SPARCS Ham Radio Emergency Communication

KK5CA Jerry Reimer Resigns A Long & Successful S.E.C.

Think where you were in the Spring of 2004, not quite four years ago. That was when N5NAV asked me to become the Section Emergency Coordinator for South Texas. I recently told Ray that I was not interested in another term.

Serving as the SEC for this section has been a challenge. My passion and enthusiasm have been exhausted by the intensity of the past four years. During this time, I had to put aside many personal interests. Some of them are now of increased importance to me. I am not going away so much as making myself available for some other opportunities. I expect to see many of you around the section and state in the future, and I will still have a presence here.

I have few regrets from being the SEC for the past three and a half years. I believe ARES is better prepared to respond throughout our section than it was when I accepted the appointment. I know the South Texas section leads the rest of the nation in the deployment of an ARES dedicated Winlink system, both in infrastructure and operating doctrine. This is the same system which has been adopted by Army MARS.

The greatest challenges faced during my terms were Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. I tried to use those incidents to produce better response plans for our section, and for the ARRL through the National Emergency Response Planning Committee.

I am told the most difficult position for any Section Manager to fill is the Section Emergency Coordinator. Ray has selected a good man to succeed me, Mike Schwartz, KG5TL, a member of this group. Mike’s appointment became effective Monday November 5 2007. I will do all that I can to achieve a smooth transition. I strongly encourage all ARES leaders and members to give Mike the same faithful support that
you provided me.

It was an honor for me to lead ARES in the South Texas section. ARES has become a vibrant and real organization in our section largely because of the work performed by many of the people who are members of this group. I will never be able to thank Ray enough for the opportunity to serve as his SEC.

May God richly bless each one of you for your commitment to the Amateur Radio Emergency Service.

73
KK5CA