Hear hear. In many ways I'm an odd duck on the Board but I love my service and cherish the opportunity to give back to ham radio. I started this journey literally on a dare. But my love for amateur radio is why I put as much as I can into my service to ARRL. Members appreciate what I do for them but I do listen carefully to those who aren't happy and I try to make it better or take lessons back to the CEO or the Board for policy adjustments. I take it personally when a member or even non member rightfully feels we've fallen short. There are stone throwers but you do learn to filter out the noise. On a side note I was told that on January 1 I would be allowed to join QCWA. In other words, 2022 will mark 25 years as a radio amateur for me. I was licensed in secondary school. I was encouraged into amateur radio by a teacher, Tony Lee-Mack, 9Y4AL. He was taken by cancer in 2014. I always think about the lessons he taught me in my formative amateur radio years. His emphasis was on being self sufficient and technically minded. My first HF radio was homebrew and CW. My other Elmer also was taken by that disease - Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML (ex WA2DHF). I have memories of working the marathon with him and also him bringing me to NJDXA. Some things you may not know about me: I have never held a U.S. amateur radio license lower than Amateur Extra. I was the first to upgrade from a codeless amateur license to a coded one in Trinidad and Tobago. The only difference is that the license with Morse endorsement allows you to use Morse code. I did this because my Elmer taught me Morse code and I actually liked it. Several of the local hams were Morse code operators with cable and wireless. In 1999 when our numbers came up for green cards from our immigration petitions filed in 1986, I immediately looked for advice on how to get an amateur license in the USA. I met up with WG3G who was moored at the yacht club in Chaguaramas, Trinidad. I knew him because I was involved with winlink through a friend (Irvine, 9Y4IBN). I’ve tried many many things in amateur radio from repeaters to amateur fast scan TV. My interests change from time to time. My first experience with the VE system in the USA was that they would not allow me to sit the exam as a foreigner because I didn't yet have a SSN and refused to even look at the procedure how to do so. I was disappointed that ARRL didn't seem willing to help even when our own VE manual had clear procedures for people in my situation and I knew many foreign hams who held US licenses. On the Board, I was glad to have the advice of Frank N2FF. Frank gave me some valuable advice which I keep close to me - always try to forge consensus and work as a team. Anyway, to those departing, see you down the log. To those coming in, welcome and see you in January. We will have several challenges ahead so I look forward to working on them with you. I’m still friends with those departing so I don’t see this as a farewell really, just an adjustment. 73 Ria N2RJ ________________________________ From: arrl-odv <arrl-odv-bounces@reflector.arrl.org> on behalf of Mark J Tharp <kb7hdx@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, December 31, 2021 7:16:34 PM To: arrl-odv <arrl-odv@arrl.org> Subject: [arrl-odv:33200] End of first term As we come to the end of 2021, it also marks the end of my first term as Vice Director out here in the wild wild west. It has been a great three years, and I am truly honored to call you all friends. We have done great things the last three years, even with the doom and gloom of Covid hanging over our heads. We managed to keep the ship on a relatively straight and true course. I wish you all a fantastic 2022 and beyond and am looking forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks. To Bud and Fred, I appreciate both of you more than you know. I hope and trust we stay in touch as I consider you both good friends. If either of you come out west, let me know and will try to connect. (SEAPAC is coming up ya know... It's on the beach....well, in the convention center, not literally on the beach, but I digress.) To Jim and "new" Fred, welcome back to Jim, and just plain welcome to Fred. Jim and I go back close to 20 years now when we first met at SM training at HQ in 2003 and I'm looking forward to meeting Fred in person. Safe travels to all for the board meeting, and again, it has been an honor serving with you all. Sincerely, Mark, HDX