ARRLÒ South Texas Section
OFFICIALS
Ethics Guidelines for Elected and Appointed ARRL Officials
Section Manager and Section Staff
As an elected Section Manager of the American Radio Relay League, you are responsible to the members in your section for the effective operation of its Field Organization. Your selection of section-level assistants, the manner in which you supervise their activities, and how you conduct your relation with members will influence not only how those members feel about you, but to a considerable extent will influence how they feel about ARRL itself.
As great as your responsibility to your section membership may be, because of your position as a highly visible elected official of the organization you have at least as great a responsibility to the League itself. Your actions can affect the reputation of the organization outside your section -- not only in the U.S. and Canada, but throughout the world. For that reason, while you do not have as direct a role in the development of ARRL policy as do the League's officers and directors, many of the same considerations apply to you as to the officers and directors of ARRL as regards ethical conduct and contacts with officials of the Federal Government.
It is the purpose of these guidelines to assist you in maintaining an ethical standard of conduct which will bring credit to yourself and to the American Radio Relay League.
What is ethics? According to Webster, it is the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation. Perhaps Dr. Albert Schweitzer's definition would appropriately amplify Webster: "In a general sense, ethics is the name we give to our concern for good behavior. We feel an obligation to consider not only our own personal well-being, but also that of others and of human society as a whole."
In your service as a section manager, your sense of ethics must guide you in a pattern of behavior that will be beyond reproach.
You are an elected official of ARRL, an amateur radio organization -- your decisions must be for the good of ARRL and its members and there should be no opportunity for criticism that your decisions have benefited you or any small circle of your friends. You will be reimbursed for the expenses necessary to carry out your responsibilities, to a limit that is based on the population and the geographic size of your section. Up to that limit, you have considerable discretion in the use of these funds. This money comes from the members who have chosen to support our association, and there must be no suspicion that even one cent has been used to your personal advantage, or that you have paid the expenses of those who are not entitled to such reimbursement.
Furthermore, as a custodian of membership money, you have the obligation to spend that money wisely and without excess.
Similarly, when you travel in an official capacity to a hamfest or convention, your expenses are reimbursed with money that comes from the membership. It is not proper, therefore, to permit your name to be entered in any prize drawing or lottery.
In your appearances at hamfests and conventions, and in your on-the-air activity, you will be measured by everything you do not as an individual amateur, but as a representative of the American Radio Relay League. You must bend over backwards to ensure that your conduct cannot be faulted.
As specific examples, on-the-air campaigning for elective office, your criticism of other League officials, and/or using your position to promote your personal ideas, may not be appropriate, and are not sanctioned by ARRL.
The intent is not to outline every conceivable situation or every facet of ethical behavior. Listed above are some of the general areas of consideration. An even more general consideration is that ethical behavior is simply common sense. If you understand that as an ARRL official you have been placed upon a pedestal in amateur radio, then you will realize that you must be circumspect in your behavior, and beyond reproach in every aspect of your conduct. You will serve the American Radio Relay League with honor.
Section Manager
E. Ray Taylor, N5NAV
688 Comal Ave.
New Braunfels, Texas
78130-7631
e-mail: n5nav at arrl dot org
(830)-625-1683
The Section Manager is the key player in the ARRL Field Organization. Section Managers delegate important responsibilities to hand-picked section level assistants. These nine section level assistants serve under his general supervision and administer the following ARRL programs in the section: emergency communications, message traffic, official observers, affiliated clubs, public Information, state government liaison, technical activities, and on-the-air bulletins.
Assistant Section Manager
The Assistant Section Manager (ASM) is appointed by the Section Manager when the SM believes such an appointment is desirable to meet the goals of the ARRL Field Organization in that section. Thus, the ASM is appointed at the complete discretion of the Section Manager, and serves at the pleasure of the Section Manager. The ASM may serve as a general assistant to the Section Manager or as a specialist, handling a specific important function that does not fall within the scope of the duties of the Section Manager's eight assistants.
KS5V
N5WSW
W5GKH
KG5TL
WA5UZB
AK5Z
K5EJL
KB5AWM
K5PFE
K5PNV
Section Emergency Coordinator
Mike Schwartz, KG5TL
8425 Old Smithville Rd
Muldoon, TX 78949-5049
e-mail: kg5tl.at.arrl.net
Day - 512-303-3443
Eve - 830-839-4777
The Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) is the assistant to the Section Manager for emergency preparedness. The SEC is appointed by the Section Manager to take care of all matters pertaining to emergency communications and the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) on a section-wide basis. Some of the SEC include: Encourage all groups of community amateurs to establish a local emergency organization; recommend to the SM on all section emergency policy and planning, including the development of a section emergency communications plan; cooperate and coordinate with the Section Traffic Manager so that emergency nets and traffic nets in the section present a united public service front; promote ARES membership drives, meetings, activities, tests, procedures at the section level.
State Government Liaison
James W Robinson, K5PNV
6802 Ashmore Dr
Houston, Texas 77069-2309
Email: k5pnv.at.arrl.net
The State Government Liaison (SGL) is an Amateur Radio operator who is cognizant of state legislative proposals in the normal course of events and who can watch for those proposals having the potential to affect Amateur Radio without creating a conflict of interest. The SGL collects and promulgates information on state ordinances affecting Amateur Radio and works toward assuring that the ordinances work to the mutual benefit of society and the Amateur Radio Service.
