program. She is also active on the Bergen SKYWARN Training Net, where she enjoys the challenges of operating Net Control.

Birmingham said she is pleased to serve as the new Hudson Division Director. “I appreciate Frank’s 14 years of service to the Hudson Division. He was such an integral part of the ‘Hudson Division Team,’ as he named us early on. We were indeed a team, as we worked very well together during my tenure as Vice Director. I know that Frank will be remembered for his work on the ARRL Board, especially in creating awareness for political advocacy. He was very respected and well thought of by his colleagues on the ARRL Board; I wish him the very best. Frank was always very kind and supportive of me, as well as a very good friend.”