West Gulf Division Newsletter February 26, 2009
From the Director:
This is my first newsletter, and I am trying a new format. If you like
it, let me know. If you don't, I want to know that, too. Now for the
news:
Division Director Coy Day Resigns
David Woolweaver becomes Division Director
John Thomason becomes Vice Director
Dean Feken leads Oklahoma Section
North Texas Section elects new Section Manager
Ham Radio in the Park-Ham Association of Mesquite
Legislative Update
1. CC&Rs
2. Cell Phones
Upcoming Hamfests
Division Director Coy Day Resigns
Coy Day, N5OK, last month resigned from ARRL elected office. Day served
more than 12 years as a member of the ARRL Board of Directors -- 10 of
them as West Gulf Division Director.
'It has been a pleasure to work with Coy Day on the ARRL Board,' said
ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN. 'Coy's integrity is admirable and
something that everyone should model. We will miss his wisdom and
smooth manner on the Board and wish the best for Coy and his wife
Judy.'
When Day made his resignation announcement, former Vice Director
Woolweaver called Coy Day a tireless contributor to Amateur Radio for
two decades and said, 'Day's long service has been marked by honor and
integrity. It has been my privilege to serve with Coy for the past
seven years as his Vice Director. I know that everyone in the West Gulf
Division will join me in wishing Coy well in his retirement.'
Dr. David Woolweaver Becomes
Division Director
Dr. David Woolweaver, K5RAV, has taken the position of Division
Director, following the ARRL Articles of Association. He has been a
periodontist in Harlingen, Texas, for 36 years, and he is co-founder
of the South Texas Amateur Repeater Society (STARS) and proclaims that
he enjoys the digital modes.
Dr. Woolweaver, who has served for the past seven years as Vice
Director of the West Gulf Division, is a Life Member of the ARRL and is
a Diamond Club member. His past service on the ARRL Board of Directors
includes Liaison to the Public Relations Committee, Grassroots
Legislative Action Committee, and the Administration and Finance
Committee. In January, ARRL President Joel Harrison appointed Dr.
Woolweaver to the Program and Services Committee.
Woolweaver has been instrumental in leading several legislative action
initiatives in recent years. Most notably were three bills introduced
in the Texas legislature in 2007 that would have prohibited or
criminalized, not only the use of mobile amateur radio, but commercial
mobile radios, vehicular GPS navigation devices, vehicular AM/FM
radios, on-board automobile computer control systems, and a host of
other radio devices. Thanks to the organized grassroots advocacy
group's tireless work and the dedicated hams who volunteered to give
testimony at committee hearings, the three bills died during session.
On another front, Woolweaver led Texas hams in advocacy to support a
separate bill that offered ham friendly protections and was passed
just hours before the session ended.
John Thomason Becomes Vice Director
ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has appointed as Vice Director John
Thomason, WB5SYT. An active ARRL member for more than 20 years,
Thomason holds an Extra class Amateur Radio license. He served as
Oklahoma Section Manager from April 2003 through January 2009.
Thomason, too, has assisted with legislative activity that is critical
to hams. Working with Assistant Section Manager Eddie Manley, K5EMS,
and others in Oklahoma, the section championed and passed PRB1
legislation recently.
Dean Feken Becomes
Oklahoma Section Manager
Dean Feken, KL7MA, has been appointed as the new Oklahoma Section
Manager. Feken, an Extra class licensee from Perry, Okla., has been the
Oklahoma Official Observer Coordinator since spring 2004 and an
Official Observer since fall 2003. Feken's term as Section Manager
continues through September 30, 2010.
North Texas Section
Elects New Section Manager
ARRL members in the North Texas Section have elected a new Section
Manager, Jay Urish, W5GM, of Flower Mound, who received 740 votes; his
opponent, incumbent Section Manager Tom Blackwell, N5GAR, of Dallas,
received 678 votes. Blackwell has served as Section Manager since
2005. Jay assumes office on April 1st.
Ham Radio in the
Park Launches Second Year
On February 22nd, the Ham Association of Mesquite celebrated 'HAM RADIO
IN THE PARK'. The monthly outdoor event takes place at the Paschall
Park Pavilion in Mesquite, TX. The event starts at noon and runs until
dark (6pm). The park gathering draws ham radio operators from around
the Dallas area who bring projects and antennas to build, equipment to
test and just spend a day with other ham radio operators.
'We always have HF and VHF/UHF operations, antenna tune-ups, mobile
installation demonstrations, and an old thing called 'Elmering'. This
event brings out 50+ folks every month. Bring your projects, radios,
antennas, new equipment, new techniques, and knowledge to the Ham
Association of Mesquite's Ham Radio in the Park(HRitP). The event is
always free and parking is free. Food is what you bring with you.
Come have fun and get the help you are missing,' says David Kaun,
N5DBK, club President.
