FEATURED GERATOL MEMBER – Tom, W4WLF

If we ever had a story of “Perseverance and Persistence” on the GERATOL Net, this may be one of the best. While I am sure there are many of us who took years to complete the requirements for the BASIC award, myself included, this is a story about one of our own who stuck with it for 13 years, before earning his Basic Award. Congratulations to Tom, W4WLF on completing, and receiving his Unbelievable Operating Achievement Award, and obtaining GERATOL # 2667 !!!

Tom was first licensed in 1952 at the impressive age of 13 !! Back then it was no walk in the park getting a ticket either. I believe even Novice licensees had to pass a 5WPM code requirement back then, I know I did when I got mine.

Tom writes:

“We had a cartoon similar to this on our refrigerator when Katrina hit. The refrigerator floated up and turned over when the house flooded. In digging the place out, I found it and put it in the yard to dry. It sort of summed up our attitude.”

When Tom got his Novice, you had to go before an FCC Engineer to take the test. They gave it 4 times a year in Birmingham, Alabama which was the nearest testing site. He had been sick (a bug of some kind) and missed being able to go two times in a row. By then he had turned 13.

His family took a vacation to visit relatives in Texas in 1952. Since the only testing site that was anywhere near their route was Dallas, and they had no plans to go there.  At every stop he would pick up brochures for any attractions he thought might entice them to go to Dallas. After the third or fourth time he did this, his Mom looked back at him and said something to the effect that … what is it about Dallas?  He told her that the FCC gave the amateur radio test every weekday in Dallas. Her reply was …why didn’t you not say so? We’ll go to Dallas.

They got there early and filled out the necessary paperwork. The next step was to receive code at 5 WPM for five full minutes. You had to get at least one solid minute of copy, out of the five minutes of receiving. This was accomplished without much difficulty other than a bad case of nerves. That allowed him to move on to the next step which was to send CW to the examiner for five minutes, at or above 5 WPM.

Of course, you had to wait your turn for the others to send. (Not good for the nerves) Tom says, he finally got in there. After sending a couple of words, the examiner said “Stop!!”  Tom inquired as to what he had done wrong? The examiner said, “Nothing, you passed.” Tom said that he thought he had to send for 5 minutes. The examiner pushed back in his chair, crossed his arms and sternly said … “well if you insist on sending for 5 minutes, I’ll listen, but as of now … you have passed —- I’m not sure what my answer will be after 5 minutes.”     He told him very quickly that he would be pleased not to not make him to have to listen to me send 5 full minutes of code. If he was happy, Tom was happy !!!

After that, he took the written test. (Tom says he was pretty sure of the sequence of events, but that 1952 was a long time ago.)    He received his ticket in the mail several weeks later, after checking the mail box every day until it arrived !!

W4ELX, Phil Mentz had resurrected an old, old Super-regenerative receiver (National SW3) and had built Tom a crystal controlled transmitter in a surplus WWII aircraft antenna tuning unit. He used the roller inductor as part of a Pi network antenna tuner. It ran about 40 watts. (Crystal control was a requirement for the Novice of course, back in those days) Tom recalls, that transmitter was the first rig for many new hams in Tuscaloosa.

When the FCC gave the novice a little part of the 40 meter band, we found that the roller inductor would allow the rig to tune to 40.

Tom mentioned that you can still see some RF burns on his fingers from tuning up and from throwing the transmit/receive knife switch and holding a Neon bulb to check the tuning.

Tom’s primary interest in Amateur Radio back then, and to this day is in the area of Emergency Communications, MARS and Disaster Response. Tom actually did some serious search and rescue work at the Woodstock, Alabama train wreck in 1951, where he met some Hams, who were using a portable station and sending messages for needed equipment, along with health and welfare messages from survivors. There was only ONE telephone in the entire area. Seeing the Hams sending and receiving those messages over the portable radio triggered his desire to become a Ham.

In later years, as an Air Explorer Boy Scout, he did cross country and river search and rescue. As an adult, he’s been involved in Fire/Rescue and even taught EMT Paramedics at the University of Alabama (aka: The Crimson Tide), in Birmingham and then started the degree program at Eastern Kentucky University.

