Hamvention®
2007 Amateur of the Year
Jim
Haynie, W5JBP, was selected as 2007 Amateur of the Year for
his many contributions to amateur radio both before and during his
three terms as President of the ARRL from 2000 to 2006.
As his nominator noted, "…it was Jim's energy, tenacity
and attention to detail that has transformed the American Radio
Relay League from the service organization it was prior to 9/11
into the pro-active, vital emergency service clearing house and
educational operation that it is today."
Haynie began his service
to the ARRL Board in 1987 as West Gulf Division Director and was
elected ARRL Vice President in 1990. In
1997 he again became Director of the ARRL West Gulf Division and
was elected President of the ARRL in 2000 to the first of three
terms.
One of his first
successes as President was to establish the League’s “Amateur
Radio Education and Technology Program” also known as “The
Big Project” as an effort to bring young people into amateur
radio. Among the biggest challenges
Haynie faced during his ARRL tenure was the Broadband over Powerline
(BPL) battle. He made numerous trips
to Washington to testify before Congress and the FCC regarding the
threat BPL poses to radio communication. He
went on camera in 2005 in the video “The ARRL Goes to Washington”
to clearly state the ARRL position on BPL and has been a forceful
advocate for limiting BPL communication interference.
Homeland security has
been another priority for Haynie and in June of 2003, he signed
a formal Statement of Affiliation between the Department of Homeland
Security and the ARRL. He helped get
recognition for the contributions of amateur radio to emergency
communication following the World Trade Center attack and Hurricane
Katrina. Jim has left an
indelible and very positive mark on both the
Amateur Radio Service and the ARRL.
Return to Awards page.