Legislative Update #1
Legislation
Planned to Overcome CC&Rs
Texas and Oklahoma sections are both planning to identify suitable
legislation to preserve and protect amateur radio operation.
Legislation is being developed to permit hams to install antennas and
operate within their federal licensing in spite of covenants,
conditions and restrictions.
The division is collecting data about such restrictive covenants and
asks hams with this type of information to forward their contact
information to the Division Legislative Action Chair, John Stratton,
KE5ISX at jrs@johnrobertstratton.com
In addition, division leaders are preparing endorsements to use in
these future legislative attempts. One such support statement follows:
'Amateur Radio is an important part of Emergency Management and
Disaster Mitigation in Texas and Oklahoma. I support the introduction
and approval of legislation in the Texas Legislature, which will help
provide a measure that will preserve and protect the utilization of
Amateur Radio. An Amateur Radio station, which is federally licensed,
is only as effective as its antenna! Private land use regulations,
such as covenants, conditions and restriction [CC&R] many times limit
choices to such an extent that in many locations it is impossible to
install an antenna which will allow an Amateur Radio operator to
fulfill his or her license privileges. Please support the right of
amateur radio operators to be able to install 'reasonable antennas' on
their own property.' Eddie Manley - Oklahoma Section State Government
Liaison,
K5EMS.
Legislative Update #2
Cell Phone Bills May
Affect Amateur Radio
ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, is continuing
his vigilance over the ongoing creation of proposed laws and
regulations aimed at promoting greater safety among cell phone users,
while at the same time perhaps unknowingly restricting Amateur Radio
operators. The ARRL Executive Committee has adopted a policy statement
on mobile Amateur Radio operations. The statement urges state and
municipal legislators to limit the scope of their proposals, limiting
them to devices such as full duplex wireless telephones and related
hand-held or portable equipment. Alternately, it suggests that licensed
Amateur Radio operation be listed specifically as an exclusion to the
proposed regulations.
Division Director Woolweaver and the West Gulf Legislative Action Team
continue to monitor new bills throughout the division, as well. In
Oklahoma, Eddie Manley, K5EMS, reports that three favorable bills have
been introduced this session. SB1270 by Constance Johnson prohibits the
use of 'cell phones' in a motor vehicle. It specifically excludes
amateur radio from this prohibition. HB1455 by McAffrey is the same
bill filed in the House. HB1782 by Tibbs looks to be the same as the
above.
South Texas Section State Government Liaison, Jim Robinson, K5PNV, and
Glen Reid, K5FX, have identified several bills effecting amateur radio
that have been filed in the House of the Texas Legislature. The
bills
are being tracked by the West Gulf Legislative Action Team. One bright
light is 'cell phone bill' SB582, filed by Senator Wentworth, San
Antonio. The West Gulf Legislative Action Team worked with Senator
Wentworth on 'cell phone' legislation last session, and the result is
SB582, which was filed this session. SB582 exempts FCC licensed
operators.
Look for a Special Legislative Newsletter coming soon.
Upcoming Hamfests
Feb. 28, 2009
Orange ARC and Jefferson County ARC Hamfest
VFW Post 2775
Orange, Texas
Contacts: Sheila Powell, N5HL, and Delores Heintschel, KC5NEO. Email:
sheilapo@midcountypc.com
Mar. 7, 2009
South Texas Section Convention (Greater Houston Hamfest)
Fort Bend County Fairgrounds
Rosenberg, Texas
Contact: Kirk Kendrick, W5KMK. Email: w5kmk@arrl.net
Mar. 7, 2009
Elk City Hamfest
Elk City Community Civic Center
Elk City, Okla.
Contact: Earl Bottoms, N5NEB. Email: n5neb@waywireless.com
Mar. 13-14, 2009
Oklahoma State Convention
Green Country Hamfest, Inc.
Claremore Expo Center
Claremore, Okla.
Contact: Merlin Griffin, WB5OSM. Email: wb5osm@hotmail.com
Mar. 14, 2009
7th Annual IARC Hamfest
Irving Amateur Radio Club
Betcha Bingo Hall #1
Irving, Texas
Contact: Coleta M. Taylor, KD5QFH. Email: coleta.mt@verizon.net
Mar. 21, 2009
West Texas Section Convention (54th Annual St. Patrick's Day Hamfest)
Midland Lion's Club
Midland, Texas
Contact: Joe Coldewey, KK5ZG. Email: kk5zg@grandecom.net
Apr. 4, 2009
Weatherford HAMFEST 2009
ARC of Parker County
Couts Memorial United Methodist Church
Weatherford, Texas
Contact: Elizabeth Hunkele, N5ONE. Email: eliz@mesh.net
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Dr. David Woolweaver, K5RAV
Director West Gulf Division
John Thomason, WB5SYT
Vice Director West Gulf Division