As mentioned, Tom launched his GERATOL efforts in 2005, along with finally going after his WAS and DXCC. He might have started a bit sooner than 2005, but some of his records were lost or misplaced after Hurricane Katrina took its toll on his home town, his house and even destroyed his son’s house.

Some of his hard copy QSL cards were saved, but many were not readable due to water damage. In true GERATOL fashion, some of his damaged cards were kindly replaced by our fellow GERATOL’ers. Another fact that proves, the GERATOL Net is comprised of a great bunch of ops.

They spent three years in what Tom calls their “Tin-Can-Do” instead of “condo” for three years while he and a countless Church volunteers from around the country and the world helped them rehab their house. They even had an Astronaut show up on one of the days, to help with the repair work.

Between the disruptions caused by Katrina, and having to care for his ailing wife, Tom had to keep putting his quest for a GERATOL number on the back burner. He says he would of course, gladly trade his GERATOL number in, if it meant he was still caring for his wife.

Tom was wondering if anyone out there has taken longer than the 13 years it took him to achieve getting his number. If it did, feel free to reply to this post, or send him a note.  If anyone reading this, took longer than Tom’s 13 years to attain a “G” number,  make a COMMENT on this post and let him know.

With the completion of his quest for a GERATOL number in March of this year, he also finished up his Worked All States. Congrats on that one as well Tom. He achieved DXCC on August 17, 2016 and WPX on August 18, 2016. Both big milestone for many of us Hams.

Tom’s wife was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2000, and the disease finally took her away from him three years ago. He says he had only been married to her for a short while, 50 years and 6 months. He says, with her, that period of time was a short while. She was a big supporter of his radio and his disaster work. She told him she truly understood it when he left the house in the Birmingham, Alabama area with food, water, radio gear and generators to aid her family and Civil Defense in Gulfport, Mississippi after Hurricane Camille in 1969. When Tom arrived to provide support, he relieved another dedicated op, W5BW, with a heart condition who had been on the air for 72 hours straight !!

A few years ago, Tom finally got a chance to attend Dayton for only the second time, and by chance was staying in the same hotel where a group of GERATOLers were also staying. He made contact with them in the restaurant, and a couple of them took Tom and his co-driver to the restaurant where all the GERATOLers were gathering. Turns out the folks who gave Tom and his driver a ride, were none other than Dave (KJ8V) and his wife Sandy (KJ8W).

Again, CONGRATS to Tom on his new GERATOL Number, and let’s hope his story will help to provide inspiration to those tenacious folks working toward their own numbers this season !!
Feel free to comment on this POST, and add your congrats for Tom, and to thank Tom for his Search and Rescue work over the years.

Also, Tom thanks for taking the time to provide me the data and graphics to complete this posting.

Kevin N1KL

04/02/2018

ARRL and CQ magazine have announced the launch, effective immediately, of Logbook of The World (LoTW) support for CQ’s Worked All Zones (WAZ) Award program. The goal of the project, under way since last year, has been to create the proper technical support system to enable radio amateurs to submit LoTW confirmations for WAZ credit, and that has been accomplished, CQ and ARRL said in a joint statement. LoTW already supports CQ’s WPX Award program.

“We are very pleased that participants in CQ’s WAZ award program will now be able to use their LoTW confirmations for award credit,” CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, said. “CQ WPX Award participants have found it very helpful, and we are sure it will be equally helpful for those pursuing WAZ and its many variations.”

ARRL First Vice President Greg Widin, K0GW, concurred. “Users of LoTW have been telling us for some time that they would like to use QSLs from LoTW to apply for the WAZ award,” he said. “They will now be able to select confirmations to be used for WAZ credit.”

Beta testing has been under way since mid-December 2017 to bring the WAZ Award program into LoTW, and the LoTW technical support team has addressed any problems in the implementation that testers uncovered. Documentation also was improved through feedback from beta testers.

At the same time, each LoTW user was given an additional WAZ account. Standard LoTW credit fees and separate CQ award fees will apply.

