[SFDXA] Happy Thanksgiving - 2021

[Bill]

It has been two years since you elected me as your Director. These two
years have been different than any in our lifetimes. I am thankful for
the health and survival of all of you, while I remember and regret the
loss of so many during the tragedy of the COVID pandemic.
To all the ARES volunteers, Section staff, club leadership and members -
THANK YOU for your continued support that has kept our field
organization running "No Matter What." I know that many of you have had
issues with the pandemic, but continue to serve and lead these
organizations. I am most thankful to you for all that you do.

You've welcomed me to your club meetings and events via Zoom, and
recently, in person. In 2020, there was very little travel - more in
2021. but some clubs in the Division are not yet meeting in person.
Venues have been lost - some are in buildings still under restriction -
and some will open next year.

I've attended many hamfests that have occurred in the Southeastern
Division this year, and will see many of you at the Tampa Hamfest on
December 10-11. If I can help with your hamfest or club meeting with a
presenter, please reach out with as much notice as possible.
As you may have heard, the long-missing ARRL Club Newsletter is
returning and better HQ support for affiliated clubs is in the works.

I'm thankful for the impressive leadership in the ARRL - President Rick
Roderick, K5UR, and CEO David Minster, NA2AA, have made some excellent
changes in leadership. These changes, and ARRL "steady staff" are making
things better on a daily basis. Thanks to all of you!

I'm thankful that my Board colleagues embraced my idea to pay FCC fees
for many under 18 when the FCC initiates that program in 2020. I've
initiated (and will chair) a Committee to study doubling the number of
ARRL Board meetings, using Zoom. We've proven that Zoom meetings are
effective, and, in my opinion, two meetings per year are not sufficient
to manage the strategic changes the ARRL needs to make to effectively
serve the membership.

I'd like to thank my family for their forbearance of my activities as
your Director. Being a Director is pretty much a full-time job, with an
odd schedule of travel and meetings - and, as you may know, it is a
volunteer position.

Finally, I'd like to thank God for watching over us and enabling my
health, giving me experience, and creating my passion as a Servant
Leader for Amateur Radio.

Reach out to me if I can help you in any way!

73, and Happy Thanksgiving,

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ARRL Southeastern Division
Director: Mickey V Baker, N4MB
n4mb at arrl.org
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