SB QST @ ARL $ARLB007
ARLB007 J. John Thomason, WB5SYT, Appointed West Gulf Division Vice
Director

ZCZC AG07
QST de W1AW  
ARRL Bulletin 7  ARLB007
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington CT  January 26, 2009
To all radio amateurs 

SB QST ARL ARLB007
ARLB007 J. John Thomason, WB5SYT, Appointed West Gulf Division Vice
Director

With the approval of the ARRL Ethics and Elections Committee, ARRL
President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has appointed Oklahoma Section
Manager J. John Thomason, WB5SYT, as Vice Director in the West Gulf
Division. Thomason replaces Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, who moved up
to Director with the retirement of Division Director Coy Day, N5OK,
last week.

An Extra class licensee, Thomason has been an ARRL member for more
than 20 years and has served as Oklahoma Section Manager since 2003.
While Section Manager, he supported and prompted passage of Oklahoma
Senate Bill 426. This bill allows "for the erection of an Amateur
Radio antenna or an Amateur Radio antenna support structure at a
height and dimension sufficient to accommodate Amateur Radio Service
communications." Thomason also represented the League in 2004 at the
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster's (VOAD) national
conference. Based on an article in the November 2007 issue of QST,
Thomason, with assistance from University of Oklahoma personnel,
developed frequency coordination protocol that is now used at that
school's home football games.

"The opportunity and honor to serve the West Gulf Division as Vice
Director is exciting," Thomason said. "It is my desire to diligently
work with Director Woolweaver to ensure Division members are
informed, to provide input and feedback on policies and procedures
pertinent to the League's missions and to accomplish what is
necessary to have the interest and the availability to inform
through developed relationships with Division members and League
headquarters staff."

"I have known John for several years," Woolweaver said. "He has been
very successful as a Section Manager, especially in the areas of
Emergency Preparedness and legislative action. His unmistakable
talents in those areas will be very useful in his new role as Vice
Director."

Thomason said continuing "the excellent League service provided by
my predecessor Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, is humbling and enabling.
His skill set and presence at so many League functions in the
Oklahoma Section and beyond is truly a high standard to obtain. He
has shown a highly informed outreach and capacity to listen and
communicate while making the Amateur Radio Service visible through
the League. He will grow in these efforts as Director while
following in the richness of professionalism of Director Coy Day,
N5OK.

"It is my hope to sustain and flourish the wonderful relationship
developed via my role as Oklahoma Section Manager. The relationships
and fondness for our fellow Amateur Radio operators and capacity
therein to enhance our public service with League strength is very
important to me in my role as Vice Director. This has developed by
being active at League events, club meetings, Nets and served agency
functions. We make a difference in Amateur Radio operators' lives by
listening, caring and expressing this passion to them. A birthday
card or a handwritten note of encouragement during family challenges
clearly communicates that the League cares for and about them as
people and their contributions to Amateur Radio. It has been stated
that we meet people based on what in common, but grow on the basis
of how we are different. I feel this is our opportunity to
strengthen our collective League mission during difficult times, be
they economic or frequency threats."

Thomason is a member of the Edmond Amateur Radio Society (EARS). He
has earned DXCC and Worked All States (WAS) on CW, PSK and SSB.
Thomason is a vocational evaluator with the State of Oklahoma's
Department of Rehabilitation Services. He holds a BA in psychology
and an MS in rehabilitation counseling.
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