LoTW — ARRL’s electronic confirmation system for Amateur Radio contacts —provides contact confirmation when both stations upload their logs to the system, and a match between the logs is confirmed. LoTW has supported the CQ WPX Award program since 2012.

Source: ARRL Website

N1KL  Kevin

FEATURED MEMBER

As part of our efforts to get to know the GERATOL leadership, net control stations and members in general, our focus for this post is none other than our Net Control Coodinator, and regular Net Controler, Bruce – N0HD.

Bruce states that his job as Net Control Coordinator is to insure we have a designated Net Control Station for each shift of the GERATOL net. He also points out that he does this with a heavy dose of assistance from both Dave – KJ8V and Frosty – W0FP. He also makes sure the NCS stations are compensated appropriately, which consists only of the sincere gratitude of those who check into the net.

Bruce was first licensed in 1976 as a Novice with the call WN6QGF. After that he held 7 call signs: WA6QGF, WB7TTU, KB7FX, KE6IO, KG0HL, AA0XY and finally his current call of N0HD ! Wow, I think Bruce may hold the greatest quantities of call signs on the net !!! Back in the day of course, if one moved from one call area to another, the FCC would require you change your call sign accordingly. Thank goodness that’s a thing of the past eh ?

His first station consisted of a Swan 500C transceiver and a 40 Meter dipole. As Bruce puts it: Plenty of power, lots of TVI and a nifty VFO that drifted like a cork on the ocean. His current shack boasts of some much better equipment, but we always remember the thrill of the equipment and QSO’s made with that ifirst set up. His current station includes: an IC-7300, Palstar HF Auto Tuner, an ALS-1306 Amp and a Yaesu FT-857D which he hopes to put in the mobile some day in the future. His antenna at the house is a 43 Ft Vertical, an 80 Meter Carolina Windom and a Cushcraft A4S.

Bruce achieved his GERATOL # 1973 in March of 1996.  In addition to his work as our NCS Coordinator, Bruce was the creator of the “Veteran’s Salute” Award, which many of the regulars continue to pursue, and which is a great tribute to our veterans.

He joined the Navy right out of High School in 1973, because he says he was really not a farmer and hated milking cows. We “udderly” agree with that. He was hoping that 4 years in the U.S. Navy would help him get his head on straight and get positioned for a run at college. One thing led to another, and he ended up making the Navy his career, spending 20 years serving his country, for which we are all grateful. He did not totally forget college however and obtained his AAS degree in Farm Management in 1996.

Bruce recalls the highlight of his Naval career was being afforded the opportunity to make 3 deployments to Antarctica in the early 80’s. Wow, folks are now paying BIG bucks to take excursions there, to see Mother nature at her rawest. Today, many (myself included) try to track down RI1ANO operating from there on CW, to put that one in our log books, but Bruce got to operate KC4USY while stationed in Antarctica, running Phone Patches for those stationed there, and working all the DX he could handle. Imagine being at that end of the DX pile up ? Bruce knows what it is like. He says it was a BLAST !!

Bruce and his wife Judy with their Indian Chieftain Motorcycle

Now that he’s really, really retired he spends time shifting his focus between Ham Radio and restoring a few old AM broadcast radios. In addition, he enjoys gardening and riding his motorcycle during the nicer weather. He has a really sharp (see insert picture) Indian Chieftain motorcycle and is chomping at the bit for the weather to cooperate so he can take to the road. As the commercial on TV says, “Going Up Country” !!

Bruce has been married to his wife Judy (Also a Ham – KB0WVX) for 27 years and has a son (Steve) and two daughters (Becky and Sarah) as well as two step-sons (Matt, also a Ham – KB9JAW) and Michael. He has six grandkids, ranging in ages from 5 to 18, none of whom are licensed YET !! But with three other Hams in the family, it is probably only a matter of time.

I wish to thank Bruce for providing the information for our write up, which I only tweaked, as well as for his contributions to our grand old net, as well as his service to our Country. Take a minute to put a COMMENT on this post and express your own words to him. It only takes a minute, and the guys really appreciate it.
Kevin N1KL

03/16/2018

The deadline is April 30 for US schools, museums, science centers, and community youth organizations (working individually or together) to submit proposals to host an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with an orbiting crew member on the International Space Station (ISS). Contacts would be scheduled between January 1 and June 30, 2019.

Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with opportunities to learn about space technologies and communications through Amateur Radio. The program provides learning opportunities by connecting students to astronauts aboard the ISS through a partnership between ARRL, AMSAT, and NASA, as well as other Amateur Radio organizations and worldwide space agencies. The program’s goal is to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and Amateur Radio.

“Educators overwhelmingly report that student participation in the ARISS program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and in STEM careers,” ARISS said in announcing the contact opportunities. “As one educator wrote, ‘It exceeded our expectations — it created a great interest in both Amateur Radio and in space exploration. Our kids are completely inspired!’”

More than 90% of educators who have participated in the program have indicated that ARISS provided ideas for encouraging student exploration and participation. Some of them even become radio amateurs after experiencing a contact with an ISS crew member.

ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed, exciting education plan. Students can learn about satellite communications, wireless technology, science research conducted on the ISS, radio science, and any related STEM subject. Students learn to use Amateur Radio to talk directly to an astronaut and ask their STEM-related questions. ARISS will help educational organizations locate Amateur Radio groups who can assist with equipment for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students.

Proposal webinars for guidance and getting questions answers will be offered on Thursday, March 29, at 7 PM EDT (0000 UTC on Friday, March 30) and on Monday, April 16, at 4 PM EDT (2100 UTC). Advance registration is required. More details, such as expectations, proposal guidelines, and the proposal form, are on the ARISS website. — Thanks to ARISS via Dave Jordan, AA4KN

Source: ARRL Ham Radio News

Featured Member

Those who frequent the net, are familiar with Joe, WS8X.   Joe is one of two Loverti’s on the net, the other of course Joe Sr. WW8X from Ohio.

Joe serves as our Saturday evening Net Control station. Saturday evenings are often one of the busiest on the net, even during these days of rough conditions, and Joe does a great job handling all the check-ins and keeping the net moving along efficiently, with a touch of humor as well.

For those wondering how Joe puts out such a strong signal from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, his current station consists of a 40/80 Meter Parallel dipole. He also sports a Multi band doublet. His current rigs are an ICOM 751A and an ICOM 7300 along with a Drake L7 amp.

Joe and his sidekick at his Ham Shack

Joe was first licensed in 2001 with the call KC8RNF. His first station was comprised of an ICOM 745, MFJ Versa Tuner, which he loaded into a G5RV antenna. Joe was fortunate in his selection of Elmer’s to get him started, namely his Dad, Joe – WW8X. Like many of us, Joe has his WAL, or Worked All Licenses, going from Novice, all the way up to Extra Class. In addition to WW8X, Joe has three uncles who are also Ham Radio Operators.

Joe recalls his first DX QSO was with a station in Western Europe. Funny, how we keep those type of events in our Ham Radio memory banks. Our first QSO, first DX contact, first CW QSO, etc. Fun stuff.
Joe achieved his WAS via the GERATOL net, achieving G # 2607 in 2011. He later added his Director’s number 737 to his GERATOL achievements.

Those of us who are regular check-ins to the net, know that Joe is Active Duty Coast Guard (Thank you for your service Joe), where as a Radioman, he handled numerous Search and Rescue cases. I bet some of those would make great stories to hear more about if any of us have a chance for an eyeball with Joe. He’s been in the Coast Guard since 1999.

Feel free to comment on this post about Joe – WS8X, on our website, or fire him off a note, and thank him for his service to our country and his support of the GERATOL Net.

Kevin N1KL

02/21/2018

Z68M, a one-person DXpedition by Mome Dimovski, Z32ZM, will be on the air February 22 to March 6, on 160 – 10 meters, CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, and JT65. Confirm contact using Club Log.

Also in March, Gab Barison, HB9TSW, who is in the Swiss Air Force will be in Pristina, Kosovo, March 29 to April 19 as part of a NATO mission, will be active as Z68BG in his spare time, as especially evenings and Sunday. He’ll be running 100 W to a ground plane, CW on 80 – 17. He uses LoTW.

