With the approval of the ARRL Ethics and Elections Committee, ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, appointed Southern Florida Assistant Section Manager Jeff Beals, WA4AW, as Vice Director in the Southeastern Division, effective June 1. Beals replaces Sandy Donohue, W4RU, who passed away last month.

An Extra class licensee and ARRL Life Member, Beals was first licensed in the early 1960s as WN2OUK. Beals -- who splits his time between Royal Palm Beach, Florida and Dothan, Alabama -- has been an ARRL member for more than 30 years; he has served as Southern Florida Assistant Section Manager (ASM) since 2002. Beals has also held appointments as Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC), Affiliated Club Coordinator (ACC), Technical Coordinator (TC), Technical Specialist (TS) and District Emergency Coordinator (DEC).

"I am deeply honored to be chosen by President Harrison to serve as Vice Director of the Southeastern Division," Beals told the ARRL. "I am looking forward to working with Division Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, to provide quality service and representation to the members of the Southeastern Division. I feel that my years of service in the ARRL Field Organization provide me with a unique outlook on what our members expect of our League. My ability to listen and learn from them will assist Greg and myself to provide the representation they have come to expect from the Southeastern Division."

Sarratt said that was "proud" that Beals was chosen to be the new Southeastern Division Vice-Director: "Jeff has a heart for Amateur Radio and is an ARRL Life Member. He and I have worked together at many hamfests in the Southeastern Division and I look forward to many more. Please join me in welcoming Jeff as Southeastern Division Vice Director."

Beals said he would be "remiss if I didn't mention the many years of friendship and tutelage given to me by former Southeastern Director Frank Butler, W4RH, and Vice Director Sandy Donahue, W4RU (SK). Their years of service to the League and to Amateur Radio are much appreciated by me and the many members of the Division with whom they came in contact."

Beals was a long-time friend of Donahue's. "I knew Sandy for more than 25 years," he told the ARRL upon Donahue's passing. "He was very, very devoted to Amateur Radio, especially the public service side: Emergency Communications, traffic handling and helping out wherever and whenever he could. We had a lot in common."

Beals counts emergency communications support, liaison with served agencies, radio club liaison and support, classic Amateur Radio operation and restoration, and training of Section volunteers as just some of his Amateur Radio activities. "I am always promoting Amateur Radio and the ARRL at community events, and I attend many club meetings, functions and hamfests throughout the Division," he said. "I am a participant in a pilot project to provide membership support to members of the ARRL Southern Florida Section; this project has since grown to encompass the entire Southeastern Division." He also holds commendations from the State of Florida for his communications support during Hurricanes Andrew, Frances, Jean and Katrina.

"During my tenure as the Southern Florida Section SEC, President Harrison appointed me to serve on the National Emergency Response Planning Committee. One of the challenges facing many of our SFL Section members -- as well as the rest of our nation -- is the ability to construct an effective antenna system in communities governed by covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs)," Beals explained. "I am -- and always have been -- a staunch supporter of any bill in Congress, such as HR 2160, to effect such change in these most restrictive regulations that prevent hams from providing needed public service communications, as well as their enjoyment of Amateur Radio.

Beals is a Life Member of the ARRL, Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) and the Antique Wireless Association (AWA); he is a Senior Grade member of the Radio Club of America (RCA) and the ARRL A-1 Operator Club. He is Past President of the Fort Myers and West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Club and current member of the Palms West ARC, North Florida ARS, Wiregrass ARC, OOTC, the Florida and Alabama Contest Groups and the Florida East Coast DX Club.