In October, 2014, the Section had 1857 ARRL Members.  Today, there are 1840. For that, I apologize.  The League deserves better.  I wish the numbers had gone the other way.  With over 17,000 license holders in the Section, the League does the best job providing services to the majority of the hams who do not join the League.   Services provided include the in-coming and out-going QSL bureau, amateur radio classes and exams, Official Observer services, support for hamfests, and support on a variety of technical issues. I still remain convinced of the words penned at http://kc5fm.blogspot.com/2014/09/if-you-can-find-better-car-buy-it-arrl.html are still true. When I became Section Manager two years ago, the  CW net was inactive, there was no Automatic Packet Reporting System Section Net, and no Voice Over Internet Protocol nets on D-Star, Echolink, and Internet Radio Linking Project existed.  Have you checked into any of the Section nets?   Your section net manager consistently reports net activity.  Mary, KE5LTA continues to do a good job   The award-winning Mark, N7XYO continues to support served agencies with the Amateur Radio Emergency Services in the Section.  The Oklahoma Section went to Texas and came back with a clean sweep of the awards at HamCom.

There has been trouble in the Official Observer department but overall numbers are up from when I took over.  I offer my apologies to those who were captured by that moment. There are a number of folks who make the Oklahoma Section work.  Many of them are on the Section page at www.arrl.org/sections/view/oklahoma  They all deserve your support.  They also encourage your stepping up to "ask not what the League can do for you".  Ask what you can do for your fellow amateur radio operator through the League.

Auxiliary Communications training is returning to the Section.  Please register at https://www.ok.gov/homeland/courses/training_event_detail.php?event_id=1588 It would be nice to see Oklahoma do what Colorado has done.  http://www.arrl.org/news/colorado-creates-auxiliary-emergency-communications-unit

Now to those who have referred to me as a "bully", who have left or never joined the League because of what was done on my shift, and are overall displeased with what has happened over the last two years, Kevin, N0IRW is your Section Manager effective October 1.  Please give him your full cooperation and support.  Accept my apology for my failures. 73 -- 

Lloyd Colston, KC5FM, Section Manager
Altus, OK 73521-4903
(234-564-2775)
kc5fm@arrl.org www.arrl.org/sections/view/oklahoma