Later this year, Z68AA and Z68RBJ, helmed by Croatian Flora Fauna Radio Club members 9A6AA, 9A2MF, and 9A5RBJ (ON3RBJ), will take place in mid-May from Peja, 100 W, 80 – 10 meters, wire antennas, SSB, CW, and FT8. QSL Z68AA via 9A6AA, and Z68RBJ via 9A5RBJ. They will use LoTW.

The hugely popular Z60A celebratory operation from Pristina culminated on Kosovo’s 10th anniversary, February 18. The Z60A operating sites were left intact for a return over the weekend of the ARRL International DX Contest, March 3 – 5. The initial activation of Kosovo as a DXCC entity resulted in 81,478 contacts with 26,487 individual call signs. Europe dominated the tally with two-thirds of the contacts. North American stations accounted for 22% of stations worked. Delegates from 10 countries were part of the initial activity.

— Thanks to The Daily DX, OPDX, and Martti Laine, OH2BH

Source: ARRL News

All, you will find a new G-Number file which is now available in the FILE section of our website.   On the website it is the file dated 2/14/18, and Frosty has updated it based on the latest list of SK’s from the February version of QST.

Be advised,  it needs to be used in conjunction with G-List Ver 1.09, which is also available in the FILES section of our website.

Regards, Kevin N1KL

FEATURED MEMBERS

Dave Ertel, KJ8V – GERATOL Net Awards Manager
Sandy Ertel, KJ8W – GERATOL Net Treasurer

Dave was first Licensed in 1977 as a Novice: WD8QME. He upgraded to Technician, General, Advanced and finally to Extra in 1979. When he went through the licensing the FCC came to Cincinnati every 6 months and the official who managed those taking the code portion of the exam, made them send code before they were allowed to take the code copying test. Of course then you had to wait 6 months to take the next license level test.

Dave’s first radio was a Heath Kit HW-16 that he built from one of their kits. He then bought a Kenwood TS 520 and has owned many Kenwood radios since. Today he operates a Kenwood TS 590S into a Drake L-4B amp. In addition, he also runs a Kenwood TS 480 in the truck mobile. Many of us have had the pleasure of working both Dave and Sandy as they went mobile, visiting family, or on their way to the Dayton Hamvention. Dave says, the hottest and best radio he ever had was a Kenwood TS 50S. Very hot receiver in it. He and Sandy have had various antennas up in the air, ranging from stacked 11 element  2 meter beams, tri-banders at 60 feet and now have a vertical and two inverted V’s at their QTH in Michigan.

Dave has worked all Counties # 940 11/11/97, worked all states on 10, 20, 40 and 80 meters, WAC Feb, 1992, has 100 DX Countries confirmed and have never sent them in for official confirmation. Dave’s GERATOL number is a really low one: # 523, which he obtained on 4/1/81. As is the case with several GERATOLers, who operated from various states, Dave has a second GERATOL number: 2595, which he obtained on 12/24/10. Similarly, Dave has two Director numbers # 89, issued on 3/14/92 and number # 703 which was issued on 1/15/11. Dave has also completed 24 of the 38 available GERATOL Net endorsements.

In 1996 his Amateur activity really changed for the better. He was going out to run Counties mobile over in South East Ohio one day and said to Sandy, “Why don’t you come along its really pretty over there and you can log for me?” He was shocked when she said OK. While they were out he told her if she would just get her General class license so she could give out and work counties, and that he would not bug her anymore about it. She replied that it was really fun listening and logging and she said OK I will try to get my license.

Well she got started and Dave learned how to run the carpet sweeper, the washer/dryer and do the dishes so she could learn/practice code. She attended a Novice/Tech class put on by the Greater Cincinnati Amateur Radio Association and got her Novice ticket as KC8FFD in June of 1997. She was then named Amateur of the Year by the GCARA in October of 1997 for her work promoting the GCARA and its classes. She then took her Tech license and passed it and then started in on her General Class license. Back to the dishes and sweeper for Dave. Sandy went over to take her General code and written test and asked if she could listen to the Extra 20 WPM to get warmed up and settle her nerves down a little bit and they said sure try it and see how you do.

