ARRLWeb: ARRL Headquarters Hosts Workshop for New Section Managers

(L-R) Back row: Ti-Michelle Connelly, NJ6T, East Bay; Dick Flanagan, K7VC, Nevada; Bill Weatherford, KM5FT, New Mexico; Dennis Schaefer, W5RZ, Arkansas; Phil Temples, K9HI, Eastern Massachusetts; Roy Rabey, AD5KZ, North Texas; Bob Schneider, AH6J, Pacific; Bill Hillendahl, KH6GJV, San Francisco. Middle row: Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, South Carolina; Charles McConnell, W6DPD, San Joaquin Valley; Mark Tharp, KB7HDX, Eastern Washington; John Dyer, AE5B, West Texas; John Thomason, WB5SYT, Oklahoma; Ed Bruette, N7NVP, Western Washington. Front row: Hudson Division Vice Director-elect Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF; Sharon Harlan, N9SH, Illinois; New England Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF. Kneeling: Steve Ewald, WV1X, and Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, of ARRL Headquarters.

NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 26, 2003--Fifteen new or incoming ARRL Section Managers, one Vice Director and one Vice Director-elect visited ARRL Headquarters September 5-7 for a Section Manager training workshop. The session offered a chance for SMs to become better acquainted with ARRL programs and services, share ideas, explore common problems and seek solutions and learn more about their responsibilities as ARRL Field Organization leaders.

"The SMs are truly the backbone of the ARRL Field Organization," said Hudson Division Vice Director-elect Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF, who sat in on this year's workshop. "These new SMs are going to be fantastic new leaders. I salute them!"

Several SMs were able schedule their travel so they could arrive early and meet with individual ARRL Headquarters staff members before the weekend workshop got started. ARRL Field Organization/Public Service Team Leader Steve Ewald, WV1X, who served as host and primary coordinator for the weekend activities and led discussions on a variety of topics as well as an open forum. Several Headquarters staff members shared duties in presenting portions of the workshop program.

ARRL Field & Educational Support Team Leader Mary Lau, N1VH, talked about the ARRL affiliated club program and other areas under her responsibility. Regulatory Information Specialist John Hennessee, N1KB, spoke on FCC and regulatory issues, while Field and Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, presented a forum on the ARRL Amateur Auxiliary/Official Observer program.

ARRL Field Organization/Public Service Team Leader Steve Ewald, WV1X, was the primary coordinator for the weekend SM workshop.

Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME, outlined the scope of "The Big Project" and how it relates to a Section Manager's activities. ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, discussed the emergency communication training classes and the grants that support them. ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitizen, NQ1R, discussed ARRL membership promotion.

Some individuals with prior SM experience also participated in the weekend event. San Joaquin Valley SM Charles McConnell, W6DPD, had served approximately 15 years as a section leader before returning as SM in July 2002. Pacific SM Bob Schneider, AH6J, who took over the reins there in April 2002, was Pacific SM from 1992 until 1996, and Illinois SM Shari Harlan, N9SH, returned to office in July 2002 after having served from 1990 to 1994. None of the three had ever attended a workshop before, however. McConnell, Schneider and Harlan--along with Eastern Massachusetts SM Phil Temples, K9HI--were able to augment the discussions with their perspectives and experiences.

One of last year's workshop attendees, Southern Florida Section Manager Sheri Brower, W4STB, contributed resource material on Amateur Radio public relations and volunteer leadership and management. She did not attend this year's session, however.

Maxim Memorial Station W1AW was also open for operating after the workshop sessions. For West Texas SM John Dyer, AE5B, getting a chance to make his first contact from W1AW was the thrill of a lifetime, and it turned out to be a surprise on both ends of the circuit.

"My first QSO with W1AW was over 40 years ago," he said. "The idea of someday visiting and operating the 'mother ship' station was as foreign to that teenager as getting old, gray-headed and having grandchildren. Those things happen to someone else."

As it turned out, Dyer not only made a contact, he managed to hook up with former West Texas SM Clay Emert, K5TRW, president of the El Paso Amateur Radio Club and a West Texas Assistant SM.

"Against all odds and totally unplanned, Clay and I each had a 'first,'" Dyer said. "Life is good, and ham radio is fun."

ARRL Field & Educational Support Team Leader Mary Lau, N1VH, addresses the SM workshop. Seated is ARRL Hudson Division Vice Director-elect Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF.

ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitizen, NQ1R.