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ARRL Alabama News |
March 1st, 2004
Dear Amateur Radio Operators of Alabama,
Since January 1st, work has started to improve amateur radio in Alabama! Let me introduce your new leadership team and plan that will put Alabama at the top of amateur radio.
My name is Greg Sarratt. I am the new Alabama ARRL Section Manager for Alabama. Licensed in 1983, I am a second generation amateur radio operator. My grandfather, W4OZK, was licensed in the mid 1940’s and was my Elmer. Upon his death, I applied for and was granted his call sign.
As an amateur operator I have had the privilege to wear several hats, some being:
¨ DeKalb County Amateur Radio club member and its president for eight years.
¨ Repeater trustee for several repeaters in north Alabama
¨ ARRL Technical Coordinator for Alabama
¨ Southeast VHF Society officer
Though active on HF, VHF, UHF and APRS, I enjoy many facets of amateur radio with contesting bringing my greatest enjoyment.
The USA is divided into 71 administrative sections. Most sections are whole states, but a few of the larger states are divided into two, or even more sections. Alabama is one complete section. The Section Manager is an elected position and is responsible for managing the section of the ARRL Field Organization. The ARRL is volunteer-based, and the Field Organization serves as its backbone.
On January 1st of this year my role as section manager started and several areas to focus on in Alabama have been identified. This document describes my initial plan for improving amateur radio in Alabama during my term. I realize that help, input and support from clubs, groups and individuals from all over the State will be needed for this plan to be effective.
My first task was to appoint the Alabama section cabinet leadership positions, and this task is near completion. You have a great team working for you with only a couple of leadership positions remain to be filled. The Alabama Section leadership team is comprised of amateur radio operators that are volunteers and consists of amateurs from varying backgrounds, age groups and from many areas of the state. They donate their own time to help promote and improve amateur radio in Alabama. Let me introduce your ARRL Alabama Section leadership:
Affiliated Club
Coordinator Section Emergency Coordinator
Jeff L O Brien, KV4CX
Jay Isbell KA4KUN
PO Box 1518
2290 Quail Dr
Semmes, AL 36575-1518 Bessemer,
AL 35022-5125
251-649-9953 205-
424-9993
jeffo@zebra.net
sec@arrl-al.org
Rebekah A Dorff, WG4Y
142 Oldfield Dr
PO Box 963
Montgomery, AL 36117-3938
Alabaster, AL 35007-2053
334-277-0864
Bulleting Manager Silent Key Coordinator
W. Kim Hensley, WG8S Doc Gordon King, W4XI
510 Pearson Dr SW 250 The Highlands
Huntsville, AL 35802-1744 Tuscaloosa, AL 35404-2917
256-883-4072 205-553-8056
Official Observer Coordinator Section Traffic Manager
Ken Magnant, W4WEY Joseph Spanfellner, KD4CQJ
8016 Tea Garden Rd SE 341 Musgrove Circle
Huntsville, AL 35802 FAYETTE AL 35555
256-883-1084, 256-679-3930 205-932-2457
kmagnant@att.net kd4cqj32@pepperlink.net
Public Information Coordinator Technical Coordinator
James Spann, WO4W Tim Wininger, KY5R
5611 Canongate Lane Pob 361
Birmingham, AL 35242 Rogersville, AL 35652
205-982-3985 256-247-7414
wo4w@jamesspann.com ky5r@bellsouth.net
There are many people working in Alabama field organization appointments under the officer’s leadership such as Emergency Coordinators, District Emergency Coordinators, Technical Specialist, Official Observers, Net Managers, Official Emergency Stations, Official Relay Stations, Public Information Officers, Local Government Liaisons and Official Bulletin Stations. The section officers are now working to confirm each existing appointment and working to acquire new appointees where needed. Additional information and descriptions for these appointments can be found on the www.arrl.org web site. If you are interested in this area of amateur radio, feel free to contact the appropriate leadership official listed above and offer your assistance.
We are seeking your input to improve amateur radio in Alabama, and appreciate the support from clubs, groups or individuals. For starters, here are some of the projects that are in the works for Alabama.
¨ Alabama linked repeater system
Many of you have expressed concern about a state wide linked repeater system. A full time statewide repeater system could link many amateurs, agencies and our National Weather Service offices together. This link would tie most of Alabama together and could be a backup or supplement to the existing statewide HF Alabama Traffic NET Mike (ATNM) and Alabama Day NET on 3.965MHz. A volunteer group of repeater owners from around the state are looking into such a system.
