Just prior to the ARRL Board of Directors 2009 Annual Meeting, the newly elected leadership team in the ARRL's Delta Division -- Director Mickey Cox, K5MC, and Vice Director David Norris, K5UZ -- made their way to Newington for a day of orientation to learn the "ins and outs" of the ARRL Board and ARRL Headquarters operation. The Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 16-17 in Windsor, Connecticut. Cox was previously Section Manager of the Louisiana Section; Norris was Section Manager of the Arkansas Section when he was elected to his new position.

According to ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, "The new Board members came to Newington to learn not only how the Board functions, but to see what each department does and how it interacts with and serves both Amateur Radio and ARRL members, through our five pillars: Public Service, Advocacy, Education, Technology and Membership. I am pleased they came to see how we support Amateur Radio each and every day here at ARRL HQ."

One of the highlights of the group's visit to Headquarters was a tour of the ARRL Lab. Ed Hare, W1RFI, ARRL Laboratory Manager, explained the function of the Lab and its staff: "We showed them how we support Amateur Radio through the Technical Information Service, product review testing, RFI issues such as power line noise, and support for spectrum defense, including BPL issues."

Cox said, "This is my third trip to ARRL Headquarters -- I came first as a new Section Manager in 2001, and again in 2005 to discuss lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina. I've always loved coming to Headquarters. I am learning a lot today about how to be a Division Director. So far, there have been no big surprises, as it is pretty much what I thought it would be. I'm looking forward to the meetings this weekend and serving the amateurs in the Delta Division as their Director for the next few years."

Norris concurred: "I first came to ARRL Headquarters in September 2005. Like Mickey, I came to the orientation that HQ staff holds for new Section Managers. This visit has been a little more in-depth; I've seen more of the operational side of Headquarters this time around. From my first visit, I had a pretty good idea of what the staff does, but now I really get what they do for the members and the amateur community as a whole. I think every member needs to come up here and see what exactly goes on at Headquarters. I think they will gain a new appreciation for the League."