[TxHam] Fw: West Gulf Division Newsletter

[David J]

----- Forwarded Message ----
Sent: Fri, December 3, 2010 10:26:34 AM
Subject: West Gulf Division Newsletter

West Gulf Division Newsletter – December, 2010

    West Gulf Elections End
    New OK Section Manager, Kevin O’Dell, N0IRW 
    Exclusive 75th Anniversary ARES Patch
    New Assistant Director Appointed
    Cowtown Hamfest in January
    January ARRL Board Meeting and the West Gulf Initiatives
    Communication within the Division
    Upcoming Hamfests

News from David Woolweaver, K5RAV, ARRL West Gulf Division Director

----West Gulf Division Elections End

HQ announced the following election results on November 19th. 
“Current ARRL West Gulf Division Director David Woolweaver, K5RAV, of
Harlingen, Texas, faced Larry Essary, K5XG, of Lucas, Texas, in the West
Gulf Division Director race. With 2387 votes, Woolweaver was declared
the winner; Essary received 1262 votes. 

Incumbent West Gulf Division Vice Director John Robert Stratton, N5AUS,
of Austin, Texas, squared off against challenger Michael Reynolds,
W0KIE, of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stratton won the race with 2427 votes;
Reynolds had 1203 votes.”

On behalf of myself and John Robert Stratton, thank you for the support
and confidence that the Division members showed in this election.  We
look forward to serving you over the next 3-years.  We also wish to
thank Mr. Essary and Mr. Reynolds for sharing their views with the
community and encourage all members of the Division to volunteer their
time to this organization. 

---New OK Section Manager, Kevin O’Dell, N0IRW 

On October 1, 2010 Kevin O’Dell, N0IRW was officially placed as
Section Manager following his election by the Oklahoma Section on
August 24, 2010.  Kevin is an Extra Class ham and enjoys most aspects
of the hobby.  He lives in Ardmore with his XYL,  Wilma, W5WRO, and has
been active in the section for a number of years as Public Information
Officer and Public Information Coordinator.  He is also a member of the
ARRL's National Public Relations Committee and he serves as a West Gulf
Special Services Assistant Director.

To prepare for this new position, Kevin attended a Section Manager
Orientation Workshop held at HQ in September.  The primary purposes of
the workshop sessions are to share ideas and to provide basic
administrative, management, leadership and motivational training.  By
attending this workshop, Kevin also had the opportunity to meet the
staff of the Field Organization team, the governing body of Section
management.  The workshop fully covers the responsibilities and
functions of the Section Manager position, and provides new Section
Managers an opportunity to learn more about the many programs that the
ARRL supports. The workshop sessions are presented by several ARRL
Headquarter staff members who are experts in their respective areas.

Following his philosophy of “Make It Personal” Kevin is now
recruiting volunteers to support his section efforts.  If you are an
ARRL member and interested in serving please contact Kevin directly at
N0IRW at arrl.org.

---Exclusive 75th Anniversary ARES Patch 

In September 2010, Lee Cooper, W5LHC, STX SM asked staff at ARRL HQ
about the availability of a 75th Anniversary ARES patch.  HQ replied
that there was not going to be a patch made available to members
because of the limited celebratory lifespan of the ARES anniversary and
a desire not to over saturate the market with ARRL patches.  

Later, several West Gulf members including Jerry Keisler, WA5KZA,
expressed an interest in purchasing a patch to celebrate ARES and its
long history.  As a result of the demand, Director Woolweaver
negotiated with HQ and secured, by special arrangement, the exclusive
rights to produce a 75th Anniversary ARES patch.  

There will be only one production run of this full color three and a
half inch LIMITED EDITION 75th Anniversary ARES patch.  

Details as to how to get one (or more) of these once-in-a-lifetime full
color 75th ARES Anniversary patches will be in the next West Gulf
Division Newsletter – stay tuned!!!  

---New Assistant Director Appointed

Bill Swan, K5MWC, has been appointed West Gulf Special Service
Assistant Director for EMCOMM.  He founded the Collin County ARES
organization in 1975 and was EC for 25 years. In 2000, Bill was
appointed NTX SEC where he served under four Section Managers and
authored the ARES Emergency Management Plan for North Texas.  In
addition, Bill is a member of the FEMA RECCWG for Region VI and
currently serves as the State RACES District 13 Radio Officer.

