San Antonio Hams

The West Gulf Division’s legislation to eliminate homeowner association restrictions against Amateur Radio operation, including the installation of towers and antennas was filed on March 10, 2011 by State Representative Warren Chisum as House Bill 3038.

Although the West Gulf’s legislative leaders and workers who are attempting to pass HB 3038 are unpaid volunteers, obtaining the passage of legislation can be very expensive. Just the preparation of legislative support and educational materials for distribution to legislative staff, Senators and Representatives can run into the thousands of dollars. None of these costs are covered by monies from the budget of the West Gulf Division or the ARRL. The ARRL does not provide funds to support State legislative efforts.

Each HB 3038 supporting brochure given to a Texas Senator, Representative or staff member costs $50.00. There are 181 elected Senators and Representatives, meaning a cost for just brochures of $9,050.00. In addition, it is necessary to provide additional copies to staff members. To fully cover the cost of just HB 3038 brochures for this Texas Legislature Session will cost over $11,000.00. To date, there are only sufficient funds to cover 10% of that cost.

The West Gulf’s Texas Legislative effort will need, besides the cost of these materials, to cover approximately an additional $15,000 in costs.

All financial support for the West Gulf legislative efforts comes only from donations from individual Hams and industry supporters. Without these donations, it simply will not be possible to pass any legislation that benefits Amateur Radio. We cannot acquire new radios for free and we cannot acquire freedom from hateful, spiteful restrictions for free. It takes effort, time and money.

The West Gulf has volunteers who are donating their effort and time. But, the West Gulf needs the money.

If every Texas Ham gave just a minimum of $50.00, the West Gulf could cover easily cover its legislative costs.

Because of legal prohibitions on political action, political fundraising and expenditures by non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations like the ARRL, Texas Hams formed Texas Ham Pac to lobby for the West Gulf’s Amateur Radio legislation and to raise the necessary funds. For legal reasons, Texas Ham Pac is completely independent of the ARRL in order to protect the ARRL.

TexasHamPac.com is the only Amateur Radio political action committee in existence. For legal reasons, all donations to support the West Gulf’s legislative efforts go to and through Texas Ham Pac. Texas Ham Pac’s funds come only from donations from Hams and industry supporters – it does not receive any funds from the ARRL and is not controlled by the ARRL.

Amateur Radio hostile laws and regulations can only be prevented or eliminated, if every Ham supports the efforts to protect Amateur Radio.

Whether you live in a HOA that restricts Amateur Radio or not, your support can determine the difference between whether restrictions on Amateur Radio are eliminated or not.

All donations in any amount are welcome, but again, if every Texas Ham gave just a minimum of $50 the Texas Legislative costs would be fully funded. If you want to support Amateur Radio and specifically the West Gulf’s legislative efforts, please go to TexasHamPac.com and donate to the cause.

John Robert Stratton
N5AUS
N5AUS@hamradio.us.com

Fellow Hams:

We have been called upon to support PedalFestRide, a bike ride similar
in size to the Wildflower ride.  More information about the ride itself
can be found at www.pedalfestride.com.  The ride will have 5 routes, 5
mile, 18 mile, 32 mile, 60 mile, and 103 mile.  It will have 9
breakpoints along the route and starts and finishes at OLPH church is
Selma, TX.  The route is primarily in Guadalupe county, but includes
Bexar and Comal counties as well.  The ride will be held on April 30th
in support of the OLPH school.  We have been asked to provide operators
to cover the breakpoints, start/finish, and a few key shadows at this
point.  Depending on the HAM response we may cover the 8 SAG’s as well.
This is the second year for this ride and they are excited to hear that
we are back to support their efforts.

If you are interested in helping with this ride, please contact me with
your info.

Information Summary:
Event: PedOLPHest Bike Ride – a bike ride supporting the OLPH school in
Selma
When: Saturday, 4/30/2010
Open Positions: Breakpoint Operators(9), Start/Finish Line(2),
Shadows(~3) & SAG Communication Operators (8)
How to volunteer: email Jeremy Davenport (jeremy@heitx.com) or phone
Jeremy at 830.743.0004

Thank you and I look forward to working with you.

