[ARRL-OK] FW: ARLB020 John Robert Stratton, KE5ISX, Appointed West Gulf Division Vic e Director

[k5yaa at aol.com]

Sounds like a worthy individual and one capable of and willing to receive our support.

K5YAA - Jerry Chouinard
ARRL W5 Incoming QSL Bureau Mgr.
and OKDXA President 

-----Original Message-----
From: D C *Mac* Macdonald <k2gkk at hotmail.com>
To: OCAPA MailList <ocapa at mailman.qth.net>; ARRL Oklahoma <arrl-ok at mailman.qth.net>; oktraders at yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, Jul 27, 2010 1:30 pm
Subject: [ARRL-OK] FW: ARLB020 John Robert Stratton, KE5ISX, Appointed West Gulf Division Vic e Director



B QST @ ARL $ARLB020
RLB020 John Robert Stratton, KE5ISX, Appointed West Gulf
ivision Vice Director
ZCZC AG20
ST de W1AW
RRL Bulletin 20 ARLB020
>From ARRL Headquarters
ewington CT July 27, 2010
o all radio amateurs
SB QST ARL ARLB020
RLB020 John Robert Stratton, KE5ISX, Appointed West Gulf
ivision Vice Director
After review of eligibility by the ARRL Ethics and Elections
ommittee, President Kay Craigie, N3KN, has appointed John Robert
tratton, KE5ISX, of Austin Texas, to serve as Vice Director of the
RRL's West Gulf Division for the remainder of the current term that
xpires January 1, 2011. Stratton, an attorney, fills the vacancy
reated when John Thomason, WB5SYT, resigned the position earlier
his month.
"John Robert Stratton has the training, experience, time and
otivation to be a great Vice Director," said ARRL West Gulf
ivision Director Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV. "His addition to the
est Gulf Division's team will enhance its ability to provide the
uality of service the membership deserves."
A General class licensee, Stratton has been licensed and an ARRL
ember since 2006, but said he has wanted to be a ham since he was a
oy Scout in high school: "I was always fascinated by the magic of
oices appearing out of the night air from exotic lands -- some
edestrian, some urgent, some mysterious. Many an hour was spent at
y uncle's place in East Texas, often into the wee hours of the
orning, carefully rotating the dial on his Hallicrafters, stalking
he souls whose voices lived and hid inside the radio. Highly
ought, but always difficult to find were the ships at sea. Of all
he Q signals, I found none more haunting than QRD -- where bound --
onveying the image of tramp steamers alone in the night, seeking
ompanionship from the shadowy images slipping past."
Crediting a great Elmer, Stratton started working on getting his
icket, but "life, in the form of graduation, engineering school,
aw school and then starting my own law firm intervened. In 2006, I
ecided I had for too long missed those voices, so I obtained my
echnician license and immediately joined the ARRL."
In February 2007, Stratton became active in League affairs after
earning about the new cell phone bills that were introduced in the
007 Texas Legislative Session, and he volunteered to help work
gainst the bills. He was put in touch with then-ARRL West Gulf
ivision Vice Director Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, who was leading
he West Gulf legislative efforts. "Initially just a volunteer, I
as selected to lead the West Gulf legislative team," Stratton said.
We were successful in defeating the cell phone bills that would
ave made mobile Amateur Radio operation illegal. With the help of
ome smart and dedicated hams, we were also successful in obtaining
assage of new laws that protected those state employees who were
ams [so they could operate] when they are deployed in emergencies."
Due to his success with the Texas cell phone legislation, Stratton
ecame the ex-officio West Gulf Legal Counsel and in 2009, he was
ppointed Assistant Director and Division Legislative Action Chair.
n this capacity, he said he was "charged again with leading our
egislative efforts in the 2009 Texas Legislative Session. We were
uccessful in persuading the Legislature to pass cell phone
egislation that exempted Amateur Radio operators from the effect of
hose laws. We also introduced legislation that would have
liminated the ability of home owner associations to deny hams the
ight to operate and erect towers and antennas. Unfortunately,
lthough we received unanimous support, the bill was unable to get
ut of both the House and Senate committees and reach the floor for
 vote."
Saying that Stratton has been working closely with the West Gulf
ivision for four years, Dr Woolweaver explained that the new Vice
irector initially volunteered to assist with legislative matters:
Eventually, he became the leader of the West Gulf Division's Austin
roup of ARRL volunteers that has been responsible for the great
uccesses achieved at the state legislature. Although many 'wireless
ommunication device' bills have been filed that would limit mobile
mateur Radio operation, no bill has been passed due to John and the
ustin Group's efforts. Thanks to John and his group, Texas has a
tatue, signed by the Governor that exempts Amateur Radio operators
rom future 'wireless communication device' legislation. Although
ot a total guarantee against future attacks on mobile Amateur
adio, the statute is now state law. John is also the Division
egislative Action Chairman and supervises the Grassroots
egislative Action program in the West Gulf Division."
To enhance and support the ARRL's legislative efforts, Stratton also
ed the effort to form the first Amateur Radio political action
ommittee in the United States -- Texas Ham Pac. "It has proven to
e invaluable in supporting our legislative efforts," he said.
Locally, Stratton is a member of the Austin Amateur Radio Club
ARC) and the Central Texas DX and Contest Club (CTDXCC) -- "a very
reen member," he explained. On the EmComm level, he is also one of
he assigned Amateur Radio operators who staff the State
ommunications and Coordination Group for the Texas Division of
mergency Management (TXDEM) during disasters.
Stratton is a civil trial lawyer in Austin, Texas with his own firm,
he Stratton Law Firm, PC. A graduate of the University of Texas
ith a degree in aerospace engineering, he then pursued a law degree
t the University of Texas School of Law; he has been in private
ractice since passing the bar exam.
NNNN
EX
                     
_____________________________________________________
__________________ Information __________________________
ARRL Oklahoma Section Manager - Dean Feken, KL7MA KL7MA at arrl.org
klahoma Section Web page http://www.qsl.net/wb5syt/index.html
_________________________________

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