Amateur Radio Hams Lead Indonesia

Indonesia's new national leaders are both amateur radio licensees

Joko Widodo holds callsign YD2JKW

The ARRL have announced that President Joko Widodo, YD2JKW, holds a General class license and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, YC8HYK, is an Advanced class licensee.

Jokowi and Kalla were inaugurated on 20th October 2014 in Jakarta.

Indonesia is the world's third-largest democracy, with a population of approximately 250 million

Four New ARRL Radio Ham Section Managers to Start in the New Year

ARRL members in the Western Pennsylvania Section have elected elite contester Tim Duffy, K3LR, as their new Section Manager.

Tim Duffy, K3LR, New Section Manager - Western Pennsylvania Section

In a three-way race, Duffy polled 545 votes, Cynthia L. Rushton, WB3CNJ, received 83 votes, and Paul Plants, W3PLP, 62 votes.

Ballots were counted Tuesday 18 November 2014, at ARRL Headquarters. Western Pennsylvania Section Manager John Rodgers, N3MSE, of Butler decided to not run for another term after serving since October 2007. He also was Section Manager from 2000 to 2003.

Duffy, who lives in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania, has been an ARRL member and radio amateur for 42 years. He has served for 4 years as the Atlantic Division representative to the ARRL Contest Advisory Committee. Duffy also has been an active member of ARES and RACES and has extensive net and traffic-handling experience.

Three other ARRL Sections also will begin the New Year with new Section Managers.

In Eastern Massachusetts, Tom Walsh, K1TW, of Bedford, will take the helm of that ARRL Section on 1st January 2015. Walsh has been an Assistant Section Manager and was the only candidate for the Section Manager's job.

Current SM Phil Temples, K9HI, who has served as Eastern Massachusetts SM since 2011, decided not to run for a new term of office. Temples also served as Section Manager from 1994 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2004.

Thomas Arey, N2EI, New Section Manager - Southern New Jersy

Taking over the top leadership role in the Southern New Jersey Section on 1 January 2015 will be Thomas J. "Skip" Arey, N2EI, of Beverly. He was the only nominee for the position. Arey has been the Affiliated Club Coordinator in Southern New Jersey. Incumbent SM George Strayline, W2GSS, opted not to run for another term after serving since 2009.

In the West Central Florida Section, Darrell Davis, KT4WX, of Fort Meade, will be the new SM starting in the New Year. He was the only candidate for the position. Davis brings to the office his experience as an Assistant Section Manager, ARES Emergency Coordinator, and Technical Specialist. He will succeed Dee Turner, N4GD, of Pinellas Park, who chose not to run for another term after serving since 2005.

The following incumbent Section Managers faced no opposition in the fall election cycle, and they will continue with new terms of office starting 1 January 2015: Dale Bagley, K0KY (Missouri); Matt Anderson, KA0BOJ (Nebraska); Jim Mezey, W2KFV (New York City-Long Island); Tom Dick, KF2GC (Northern New York), and Marc Tarplee, N4UFP (South Carolina).

Two-year terms for all successful candidates will begin on 1 January 2015.

RSGB Youth Committee Chair announced

The Radio Society of Great Britain has appointed 17-year-old Mike Jones, 2E0MLJ, as Chair of the RSGB Youth Committee

Mike Jones, 2E0MLJ, as Chair of the RSGB Youth Committee

Mike was originally licensed as M6TMJ and is currently studying Forensic Science and Criminal Psychology at City College Plymouth.

He is a member of the QRZ.com Staff helping on the database forum and is also Youngsters On The Air (YOTA) Month Co-Ordinator for the UK.

At the RSGB Convention in October Mike gave an excellent presentation on July’s successful YOTA-UK event held in Wolverhampton which was organised by young people, for young people. As well as Mike 2E0MLJ the YOTA-UK organising committee included Marie-Ann M6UWS, Dax M6DAX, Jenny M6HFA and Rachel M6SOO.

Follow YOTA-UK on Twitter - @YOTA_UK

Follow 2E0MLJ on Twitter - @MikeJ1997