The West Gulf Division welcomes Bill to his new volunteer position.

---Cowtown Hamfest in January

Join Director Woolweaver at the Lockheed Martin Amateur Radio Club’s 
Cowtown Hamfest January 14th and 15th, at the Lockheed Martin
Recreational Area in Fort Worth.  The event boasts over 100 inside
vendor tables, as well as, an outside area for a tailgate flea market. 
There are multiple programs planned including an ARRL forum, AMSAT
forum, and balloon space flights just to name a few.  Additionally, you
may test for, or upgrade your license at their VE sessions on either
Friday or Saturday.  

More information on the Cowtown Hamfest can be found by visiting
http://www.edtexas.com/hamfest/index.html.  The world famous Fort Worth
Stock Show will be opening its 115th celebration this same weekend in
the Stockyards.  Make a family weekend out of it by starting with the
Cowtown Hamfest and then enjoy the delights of the Stock show!  

---January ARRL Board Meeting and the West Gulf Initiatives

Pursuant to the By-Laws, the ARRL Board of Directors will be meeting in
Connecticut on January 21-22, 2011.  Director Woolweaver will be
presenting resolutions to the Board regarding improvements to the ARRL
Instructor Program and the ARRL Volunteer Examiner program to enhance
their abilities to serve the Amateur community.  

ARRL Standing Committee meetings will be held on Thursday, January
20th.  Director Woolweaver will be discussing new Affinity programs to
enhance membership value with the Administration and Finance Committee,
and he will confer with the Program and Services Committee on proposed
improvements for the Volunteer Counsel program.  

---Communication within the Division

2011 promises to be a very busy year for the West Gulf Division as we
will be introducing legislation in  the Texas legislature to obtain
relief from overly restrictive homeowner associations.  Additionally,
our grass root efforts to start building the Oklahoma legislative team
will begin.  Coupled with our Division hosting the 2011 ARRL National
Convention at HamCom in June, we recognize that our need to communicate
with all Amateurs is increasing.  

Every member of the West Gulf Division Leadership team is committed to
raising awareness of amateur issues that affect all amateurs. 
Additionally, one of the best ways to encourage new membership to the
ARRL is to enlighten non-members on the success of ARRL / West Gulf
initiatives.  To do this, the Leadership is contemplating a variety of
ways that they can better communicate – yet still embrace the usual
HQ bulletins such as this.  Watch for future announcements concerning
additional methods of communication.  

Your input on this, as well as, any other issue regarding Amateur
Radio, the ARRL or the West Gulf Division is welcome and necessary. 
Please feel free to contact Director Woolweaver at K5RAV at arrl.org
anytime that you have a concern or a question.  

---Upcoming Hamfests

01/14/2011  Cowtown Hamfest 
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Lockheed Martin Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.cowtownhamfest.org

01/22/2011  San Antonio Amateur Radio Fiesta 
Location: Schertz, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: San Antonio Radio Club
Website: http://w5sc.org

02/05/2011  Ada Hamfest 
Location: Ada, OK
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Ada Amateur Radio Club

02/12/2011  Williamson County Amateur Radio Club 
Location: Georgetown, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Williamson County Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.wcarc.com

03/05/2011  West Central Oklahoma Amateur Radio Club 
Location: Elk City, OK
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: West Central Oklahoma Amateur Radio Club

03/05/2011  South Texas Section Convention (Greater Houston Hamfest)
Location:  Rosenberg, TX
Type:  ARRL Convention
Sponsor:  Brazos Valley Amateur Radio club
Website:  http://www.houstonhamfest.org

03/11/2011  Oklahoma Section Convention (Green Country Hamfest)
Location:  Claremore, OK
Type:  ARRL Convention
Sponsor:  Green Country Hamfest, Inc.
Website:  http://www.greencountryhamfest.org

03/12/2011  Ninth Annual IARC Hamfest
Location:  Irving, TX
Type:  ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor:  Irving Amateur Radio Club
Website:  http://www.irvingarc.org/iarchamfest.html

03/19/2011  West Texas Section Convention (56th Annual St Patrick’s
Day Hamfest)
Location:  Midland, TX
Type:  ARRL Convention
Sponsor:  Midland Amateur Radio club
Website:  http://www.hamfest.w5qgg.org

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ARRL West Gulf Division
Director: David A Woolweaver, K5RAV
k5rav at arrl.org
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