[HCRA] ARRL Director election - my view

[John Ewell]

To my fellow HCRA members regarding the upcoming ARRLDirector election

Beginning in October, ARRL members will have the opportunityand responsibility to elect a new Director from the New England Region. Ourregion has 3 candidates for the Director position. All of them are very smart,very accomplished and active hams. We are very fortunate to have an actualchoice in candidates for our region. 

2 of the candidates have held the Director position (FredHopengarten, K1VR is current, Tom Frenaye, K1KI is previous). Fred Kemmerer,AB1OC is the President of the Nashua Area Radio Society. 

I met Fred Kemmerer AB1OC, as I took a 3-day Ham crashcourse to get my Extra license a couple of years ago. He held the class at hishouse, and provided multiple examples of equipment and its use from his hamshack. We went through test equipment, various types of antennas, satellite communications,all in a hands-on fashion. His team of instructors was able to explainelectronic to this poor steam and water based mind (my background is in powergeneration, not electronics). 

We also had demonstrations of some of the projects andsuccesses that he has had with NARS, such as ham boot camp, ISS – school contacts,and high altitude balloon tracking. 

Fred has a background in corporate management at the toplevels in the electronics industry. He has plenty of experience building a teamto accomplish a goal. He has turned NARS into a fantastic resource for hamradio, which is freely shared online. He knows the value of radio clubs inmaintaining activity, education, public interaction and involvement, andgrowing radio. He has used social media to share and grow his club, and others.He has reached out to other clubs and hams to share their talents and ideas. 

Fred has recognized that in order to grow, we have to lookbeyond the traditional ham – beyond older middle class white men, and startlooking at the overall population and try to mirror that. His success withyoung and school age entry into radio speaks well for him and us. 

I feel strongly that Fred Kemmerer is the strongestcandidate in the field. He knows how to build a team, how to motivate people,how to inspire that wonder that started many of us in radio. He is also one ofthe best speakers I have seen in radio. He has a plan, he has set goals forhimself, and has a history of succeeding at what he puts his mind to. 

I wanted to wait until just before the voting start to sendthis out. I didn’t want it to come out too early and be forgotten. So,beginning October 1, until November 19, we have an opportunity and an obligationto choose where our organization goes. Continue the status quo, or move to anactive and diverse future. 

If you are an ARRL member, please treat this election seriously.

Sincerely,

John Ewell N1JIE

n1jie at arrl.net