Well Gordon KI8I, who also happens to be a fellow GERATOLer, with G# 521, came out to the parking lot where Dave was pacing like a cat in a cage and said Sandy passed her code test, as a matter of fact, he said, she passed the 20 WPM Extra code test !!!! Well she passed the General written and when she came out Dave mentioned they were only 5 blocks from R & L Electronics and they should stop by and get the Advanced book so Sandy could start on it because she had a year’s code credit and when she passed the Advance class, she could then get her Extra.

She hesitated for a minute and then said OK lets go. Not too long later she passed the Advance class and started right in on the Extra and she passed that test also. She and Dave kept all of the Advance and Extra stuff a secret from her brother Vernon, yet another fellow GERATOLer, K9CMJ G# 1984 to surprise him. He was really kind of in disbelief when they broke the news to him, that his sister had passed code and written tests to become an Extra Class op !! Sandy was now on her way to her own Ham career and enjoys it very much.

She changed her call because KJ8W was available and she and Dave thought it would be neat to have back to back calls, and they were right. It’s cool to hear them check in, with the back to back calls, but we ALL know, Sandy’s signal is always stronger than Dave’s !! ha ha

Dave had saved a County in Ohio for a last for the whole ball of wax so Sandy could get it for him and bless her heart she drove for two hours up north in Ohio and gave him his last County for his Worked All Counties. Sandy only needs about 600 Counties to finish her worked all counties. Sandy achieved her G# 2594 on 12/24/10. When they moved to Michigan from Ohio in 2008 Sandy had 30 states confirmed but had to start all over because of the move. That’s when Dave decided to get a second number due to the move to Michigan.

Sandy does come from a family of Hams. Her Father W8KKJ, brother K9CMJ #1984, Nephews Dan KE9T and his son Bryce KC9PKU and Mike AB9LU #2612 and Mike’s wife Christine KC9IRP. With Dave included there are 8 Hams in the family and 5 Geratol numbers. That’s probably a record for the GERATOL Net !!

The Geratol Net, County Hunting and the Triple H Net are the places Dave frequents the most. Dave had actually been very active on the Geratol Net since early 1980 just having fun with his friends, and not going for a number.  That changed, and he finally got the bug to get his own number in 1981. He’s been an active member, contributor and supporter of the net ever since.

The worst time of Dave’s Ham life was when his very dear friend Lou KJ8U G# 617 passed away. Lou and Dave had done everything Ham together. He cherishes a picture of himself, Lou and Sandy standing next to their cars with all the Ham plates KJ8U, KJ8V and KJ8W showing, as they all lived in the same town.

Dave has held several positions in the GERATOL Net over the years, however, the most rewarding and fun has been as Awards Manager. He loves being able to help out all of the GERATOLers get their various awards and endorsements. He made a pledge to himself after taking over as Awards Manger to help all he could and to process awards and endorsements, usually the same day. If any of you ever need help or have questions please feel free to call Dave or send him an email and he will answer you as soon as possible usually the same day. Many of the net regulars may be aware, but many casual GERATOLers are not, that Dave inherited a huge challenge when he assumed the duties of Awards Manager. He’s done an amazing job organizing, straightening out the data base, updating the files, etc. etc. all behind the scenes, in addition to his handing out the new awards and endorsements.

Dave says, the thing he and Sandy love the most in Ham Radio is meeting fellow hams. They missed Dayton (xenia) last year and that was the first time in over 20 years they were unable to attend. They do attend all of the County Hunter functions they possibly can, and he says it really enriches their lives to meet old friends and make new friends. He says, “Hams are just special people”.

On the non-HAM front, Sandy and Dave have had Beagles for 43 years. They have hunted and field trialed them and it is very lonely around the house now, without one of the little Beagles around. They lost their last one a couple of years ago and have decided no more. Dave also collects Case knives. He has over 80 in his collection is still growing. He is fortunate to have several very rare knives and has also got his Granddaughter into collecting knives. He’s made sure that she has other interests other than computers and smart phones. She had her own Beagle dog that hunted and ran in field trials. She also loves to go shooting with Grandpa. She has graduated from high school now and is going to move in with Sandy and I to establish residency and attend Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mi. starting next fall. Who knows? Maybe we’ll have a new ham on the net in the future, and yet another GERATOL number from the KJ8 clan !!

