SB QST @ ARL $ARLB006
ARLB006 Grant Hopper, KB7WSD, Appointed Northwestern Division Vice
Director

ZCZC AG06
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 6  ARLB006
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  February 17, 2010
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB006
ARLB006 Grant Hopper, KB7WSD, Appointed Northwestern Division Vice
Director

ARRL President, Kay Craigie, N3KN, has appointed Grant Hopper,
KB7WSD, of Everett, Washington, as the new Northwestern Division
Vice Director. The position became vacant when no one submitted the
necessary election materials needed to run for the Vice Director
position. Hopper is an attorney and serves as an ARRL Volunteer
Counsel (VC).

"I'm excited to serve the Northwest Division," Hopper said. "We have
a phenomenal number of talented, innovative, committed, and generous
hams here in the Northwestern Division. I look forward to not only
doing what I can to support their efforts and the activities within
the division, but also representing their interests up at the
national level. From my community and volunteer activities -- as
well as my law practice -- I tend to think of myself as a 'behind
the scenes' sort of person, bringing people together, examining
issues and solving problems. I think those skills will serve me well
as a Vice Director and I'm glad I can share them for the benefit of
Amateur Radio."

Hopper's was first introduced to Amateur Radio when he moved to
Washington State at the age of 8: "The dad of my new best friend --
they lived next door -- had, what seemed to an 8 year old kid, a
huge and fascinating station. This was the 1970s and I still
remember how the tubes glowed. After that, Amateur Radio remained in
the back of my mind until high school when the family of an area
Silent Key donated his station and electronics library to the
school. We had no Amateur Radio program, but the instructor knew I
was interested so he gave me an ARRL Handbook to read.
Unfortunately, there wasn't an easy way to translate the handbook
into successful studies for my amateur license."

While attending Washington State University -- where he studied
electrical engineering -- Hopper again discovered Amateur Radio when
Craig Johnson, NG7N, a fellow student, showed him packet radio.
"This ultimately resulted in getting my Tech license in 1994 --
together with my father Gary, KB7WSI. We attended the local license
class put on by the Boeing Employees Amateur Radio Operators North
Society (BEARONS), W7FLY."

After becoming licensed, Hopper immediately started volunteering
with the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management, and
still remains involved with the organization today. At the end of an
eight year stint with the DEM, and after taking a CERT class from
the City of Everett Fire Department, he was asked by the city's
Director of Emergency Management to form an auxiliary communications
program based around Amateur Radio, intended to support CERT
activities in a disaster. "With law enforcement, fire services and
EmComm experience in my background, as well as business and legal
skills, I've enjoyed a certain amount of success getting a program
off the ground with very few problems."

ARRL Northwestern Division Director Jim Fenstermaker, K9JF, said he
is glad to have on board as the new Vice Director in the
Northwestern Division. "Grant will bring a wealth of experience in
the EmComm and support areas, and he has the opportunity to learn
the inner workings of the League and Amateur Radio during the next
three years," he said. "Both Grant and I look forward to attending
meetings, hamfests, and conventions during 2010 and meeting our
members. We are both in our respective positions to serve Amateur
Radio and our ARRL members."

Prior to his current career as an attorney, Hopper spent a rewarding
10 years in law enforcement working in both Eastern and Western
Washington State as an offer and deputy, respectively. During that
period, he spent time investigating computer crime and electronic
fraud in addition to "working the road'. He is in his 10th year of
law practice and now focuses primarily on business and real property
related matters.

Hopper's other interests include many outdoor pursuits including
mountain biking, hiking and snowshoeing, as well as the more sedate
hobbies of photography and fishing. He is also involved in several
local community and civic activities, including serving on the board
of his neighborhood association, as well as a city board focused on
neighborhood involvement with city government. He donates time to
local pro bono programs, as well as participating in the ARRL
Volunteer Council program.

Grant is the Immediate Past President of the Snohomish County Hams
Club and serves as the Education Program Coordinator and as one of
the chief instructors for the license classes (Technician and
General class licenses) and the 'new skills' classes. "Most of my
'ham career' has been spent at the local and operational level of
Amateur Radio: EmComm, license classes, ARRL Field Day and the
public service aspects of the hobby. I'm very much looking forward
to serving the Amateur Radio community at a more global, policy
level. I believe my broad base of experience will serve the amateur
community well."
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