Joe Ames, W3JY, has been removed as Eastern Area
Chair of the National Traffic System (NTS) and as Eastern Pennsylvania Section
Manager; and had all of his ARRL Field Organization appointments revoked by the
League's Executive Committee. According to the ARRL Letter, Ames "unilaterally and repeatedly communicated with officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on behalf of NTS, making commitments on behalf of ARRL without authority…" and continued to do so after being warned to stop by then-CEO Dave Sumner, K1ZZ.
The League said Ames's actions not only violated
the rules and regulations of the ARRL Field Organization but also were contrary
to provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding between FEMA and ARRL, which
stipulates that ARRL headquarters staff will be the "single point of
contact" between the agencies.
The League's Programs and Services
Committee appointed George "Bud" Hippisley, W2RU, as the new NTS
Eastern Area Chair. Hippisley previously held the position from 1976 to 1983.
At press time, a new Section Manager had not been appointed.
