[ARRL-OK] J. John Thomason, WB5SYT, Appointed West Gulf Division Vice Director

[N7HRT at aol.com]

J. John Thomason, WB5SYT, Appointed West Gulf  Division Vice Director
With the approval of the ARRL Ethics and Elections  Committee, ARRL President 
Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has appointed Oklahoma Section  Manager J. John 
Thomason, WB5SYT, as Vice Director in the West Gulf Division.  Thomason replaces Dr 
David Woolweaver, K5RAV, who moved up to Director with the  retirement of 
Division Director Coy Day, N5OK, last week.
An Extra class  licensee, Thomason has been an ARRL member for more than 20 
years and has served  as Oklahoma Section Manager since 2003. While Section 
Manager, he supported and  prompted passage of Oklahoma Senate Bill 426. This 
bill allows "for the erection  of an Amateur Radio antenna or an Amateur Radio 
antenna support structure at a  height and dimension sufficient to accommodate 
Amateur Radio Service  communications." Thomason also represented the League in 
2004 at the Voluntary  Organizations Active in Disaster's (VOAD) national 
conference. Based on an  article in the November 2007 issue of QST, Thomason, 
with assistance from  University of Oklahoma personnel, developed frequency 
coordination protocol that  is now used at that school's home football games.
"The opportunity and honor  to serve the West Gulf Division as Vice Director 
is exciting," Thomason said.  "It is my desire to diligently work with 
Director Woolweaver to ensure Division  members are informed, to provide input and 
feedback on policies and procedures  pertinent to the League's missions and to 
accomplish what is necessary to have  the interest and the availability to 
inform through developed relationships with  Division members and League 
headquarters staff."
"I have known John for  several years," Woolweaver said. "He has been very 
successful as a Section  Manager, especially in the areas of Emergency 
Preparedness and legislative  action. His unmistakable talents in those areas will be 
very useful in his new  role as Vice Director."
Thomason said continuing "the excellent League  service provided by my 
predecessor Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, is humbling and  enabling. His skill set and 
presence at so many League functions in the Oklahoma  Section and beyond is 
truly a high standard to obtain. He has shown a highly  informed outreach and 
capacity to listen and communicate while making the  Amateur Radio Service 
visible through the League. He will grow in these efforts  as Director while 
following in the richness of professionalism of Director Coy  Day, N5OK.
"It is my hope to sustain and flourish the wonderful relationship  developed 
via my role as Oklahoma Section Manager. The relationships and  fondness for 
our fellow Amateur Radio operators and capacity therein to enhance  our public 
service with League strength is very important to me in my role as  Vice 
Director. This has developed by being active at League events, club  meetings, Nets 
and served agency functions. We make a difference in Amateur  Radio 
operators' lives by listening, caring and expressing this passion to them.  A birthday 
card or a handwritten note of encouragement during family challenges  clearly 
communicates that the League cares for and about them as people and  their 
contributions to Amateur Radio. It has been stated that we meet people  based on 
what in common, but grow on the basis of how we are different. I feel  this is 
our opportunity to strengthen our collective League mission during  difficult 
times, be they economic or frequency threats."
Thomason is a member  of the Edmond Amateur Radio Society (EARS). He has 
earned DXCC and Worked All  States (WAS) on CW, PSK and SSB. Thomason is a 
vocational evaluator with the  State of Oklahoma's Department of Rehabilitation 
Services. He holds a BA in  psychology and an MS in rehabilitation  counseling.



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Chula,  GA
N7HRT
AAR4WH (GA ARMY MARS)
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