---Jay Urish, W5GM, NTX SM re-elected
North Texas Section Manager Jay Urish, W5GM did not face opposition in
the 2010 Winter Section Manager elections and was declared elected for
the upcoming term of office beginning April 1, 2011.
With continuity in the North Texas leadership, Jay plans to continue
his work with SEC Walt Mayfield, KE5SOO, in strengthening the EmComm
system and in securing volunteer appointees to cover current vacancies.
Jay also hopes to engage Amateurs and clubs in the North Texas section
by appointing a new Section Training Coordinator, whose primary
function will be to assist in the development of an education program
that puts amateur radio in front of young people.
As Section Manager, Jay looks forward to working with the WGD
Leadership in abolishing overly restrictive Home Owner Association
CC&R's and tower restrictions in the upcoming Texas legislative
session. Additionally, local issues such as emergency preparedness,
membership growth not only in the ARRL but in clubs and, increasing
community awareness about the Amateur Radio service will remain high on
his agenda.
Over the past two years, tremendous strides have been made in the NTX
Section to improve communication, rebuild services that had been
eliminated or sorely lacked attention, and to build a team of
volunteers dedicated to making NTX even stronger. If you would like to
join Jay in his efforts to expand these Amateur Radio initiatives,
please contact him at W5GM@arrl.org.
---John Dyer, AE5B, WTX SM retires
John Dyer, AE5B West Texas Section Manager, has announced that he
intends to retire June 30, 2011, at the conclusion of his current term.
Dyer served as SM from 2002-2005 and was re-elected in 2007. He will
serve until his planned retirement.
John's interests included ARES, RACES, and other aspects of Emergency
Communications since the 70's. A week on the ground in Wichita Falls,
Texas in 1979 assisting W5GPO and his team during the aftermath of
Terrible Tuesday cemented a life-long relationship between John and
ARES. Prior to becoming SM, John's ARES activities included being
been both a County and District Emergency Coordinator.
Deservingly proud of the major accomplishments for the WTX section
during his tenure, John notes the accomplishments of WTX SEC J.T.
Caldwell, WA5ZFH and former WTX SEC Bob Ward, WA5ROE. Thanks to J.T.
and Bob, ARES in West Texas is now a dynamic organization serving the
people of West Texas. When John took office in 2002, WTX ARES was a
paper organization with little more than a set of cards resting in a
cigar box. There were local pockets of organization but little or no
cohesion across the section. Over 300 hams in 34 counties are now
involved in the WTX ARES organization serving agencies throughout West
Texas. John reflects back that it is the Field Service staff that
determines the success of a Section Manager noting, "They have made
me look good, but it is their hard work and dedication that we must
recognize."
John is also an active DX'er with 357 DXCC countries worked and is
closing in on DXCC on Six Meters. First licensed in 1961 as WN5ALB;
John upgraded to WA5ALB in 1962 and now enters his 50th year in amateur
radio and his 49th year as a member of the ARRL. In fact, there were a
grand total of ten 40 meter CW QSO's in WN5ALB's log when John sent
$5.00 to HQ to join the ARRL. John also holds ARRL appointments as a
VHF Awards Checker and HF Awards Checker.
John and his wife Carla K5RLA joined forces when John realized that
that being tied to the ARRL booth at the WTX Section Convention
restricted his ability to visit with the membership throughout the
building. Their solution was for Carla to take responsibility for the
ARRL table, allowing John to work the convention floor. It worked so
well that John gave her an appointment as an ASM, giving Carla deserved
credibility behind the table. Then Director Coy Day, N5OK saw how well
it was working for the WTX section and "borrowed" her for the Texas
State Convention in Austin. Carla and John have volunteered in the ARRL
booth at almost every major WG Hamfest since at their own expense.
Director Woolweaver promoted K5RLA to Assistant Director for Membership
in 2009 and John humorously notes that she now outranks him.
The West Gulf Division owes a debt of gratitude to John for his amazing
ARRL service throughout the years and wishes him well in his
retirement!
---West Texas Section Manager Nominations
Nominating petitions for the West Texas Section Manager term beginning
July 1, 2011 are now available on the ARRL website and must be
submitted to HQ by March 4, 2011. For more information see
http://www.arrl.org/section-terms-nomination-information.
---CC&R Relief Legislation Ready
The WG legislative team is working to file the CC&R Relief bills in
this Texas Legislative Session that it filed, to great support, in the
2009 Legislature. The team members are currently meeting with
Representatives and Senators to finalize the supporters and sponsors
for the bill. We intend to file the bill in the Senate and the House
within the next two weeks.
To obtain passage of the Texas CC&R Bill, it will be important for each
of you to contact your Representative and Senator – when asked to so.
Please wait until the Bill is actually filed. Concerted contact is more
effective than random contacts.
You should expect to receive E-Mail notices providing updates and
requesting action. You will also be able keep up to date at
www.WestGulfLegislation.org and www.WestGulfDivision.org
Depending on recommendations from Kevin O'Dell, OK SM, we may file a
duplicate of the Texas CC&R Bill in the Oklahoma Legislature. Stay
tuned.
(John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, Vice Director)
---The Texas Legislature Convenes
The Texas legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31 member
Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The legislature
meets in regular session on the second Tuesday in January and each odd
numbered year. The Texas Constitution limits the regular session to
140 calendar days. The Lieutenant governor, elected statewide
separately from the Governor, presides over the Senate, while the
Speaker of the House is elected from that body by its members. The
Lt. Governor this session is David Dewhurst-R and the Speaker is Joe
Straus-R San Antonio. The Texas legislature convenes in Austin on
January 13, 2011.
(Information provided by Texas Legislature on Line)
During the course of the legislature, you may be asked to contact your
Representative or Senator to request their support for the WG CC&R
Relief legislation and, possibly, to support other legislation that
compliments the CC&R Relief bill. Be ready for the call. If the WG
legislative efforts are to succeed, everyone must be willing to help.
---West Gulf Leadership operates W1AW
Director Woolweaver and Vice Director Stratton will be operating from
W1AW IN Newington, CT on Tuesday, January 18th from 12:00 PM to 2:45 PM
CST and again on Wednesday, January 19th from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM CST.
Look for the WG "Boys" on plus or minus 14.240 Mhz USB. They will
be calling, "CQ West Gulf Division". If you ever wanted to make a
contact with W1AW, now is your chance. QSL 100% Real time posting of
frequency and operating reports will be made on the West Gulf Facebook
Page at "ARRL – West Gulf Division" and at twitter.com/N5AUS.
---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
04/02/2011 HamEXPO
Location: Belton, TX
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Temple Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.beltonhamexpo.org/
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ARRL West Gulf Division
Director: David A Woolweaver, K5RAV
k5rav@arrl.org
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