The ARRL articles of Association and By-laws give direct responsibility to set ARRL policy to an elected Board of Directors. Fifteen Directors are elected on a regional basis, one per ARRL Division, to serve three year terms. Directors receive no monetary compensation for their service, although they are eligible to be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. ARRL Officers are chosen by the Directors. For additional information pertaining to this representative democracy, visit the ARRL at http://www.arrl.org/organization-structure .

.

Director– Mike Ritz, W7VO

A forty-year plus Life Member of the ARRL and very active ham, Mike was first licensed as a Novice in 1974 as WN6HKP. He earned his Commercial Radiotelephone license in 1976, and his Amateur Extra in 1983. His main radio interests are radiosport, chasing DX, mentoring new hams, and public service through the ARRL ARES program. He is a three term past President of the Willamette Valley DX Club, and is Trustee for the Columbia River DX Club, which he founded to mentor new hams in HF operating. He has served as an ARRL Deputy Emergency Coordinator and Emergency Coordinator, is an ARRL Accredited Volunteer Examiner, ARRL Registered License Instructor, author, and seminar presenter on a variety of ham radio topics. In November 2018 he was elected as Director for the ARRL Northwestern Division, and in January 2019 as a member of the Board of Directors for the ARRL Foundation, the League’s scholarship and grant arm. Professionally, Mike holds science and technology degrees from Foothill College and San Jose State University, and had a successful career in the microwave and digital telecom hardware industry as an engineer, manager and director. He officially retired in 2014 to focus on building his dream amateur station, and when not on the radio he is busy working his small hobby, (and antenna), farm in Scappoose, Oregon with his wife Shelley, W7VOX. He also enjoys wrenching on his vintage race car when the band conditions are poor. You can learn more about Mike and his “Radio Scappoose” contest station by visiting his personal website: www.w7vo.com.

.

Vice Director– Mark Tharp, KB7HDX

Mark has been licensed since 1989 and became an ARRL member in 1990. He holds an Amateur Extra class license, and is now a life member of ARRL and a member of the Diamond Club, and Maxim Society. He is active on HF, and VHF, participating in various nets, contests, and chasing the occasional DX station. He has served the ARRL in many volunteer and appointed positions, most recently as Section Manager for Eastern Washington from 2003 until January 1st 2019 when he was elected to the position of Northwestern Division Vice Director. He is trustee for his local ARES support club, and is a volunteer communications adviser for his local Sheriff’s office, and Emergency Management office. Mark also participates in license classes and is a registered instructor as well as a Volunteer Examiner. Mark is currently serving on two board committees, the Em-Comm committee,  and as chair of  the ARISS committee.  Professionally Mark is employed at an equipment manufacturing company as operations and office manager.