Jeremy Davenport
KE5ELI
jeremy@heitx.com
830.743.0004

The West Gulf Division’s legislation to eliminate homeowner association restrictions against Amateur Radio operation, including the installation of towers and antennas was filed on March 10, 2011 by State Representative Warren Chisum as House Bill 3038.

Purpose of HB 3038

HB 3038 is intended to strike down all existing HOA restrictions against Amateur Radio operation. Hams who want to install antennas or antenna support structures outside their residence will still be required to comply with applicable zoning ordinances, national building codes, to install support structures and antennas in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and to remove all exterior antennas and support structures when they sell their home.

HB 3038 permits wire antennas, verticals and lattice support structures. The height and location of exterior antennas or support structures will be determined not by an HOA, but by manufacturer’s structural integrity requirements and municipal zoning and tower ordinances.

The bill was originally introduced in the 2009 Texas Legislative Session as Senate Bill 1552 and House Bill 4637. Unfortunately, the bill did not make it out of Committee.

The intent of the West Gulf’s legislative efforts is to address several issues of interest to Hams: (1) the right to operate and install necessary antennas and antenna support structures; (2) the right to install emergency and off-grid electrical power supplies and (3) the right to fly a US, Texas or military flag from structure-mounted or free-standing flagpoles.

To address the need for emergency and off-grid electrical power supply the West Gulf is seeking to eliminate HOA restrictions against, and to guarantee the right to install, solar photovoltaic panels and permanently installed standby electrical generators.

Solar Panels Approval Likely To Pass

The WG’s legislative team successfully negotiated with Sen. West and Rep. Solomon’s staff, solar energy industry and HOA/builder representatives to modify the solar panel bills filed by Sen. West and Rep. Solomons (SB 238 and HB 362) to include provisions important to Hams. The modification of these bills to include the WG’s requested terms eliminated the necessity of filing a separate bill by the WG. It appears the WG will be successful in obtaining the passage of a bill to eliminate existing HOA prohibitions on the installation of solar panels.

Background Of Current West Gulf Legislative Efforts

With this success, HB 3038 was introduced with only three sections: one section eliminating HOA prohibitions on Amateur Radio operation, one eliminating HOA prohibitions on the installation of permanently installed electrical generators and a third section eliminating HOA prohibitions on the flying of flags and the installation of flagpoles.

The West Gulf’s legislative program is the result of the efforts of Director David Woolweaver, K5RAV, and Vice Director John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, to aggressively pursue State legislative solutions to problems and issues of importance to Hams in Texas and Oklahoma. Only two ARRL Divisions have an active State legislative program: the West Gulf and the Southwestern Division. The West Gulf’s legislative program is the most ambitious and aggressive of the two.

Be Ready To Contact Your Elected Representative To Support the WG’s Legislation

At present, it is not necessary for each Ham to contact their own State Senator or Representative to request they vote for HB 3038, but each Ham should determine who represents them, so as to be ready when the WG requests that the Texas Legislature be contacted. When HB 3038 is set for a hearing before the House Business & Industry Committee, an email will be sent to the entire West Gulf.

Watch for emails from either the West Gulf or Texas Ham Pac requesting action on your part. Your personal contact – by letter, fax or telephone call – is very important to the success of the WG’s legislative program. Elected representatives do listen and respond to personal contact.

Note: If you do not want to receive emails from the West Gulf or Texas Ham Pac regarding legislative efforts, please click the link in a received email to unsubscribe from the email. Please do not report the email as spam – if you do, you will seriously damage the West Gulf’s and Texas Ham Pac’s abilities to communicate with other interested Hams. If you click ‘unsubscribe’ on any received email, you will be permanently removed from future emails.

The West Gulf announced today that all previously ordered ARES 75th Anniversary Patches have been mailed. If you have a receipt for an order, but it does not arrive within the next 5 days, please email Treasurer@TAREFUND.org to check on your order.

There are a few Anniversary Patches still available, if anyone forgot to order before the deadline. Anyone wishing to order may go to T.A.R.E.F.’s website to order.