Happy New Year to All ARRL Southeastern Division Amateur Radio
Operators!

Thank you for being an ARRL member; your ARRL membership and activity
are important to amateur radio’s growth!

Andrea and I are looking forward to an exciting 2012. As we represent
the Southeastern Division, we look forward to meeting you at an event
in the future. Please always feel free to contact us with your
comments, concerns and ideas.

We were saddened by the April 2011 tornado disaster that caused 260
fatalities and thousands of injurers in the Division but very proud
that ARES and Amateur Radio stepped up in a gigantic way to serve
hundreds of locations throughout the devastated areas. Many ARES
activities ran continuously for over ten days.  Thanks to all who
helped with these efforts.

ARRL membership ended the year at 157,813 members, a growth of 1,338
members.

Look for two exciting items this year from ARRL.  Digital QST will be
available around mid-year.  This will enable you to read QST
electronically on your computer, search for key words, click on hot
links, etc.  Digital QST will be an additional benefit of your ARRL
membership.  You will receive QST in both digital and snail mail
formats. Take a minute to make sure your member’s only section
information is up to date. http://www.arrl.org/users/login
2012 is the 75th anniversary of the ARRL’s DXCC Award.  Look for
details about the Diamond DXCC Challenge on the ARRL website. This
award is based upon the list of 231 countries shown in 1937.

There are many fine hamfests, tailgates and events planned this year in
the Southeastern Division. Huntsville Hamfest will host the ARRL
Southeastern Division Convention, August 18-19. See the Southeastern
Division website, www.southeastern.arrl.org for information concerning
division-wide events of interest, links to section and state
conventions, QSO parties, newsletters, LogBook of the World, hamfests,
special events, section leadership information and much more.  For
detailed information on section and local events, see your particular
section website.

A complete list of hamfests in the Southeastern Division can be found
at:  www.southeastern.arrl.org/SE_hamfest_2012.htm. This list will be
updated throughout the year as hamfest dates are firmed up. Send your
hamfest, tailgate and event information in as early as possible, so we
can keep the list updated. This list will help hams plan to attend your
event and get you as much advertising as possible.

One of the things Andrea and I have enjoyed most is meeting fellow
amateurs throughout the Division and learning about your activities,
ideas and concerns. This helps to shape our member-driven thinking and
helps us represent the Division the best we can.

In addition to keeping busy attending various hamfests and events
throughout the Division and interacting with ARRL members and staff,
Andrea and I also attend Board Meetings twice a year in Newington, CT.
As part of our duties to the Board, we each serve on committees.  You
may have heard that Andrea is a member of a new committee, which was
formed at the July 2011 Board Meeting, the ad-hoc Committee on Youth in
the Second Century.  So far, the committee has begun discussing issues
related to youth involvement in ham radio through e-mail and conference
calls.  Andrea has high hopes for what the committee will accomplish, as
it is made up of a group of bright, engaged young amateurs.  Stay tuned
for more from this committee throughout the year and feel free to
contact Andrea if you have ideas that you would like to see the
committee address. I continue to serve on the Administrative and
Finance committee, an ARRL standing committee which is charged with
oversight of all financial matters.

We believe the growth of amateur radio depends on all of us working
together; everyone is essential to amateur radio’s success.  Invite
someone new to our hobby, mentor them, work with a youth program, learn
something new in amateur radio, promote ARRL membership, support every
hamfest you can, volunteer for your local club or ARES group, or
operate in a new contest. Try something new, do what you love and have
fun with amateur radio!

Feel free to contact your Section Manager or Division leadership with
your comments, concerns and ideas.  Contact information can be found in
QST on pages 15 and 16 and on the Division website at
www.southeastern.arrl.org.

We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming event this year!

73,
Greg Sarratt, W4OZK
ARRL Southeastern Division Director

Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM
ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director

http://www.southeastern.arrl.org

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ARRL Southeastern Division
Director: Greg Sarratt, W4OZK
w4ozk@arrl.org
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