Citing family and business reasons, ARRL Pacific Division Vice Director Andy Oppel, N6AJO has submitted his resignation. President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has appointed Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT, of Oakland, California, to serve the remainder of the current term through the end of 2010.

Oppel had served as Vice Director since being appointed in 2003 to complete the term of Bob Vallio, W6RGG, who became Director upon the death of Jim Maxwell, W6CF. In a message posted to the East Bay Section Web page, he commented: "I regret to inform you that family and work issues have forced me to resign as your ARRL Pacific Division Vice Director. I have enjoyed being able to serve you in that capacity for the past 6+ years and as East Bay Section Manager for 3 years prior to that. I very much appreciate the support and friendship offered by many of you and I hope I still get a chance to see many of you from time to time."

First licensed in 1970 as WN9ELU, Tiemstra, an attorney, is an Amateur Extra class licensee. He has also held the call signs WB9ELU and N6OIK. "I'm thrilled at the opportunity to serve an organization that I have been a member of for my entire Amateur Radio career," Tiemstra said. "I have known of and supported Pacific Division Director Bob Vallio's efforts at the League for many years, and look forward to the opportunity of working with him in those endeavors. I am deeply honored to be chosen to fill the vacancy left by Andy's resignation. Because Amateur Radio certainly has enriched and added value to many aspects of my life, I am elated to have the opportunity to contribute something back to the hobby. The future of Amateur Radio is at a critical crossroads that will involve our appeal to youth."

Tiemstra told the ARRL that his favorite Amateur Radio activities are "contesting -- I seem to have more wallpaper than wall -- DXing with 300 confirmed entities and DXpeditions, a poor but adequate excuse for a vacation. I have operated as 3D2TJ, PJ2/K6JAT and KH6/K6JAT and from V26DX, but I have long been involved in the public service aspects of Amateur Radio."

As a member of the Oakland ARES® group, Tiemstra responded to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm. He worked with Oakland area hams and city officials to gain RACES recognition and was instrumental in forging a formal Letter of Understanding. In addition, he assisted Oakland ARES®/RACES in successfully championing a proposal to use post-firestorm, bond Measure I funds to acquire and install Amateur Radio equipment in the Oakland's Emergency Operations Center and each of its 30 fire stations. This has been dubbed the Emergency Communication Ham Operation (ECHO) system. Tiemstra also served as Oakland's RACES Radio Officer for more than 14 years.

In 1998, Tiemstra acted as the incorporator of the Oakland Radio Communication Association (ORCA), an ARRL affiliated club; he was a founding director and became its first president. He is a member of ORCA's board of directors and trustee of the club's call sign WW6OR. Tiemstra is a member of the Northern California Contest Club (NCCC), the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) and 10-10 International. Tiemstra and his wife, Lilah, KE6EHD, have twin boys, Robert and Matthew, KI6IHP.