¨ Emergency communications
There are many amateur radio emergency service groups working in Alabama. This is possibly the most active sector of amateur radio in the south. Continual training, activity and structure are important aspects for these groups to be ready when called upon.
One example, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. It is at the local level where most of the real emergency organizing gets accomplished, as this is the level at which most emergencies occur and the level at which ARES member-volunteers make direct contact with officials of the agencies to be served. The local Emergency Coordinator is, therefore, the key contact in ARES.
More members are needed in all the emergency service groups in Alabama. Every group should practice communications and working together. We are in the process of generating a section emergency plan for Alabama. This plan will be a structure for emergency communications in Alabama.
¨ Youth Activities
Our Assistant Section Manager for youth activities, Rebeakah is excited and enthusiastic about youth and amateur radio. Rebekah will help to highlight, promote and coordinate amateur radio youth activities in Alabama. Successful youth activities will require all generations of amateurs working together. These activities will help to bridge the vast generation gap within our amateur radio community and ensure the future of amateur radio. Our young people should be our greatest focus area and are the key to longevity of amateur radio!
¨ Communications
Kim, our Bulleting Manager will help to organize and send out announcements related to amateur radio, Alabama amateur activities and ARRL happenings to amateurs in the state. We plan to build a group of amateurs that will utilize the current Alabama networks to communicate and relay announcements. This activity will help to increase net participation throughout the section. Routine local announcements should continue to originate and distribute as usual.
¨ Clubs
Clubs and groups in Alabama are some of the most active, business-level, make-it-happen part of amateur radio. This is where the hamfests, special events, special interests, field day and many other activities are born, grow and are maintained. Additionally, every club has a big part to play in recruiting new and retaining current members, provide positive public awareness, and a multitude of other actions. Jeff, our Affiliated Club Coordinator will help clubs to take advantage of ARRL programs, supplies and support.
Introducing clubs within Alabama to each other will help them to learn more about each other and gain new insight into other club activities. In getting to know other club leadership, amateurs learn from experience what does and doesn't work when conducting activities, recruiting and retaining membership, as well as many other areas.
My plan is to initiate an Alabama club leadership forum at the major Alabama hamfests. This forum will be a place for club leaders to get acquainted. Having been a club president myself, these forums will be a great opportunity for the leadership to exchange information, ideas, and discuss club matters with other club leadership. The first forum is scheduled to meet at the Birmingham hamfest, 11am, May 1st 2004.
Providing club leadership with better knowledge and tools will multiply club success in activities, fun, public service, membership and help to attract many new amateurs into our service. Clubs are the main contributor of public awareness, youth activities, recruiting new amateurs and members providing activities for all generations of amateurs. Club growth and strength will be one key to improving amateur radio in Alabama.
¨ New Alabama Section web site
The Alabama Section web site at www.arrl-al.org is now operational. This will be a central information source for amateurs throughout Alabama. The web site will provide information to promote and improve communications, NET activity, clubs, amateur testing, hamfests and be one of the amateur radio access points for non-amateurs. Visit our site often, as information for many amateur activities in Alabama may be found there. Using this technology will be another key in improving amateur radio in Alabama.
This is the start of my plan to make amateur radio #1 in Alabama! More amateurs thinking and working together, using these keys will help these initial areas succeed and help to create other new areas. One new area that we will investigate is the Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program for schools.
I know that you may have thoughts to improve amateur radio in Alabama as well having already heard from some of you has helped me greatly. Or you may be willing to help in some way. Feel free to contact the appropriate leadership official listed above and offer your assistance. As more amateurs help each other we can raise amateur radio in Alabama to the level it should be, number one!
I’m in the continuing process of learning about the many amateur radio groups, events and activities in Alabama. This year we will be visiting field day sites, clubs and hamfest as my time permits. I’m sure that new ideas and strategy will formulate as we meet and talk. My success as ARRL Section Manager is measured by the growth, interest and activities of amateur radio in Alabama.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if our team may be of assistance to you. My contact information follows. Thank you in advance for your assistance, and I truly look forward to advancing the service / hobby of amateur radio in Alabama. Be a part of the change that you want to make in amateur radio!
Sincerely and 73!
Greg Sarratt W4OZK
Alabama Section Manager
912 Pine Grove Road
Harvest, Al 35749
256-337-3636
e:mail: sm@arrl-al.org
web site: www.arrl-al.org