Official Observer Coordinator
Dr John F Teer, AK5Z
2802 Lazy Lake Dr
Harlingen, TX 78550-8636
e-mail: ak5z.at.arrl.net
The OOC is an ARRL Section-level leadership official, appointed by the Section Manager, for two related purposes: Supervise the maintenance monitoring work of the section Official Observers, and coordinate special Amateur Auxiliary efforts with Regional Monitoring Stations and the SM. The OOC refers serious compliance problems to the Regional Monitoring Station. He or she assists OOs in evidence gathering under the supervision of the RMS. Finally, the OOC insures that any FCC referrals by Local Interference Committees are done under his/her consent and notification of the affected ARRL Director.
Section Traffic Manager
Douglas H Gollihar, KA5KLU
146 Langford Pl
San Antonio, TX 7878221-2440
Email: ka5klu.at.arrl.net
The Section Traffic Manager (STM) is appointed by the Section Manager to supervise traffic handling organizations at the section level. The duties of the STM include: Establish, administer and promote a traffic handling program at the section level; mainly, but not restricted to, NTS nets; develop and implement training programs within the section to address traffic handling needs; cooperate with the Section Emergency Coordinator so that traffic nets and emergency nets in the section present a unified public service front; and insure that all traffic nets within the section are properly and adequately staffed.
Affiliated Club Coordinator
Don Jones, N5WSW
122 Saratoga Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78213-2543
Email: n5wswdon at texas dot net
The Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC) is the primary contact and resource person for each Amateur Radio club in the section, specializing in motivating, providing assistance and coordinating joint activities of radio clubs. The ACC is appointed by, and reports to, the Section Manager. Duties include the following:
Know the Amateur Radio clubs' members and officers in the section, and work to make the clubs effective resources in their communities and more enjoyable for their members; encourage affiliated clubs in the section to become more active and, if the club is already healthy and effective, to apply as a Special Service Club (SSC); assist clubs in completing SSC application forms; help clubs establish workable programs to use as SSCs; and encourage new clubs to become ARRL affiliated.
Public Information Coordinator
Lee Cooper, W5LHC
2507 Autrey Drive
Leander, TX 78641
Email : w5lhc at arrl dot net
The Public Information Coordinator (PIC) is the Section's expert on public information and public relations matters. The PIC is responsible for organizing, guiding and coordinating the activities of appointed Public Information Officers (PIOs) within the Section. The PIC will work with Affiliated and Special Service Clubs to assist with their related public relations activities. The PIC will act as a public relations advisor to the Section Manager, keeping the SM informed on specific needs and opportunities, developing and recommending appropriate programs and projects for the Section. He will assist the Section Manager and Division Director in the preparation and dissemination of communications throughout the Section, seek out and develop significant stories about the Amateur Radio Service and will promote their dissemination in all available media. In conjunction with the efforts of his PIOs, the PIC will establish and maintain personal contact with those in the media throughout the Section. Promote the distribution and airing of ARRL public service announcements and other audio/visual material, and will encourage, organize, and conduct public information/public relations sessions at conventions and hamfests. Develop a "speakers bureau"; a resource list of Amateurs willing to present programs about Amateur Radio to non-amateur groups and agencies.
Technical Coordinator
Raymond K Johnson Jr, W7RKJ
4207 Rock Springs Dr
Kingwood, TX 77345-1247
e-mail: w7rkj.at.rkjtech.com
The ARRL Technical Coordinator (TC) is appointed by the Section Manager to coordinate all technical activities within the section. The duties of the Technical Coordinator are: Supervise and coordinate the work of the section's Technical Specialists; encourage amateurs in the section to share their technical achievements with others through the pages of QST magazine, and at club meetings, hamfests and conventions; promote technical advances and experimentation at VHU/UHF/SHF, microwave, and with specialized modes, and work closely with enthusiasts in these fields within the section. He serves as an advisor to radio clubs that sponsor training programs for obtaining amateur licenses or upgraded licenses in cooperation with the ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator. In times of emergency or disaster, function as the coordinator for establishing an array of equipment for communications use and be available to supply technical expertise to government and relief agencies to set up emergency communications networks, in cooperation with the ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator. Refer amateurs in the section who need technical advice to local Technical Specialists. Encourage TSs to serve on RFI and TVI committees in the Section for the purpose of rendering technical assistance as needed, in cooperation with the ARRL OO/Coordinator.
Bulletin Manager
Jerry Connaway, W5KLV
110 Rosemont Dr.
San Antonio, Texas 78228-3208
Jerry became a Silent Key on May 5, 2004
Rapid dissemination of information is the lifeblood of an active, progressive organization. The Bulletin Manager is responsible for recruiting and supervising a team of Official Bulletin Stations to disseminate such news and information of interest to amateurs in the section and to provide a means of getting the news and information to all OBS appointees. A special effort should be made to recruit OBSs for each major repeater and PBBS in the section. The bulletins should include the content of ARRL bulletins, but should also include items of local, section and regional interest from other sources, such as ARRL section leadership officials, as well as information provided by the Division Director. Bulletin Managers may take on the responsibility of re-transmitting ARRL bulletins for the benefit of OBS appointees, on a regularly scheduled day, time and frequency. Time is of the essence when conveying news; therefore a successful Bulletin Manager will develop ways of communicating with the OBS appointees quickly and efficiently.
Recommendations:
- Cease to issue new BM and Official Bulletin Station appointments. Current BM and Official Bulletin Station appointments may continue to be renewed at the discretion of the SM.
- SMs who desire to appoint someone to a BM like position can appoint them as an Assistant Section Manager with a specific responsibility.
Recognizing the many years of faithful service and the recommendation of the Volunteer Resources Committee, Jerry Connaway W5KLV, is the last South Texas section Bulletin Manager.
