[SHARCbits] Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM

[Dave Haney]

 To all SHARC members (who are also ARRL members):

The club received this letter (via email) this morning from Andrea Hartlage, 
KG4IUM.

In my opinion, Andrea is exactly what amateur radio needs in order to 
survive and grow by attracting bright, motivated young people to the hobby. 
Please consider casting your vote for her.

73
Dave
W3SJ

Fellow ARRL members—


This October, members of the League across the Southeastern Division 
(Alabama, Georgia, Northern Florida, Southern Florida, West Central Florida, 
Puerto Rico and US Virgin Island sections) will receive ballots to elect who 
they believe will best represent them on ARRL’s Board of Directors. As a 
candidate for Vice-Director and as a Ham who is passionate for our amazing 
hobby, I respectfully ask for your support and vote.

For over a decade my involvement in amateur radio has spanned across many of 
its facets, and it is the resulting breadth, experience, and perspective 
gained that I wish to put to work on your behalf as your Vice-Director. 
These include: serving as a Georgia Assistant Section Manager for nearly 
seven years; devoting my time in leadership roles within local and regional 
clubs; fulfilling voluntary and appointed positions as an active ARES 
member; ensuring public safety through involvement in our valuable SKYWARN 
program; enjoying ham radio’s roots as a CW operator and FISTS member; 
exploring ham radio’s future by experimenting with its new modes and methods 
such as PSK31 and D-STAR; encouraging experimentation through involvement in 
activities such as high altitude balloon launches and homebrewing; chasing 
new countries and entities as a DXer; enjoying the competitive side of ham 
radio through contesting; and so much more.


Among my biggest passions is working to involve and engage the next 
generation of hams – our youth. For half a decade I served as one of ARRL’s 
Contributing Editors, focusing on topics related to ham radio’s legacy. And 
to more effectively involve our youth at hamfests across the United States, 
I co-developed the concept of a “Youth Lounge” (vastly different from a 
typical youth forum) which is promoted on ARRL’s website for all interested 
hams, clubs, and hamfest committees to utilize. This concept has been a part 
of hamfest programs across Georgia, Alabama, California, North Carolina, and 
Wyoming, and it continues to spread elsewhere across our nation. Further 
exemplifying its effectiveness, the Youth Lounge concept has been an 
established program area of the Dayton Hamvention since 2005.


Today I am running to serve great members like you as Vice-Director of ARRL’s 
Southeastern Division. As a life member of the League, Amateur Extra, and 
A-1 Operator, I believe strongly in the positive impact and influence the 
ARRL has and look to improve its effectiveness through offering my 
experience, perspective, and passion for ham radio.


If elected, I confidently make the following pledges to you:


(1) to greatly improve communication within our Division. Leadership is 
ineffective without communicating to those whose views, concerns and 
opinions need to be represented;
(2) to remain engaged with issues that pose a threat to our spectrum and 
operating privileges, whether it’s BPL, the current ReconRobotics threat, or 
an FCC that bases its decisions on politics rather than sound engineering 
principles;
(3) to assist the ARRL and its members in better attracting and involving 
youth in ham radio. They are our legacy who will one day lead the ham radio 
we care so much about today;
(4) to improve the level end effectiveness of advocacy within our Division 
on matters before Congress and the FCC that affect amateur radio, its 
precious spectrum, or our valuable operating privileges.


I invite you to visit my website – www.SouthEasternDivision.org – to learn 
more about the upcoming election, my background and passion for ham radio, 
my position on a variety of issues that hams are concerned about, and to 
read further elaborations on my pledges to you. I encourage you to vote this 
October and kindly ask for your support so that I may represent you and your 
concerns effectively as Vice-Director of ARRL’s Southeastern Division.


Thank you and 73,


Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM
Candidate for Vice- Director, ARRL Southeastern Division
website: www.SouthEasternDivision.org