Retiring ARRL Connecticut Section Manager Betsey Doane, K1EIC, was honored on September 10 at the New England Division Convention in Boxboro, Massachusetts, for her many years of service. At the Convention’s ARRL Forum, New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, presented a plaque to Doane, who is believed to be the dean of the current roster of Section Managers by dint of her 25 years of continuous service in that post. She decided this year not to seek another term of office.

“Betsey has been a true pleasure to work with over the years she has been Section Manager,” Frenaye said afterward. “She seems to know almost every ham in Connecticut and usually has a story to tell about them. As a former professor, she knows how to work with students and volunteers and developed a great Field Organization team. I know she’ll continue to contribute after she retires.”

Doane was first appointed as Connecticut’s SM in December 1991, after the resignation of Caesar Rondina, N1DCS. She has been elected and re-elected as Connecticut Section Manager continuously ever since. Her current term of office concludes on September 30, and Chuck Motes, K1DFS, will succeed her.

Doane’s plaque — in print and in Braille — recognizes her “25 years of dedicated and honorable service” as Connecticut SM. Frenaye and New England Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF, signed the plaque.

In addition to her quarter-century as Connecticut SM, Doane served the ARRL Field Organization as Connecticut Section Traffic Manager from 1982 through 1991. She has remained very active in the ARRL National Traffic System™ and especially in the NTS™ Eastern Area. She is currently daytime cycle manager of the First Region Net.

She continues to hold an appointment as an Official Relay Station and has been an ORS for nearly as long as she has been a radio amateur. Doane and her twin sister Barb Lombardi, K1EIR, were licensed in 1958, and both began handling message traffic soon after. She has been an Official Emergency Station since April 2010.

Doane is the longest-serving SM among those currently serving in the ARRL Field Organization, and she is likely in the Top 5 of all SMs and SCMs past and present in terms of years of service, ARRL Field Organization Team Supervisor Steve Ewald, WV1X, said.