Congrats to Sandy on her recent re-election as the GERATOL Net Treasurer, and thanks to both Dave and Sandy for their efforts supporting the net over the years, and a special thanks to Dave for his efforts in coordinating and issuing the GERATOL Awards, Endorsements and special Awards like the 50/50 and Veteran’s Salute awards.
Feel free to add a “Comment” to this POST, and say hi to Sandy and Dave !!!

01/21/2018

Incumbent ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, has been re-elected by the League’s Board of Directors for a second term. The Board convened for its Annual Meeting January 19-20. President Roderick, the League’s 16th President, received 9 votes, while the only other nominee, New England Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, received 6 votes.

Current ARRL Chief Financial Officer Barry Shelley, N1VXY, was elected as Chief Executive Officer, to replace Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, who announced his retirement on January 18 after 2 years at ARRL Headquarters. Gallagher will step down on March 2. Shelley will serve until the Board selects a new CEO and is expected to serve in an advisory role to assist with the transition beyond that. The Board will create a CEO Search Committee. Shelley was unopposed as ARRL Board Secretary.

ARRL First Vice President Greg Widin, K0GW, was declared re-elected without opposition. Incumbent ARRL Second Vice President Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, did not stand for re-election, and Pacific Division Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG, was elected to succeed Mileshosky. Vallio received 8 votes to 7 votes for the only other candidate for Second Vice President, Northwestern Division Director Jim Pace. Vallio’s election means that incumbent Vice Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, will succeed him as Pacific Division Director, creating a vacancy for Vice Director in that Division, which will be filled by appointment.

Source: ARRL Website

01/18/2018

ARRL’s chief executive officer for the past 2 years, Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, announced his retirement as CEO, as the ARRL Board of Directors prepares to meet January 19-20. He will step down on March 2. Gallagher, who had earlier advised ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, of his intention to resign, expressed his gratitude to Roderick and the ARRL Board for giving him the opportunity to help guide the organization.

“It has been my great privilege to serve in this capacity for 2 years, and I am deeply grateful to the Board and President Rick Roderick, K5UR, for their support and encouragement,” Gallagher said.

President Roderick expressed appreciation for Gallagher’s contributions to ARRL. “The ARRL is in a transition to a new generation for Amateur Radio. Change doesn’t come easy,” Roderick said. “Tom helped us in taking that step forward, and for that we are very grateful for his service to the League and to Amateur Radio,” he said.

Gallagher, 69, cited recent changes included in the new federal tax law that made it unattractive for him to continue working in Connecticut, where ARRL is headquartered. The Board will evaluate and determine the next steps to take in a search for his replacement when it meets this week.

Among Gallagher’s chief accomplishments during his tenure as CEO were creating an enhanced level of professionalism and efficiency in the organization that represents more than 150,000 US Amateur Radio operators. Gallagher also oversaw a significant turnaround in the organization’s financial performance.

Licensed in Pennsylvania in 1966 as WA3GRF (later N4GRF in North Carolina), Gallagher is a member of the West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group. He has described himself as “an incurable HF DXer and inveterate tinkerer” and credits his first visit to the Franklin Institute’s Amateur Radio station W3TKQ in 1963 for inspiring his interest in ham radio.

Amateur Radio led to an early career in broadcasting. He was a cameraman and technician with WGBH-TV in Boston, the CBS Television Network, and Metromedia’s WIP Radio in Philadelphia.

Gallagher joined ARRL following 3 decades as an international investment banker and financial services executive. His career has included senior leadership positions with JP Morgan Chase & Co and CIBC Oppenheimer & Co in New York, and with Wachovia Capital Markets in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and as CEO of the Secondary School Admission Test Board in Princeton, New Jersey. He has served on boards, both public and non-profit, including two NYSE companies; the NPR affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina; the Executive Board of The PENN Fund at the University of Pennsylvania, and The International Center of Photography.

Source:  ARRL Website