ARRL Virginia Section Manager Elections, 2002!
Statements by the Candidates CARL A. CLEMENTS, W4CAC
My name is Carl Clements and I am the Section Manager for the Virginia Section. I was born and raised in Portsmouth, VA. I am forty six years old and married with two children. My wife and both children currently hold amateur radio licenses. As President of my family's heating and air conditioning contracting business, we have provided sales and service for customers in the Tidewater area for twenty six years. Also very active in Scouting, I served as Scoutmaster of a Boy Scout Troop for five years and after stepping down served the Troop as their Committee Chairman. I am currently Vice Chairman of Programs for the Merrimac District of the Tidewater Council.
I began my amateur radio career in 1995 when I attended a novice - technician class with my son. In April of 1995 I was first licensed as a Tech Plus with the call of KE4YXW. I applied thru the vanity program for my current call of W4CAC. In 1998 I upgraded to General, upgraded to Advanced in 1999, and upgraded to Extra in 2000. I served as Vice President of the Portsmouth ARC for one year, then as President for three years, and currently serve on the board as Past President. Being very fond of the fun and comradery offered by hamfests, I have actively served on the committee that puts on the Virginia Beach Hamfest.
I was appointed to the Section Manager's post in May of 2001 after the ARRL declared the position vacant in the best interests of the members of the Section. Since being appointed, I have filled the leadership positions with an excellent group of amateurs.
Tom Gregory, N4NW, is our Section Emergency Coordinator. The Salvation Army requested ARRL assistance at the Pentagon after the 911 tragedy. Within 90 minutes of receiving the call, Tom had a team of 6 amateurs and equipment headed to the crash site. Over 200 highly dedicated amateurs from all over the state donated their time and equipment in support of both the Salvation Army and the Red Cross at the Pentagon in the days following 911. Tom has returned the responsibility to the local EC's for the registration of their ARES members. Tom was also recently named as the recipient of the 2001 Roanoke Division ARRL Service Award.
Jeff Poulin, N1SN, is our Section Traffic Manager. Jeff has been very active on many of the section level HF traffic nets and on the NVTN VHF net. He promotes the nets at every opportunity and encourages traffic handling.
Pat Wilson, W4PW, is our Section Public Information Coordinator. Pat has put up a web page at www.arrlva.org. His page is a wonderful source of information for the amateurs of the Section. Pat has been quoted in several local newspaper articles in his quest to promote Amateur Radio to the general public. He was a source of information for QST and several national publications after the Pentagon activation.
Ed Ray, W4NEZ, is our Official Observer Coordinator. Under Ed's care, the OO program has been very active in the last several months. They have assisted an OOC from another Section along with handling several cases in the Section. Some inactive Official Observers have become active again, and the program is gaining momentum.
Rod Hignite, W4RAH, is our Section Technical Coordinator. Rod is rebuilding the program in order to effectively deal with RFI and other issues we are faced with daily.
John Humphrey, W4IM, is our Section Affiliated Club Coordinator. John has been in touch with the clubs in the Section, with an emphasis on helping those that wish to become Special Service Clubs. Most of the clubs in the Section have web pages and the links to these pages can be found at www.arrlva.org.
In the few months that we have held these positions, these people above have worked hard to promote the ARRL and the ARRL programs in the Section. I would appreciate your support in the Section Manager's election, in order to allow these fine people to continue with the work they have so diligently begun. 73 de W4CAC
Carl can be reached by email at [email protected]
LYNN GAHAGAN, AF4CD
Virginia is one of the most dynamic leading Sections in the ARRL organization. In 1998, during my first term as your Section Manager, your leadership officials worked very hard with me as we focused our collective attention to improving all aspects of the Section. As a team, many positive goals and changes were made. As your previous Elected Section Manager, I dealt with very difficult and challenging issues. Not always an easy task, but always with the input and interest of the finest Hams in the country, right here in Virginia! The response of the Amateur community from all over the state when we were faced with Floyd, Y2K, and just recently 911 to name a few, was an indication of how the Section has pulled together over the past five years. It shows the team spirit is thriving in Virginia and I want the Ham community in Virginia to continue that "Team Spirit." I kept the members informed on the many activities in our Section by writing the Va. Section News column in QST every month under my watch. I'm very proud of the outstanding job the ARES and RACES has done which is up to meeting any challenge. The ARES/RACES leadership on all levels and most important the efforts of individual members, are to be praised for their accomplishments. For example, the videos and training materials are a TREMENDOUS success, and sprang directly from your leadership and the ARES program you established. I promise each of you if elected, I will continue to meet every challenge with the interest of the entire state, as my goal. I am an active member of: Winchester ARS, Franklin Co. ARC, Potomac Valley Radio Club, Virginia DX Century Club and the Tidewater Morse Code Society. Show that "Your" vote still counts in Virginia!
Reminder!
ARRL Section Manager Ballots need to be sent in as soon as possible, the deadline is February 15th, 2002. Your vote is important. Every vote counts!
For additional information, visit www.arrlva.org.