IN-Newsletter
Vol. 25, No. 50
December 17, 2002
Upcoming Meetings
January 16th in Newington, CT at 8:30am
A & F Committee
January 17-18, 2003 in Windsor, CT
Board Meeting
Media Relations
Jennifer is currently in the middle of writing and distributing the "hometowner" news releases for the elected and reelected Directors and Vice Directors.
Work has begun on the organization of the PR Committee for next year. Jennifer has been coordinating her efforts with President Haynie.
We received word that a CBS news producer is interested in doing a story on ham radio at some point in the future. The producer e-mailed two hams in Iowa, who were recently featured in a high-profile newspaper story. Jennifer followed up with the producer and offered assistance and information on ARRL, should she go ahead with a story.
Preparations for several HQ PR activities for 2003 are underway.
Production/Editorial
Congratulations to Sue Fagan on completing another attractive ARRL Publications Catalog. The Winter version was released to the printer December 10.
We checked printer's proofs of the January/February issue of QEX. Work is finishing up on February 2003 QST for release to the printer December 19.
Sales & Marketing
Sales
In the interest of improving the response to membership promotion mailings, Deb contacted Experian about their extensive mailing list "cleaning" service using the National Change of Address (NCOA) database and Locatable Address Change Service (LACS), which are, licensed United States Postal Service products. They have agreed to do a trial run of our current database and prepare a recommendation proposal for their service. Our goal is increase the level deliverability of our mailings thus increasing our success return rate. The first scheduled 2003 mailing is 30,000 pieces in January.
Advertising staff has been busy putting together the February issue of QST. We continue to beat the bushes in order to achieve the issue page goal. Our entire list of potential advertisers is being aggressively perused. With the New Year ahead of us, we want to ensure that they include QST in their 2003 advertising budget plans. We have quite a few good leads but we are also finding that more advertisers are switching their fiscal year to begin April 1, rather than January 1. The advertising team confirmed the ad insertions for the January/February issue of NCJ. NCJ will be released to the printer early next week.
Alan Cohen will arrange a meeting with advertising staff to fine-tune their order entry module of the Siebel Software. One item that will be looked at was a problem we encountered with a small number of advertiser invoices for the December issue. However, we are happy to report that the affected clients have finally been sent bills.
Hanan Rayyashi, Joe Bottiglieri, Dennis Motschenbacher, and Deb Jahnke hand signed 300 Holiday cards that will be sent to our advertising customers.
Hanan is working with Bob Inderbitzen on the January issue of Advertising Matters, which will include advertising information for the next edition of the Repeater Directory. We are currently conducting a mini-poll with some of our customers to determine if the Repeater Directory back cover is salable now that the book is four-color.
Deb Jahnke and Bob Inderbitzen spent a portion of the week working up new proposals for two prospective customers.
Member statistic detail reports are up and running using Siebel. Deb continues to work on report changes dictated by the new configuration.
Marketing
Our In News report usually does not detail our every response to suggestions we receive from members, staff, and clients. However, we feel it is important to note that we always evaluate ideas shared with us. Some recent "wins" resulting from acted upon outside ideas include the following.
Ed Hare received a recommendation from High Speed Multimedia Committee chair John Champa, K8OCL that ARRL consider carry a new booked titled Wireless Networks: The Definitive Guide written by Matthew S. Gast. Ed referred the recommendation to Dennis and Bob. Bob Inderbitzen worked closely with Ed and John as he goes through his feasibility determination for this possible attention to our store product list - a great example of intra-company cooperation.
Some months ago, Jerry Conover, NE7I, Professor of Marketing Northern Arizona University, kindly offered an interesting idea regarding promoting amateur radio based on a theme of "When all else fails...Amateur Radio comes through". Although this is certainly not a new concept, reminders to the public are always in order. This theme also reflects the pride many take in their hobby. Bob and Dennis are developing a plan to possibly including this theme as part of the 2003 Field Day tee shirt. That introduction could then take us to several other opportunities to draw attention to our hobby when the general public sensitivity to such things is heightened due to world tensions. We made sure that Jerry knew that his idea was acted on and that it was appreciated.
A mailing to ARRL publication dealers was completed. Sales literature for Antenna Compendium Volume 7 and the new Communications Quarterly CD-ROM was included.
The authors of ARRL's upcoming title, Experimental Methods in RF Design, approved a final draft of the cover. Bob Inderbitzen shared details about the product rollout with the authors. Plans included notifying publication dealers, creating an ad for February QST (completed), and adding the item to the ARRLWeb catalog.
A gathering with Dennis, Bob, and Wayne Mills produced a handful of sales and marketing strategies concerning programs and products administered by the Membership Services Department. One goal is to identify existing MSD products (some associated with DXCC, ARRL awards and contests), with the purpose of increasing product promotion on the ARRLWeb. This is a starting point from which we expect to develop a much larger list of short- and long-term action items.
Membership Services
Awards Branch
WAS QSL Cards Checked 350
WAS Certificates (250 QSLs-F/C) 5
WAS Certificates (100 QSLs-checked by ES) 2
WAS Endorsement (50 QSLs-checked by ES) 1
5 Band WAS Certificates (750 QSLs-F/C) 3
5 Band WAS Certificate (250-checked by ES) 1
WAC QSL Cards Checked 78
WAC Certificate (6 QSLs-checked by ES) 1
5 Band WAC Certificate (30 QSLs-F/C) 1
Extra Class Certificates 30
WAS Certs. Mailed 23
RCC & OTCs Mailed 56
VUCC Initial Awards Mailed 14
VUCC Endorsements Mailed 23
VUCC Certificates Processed 14
Long Term Member Inquiries 1
Also compiled the latest VUCC award recipient list for Feb. QST. Processing Status: Current or within three weeks. For the coming week-U.S. and foreign WAC awards, 5 Band WAS plaques, VUCC and OTC awards.
DXCC Branch
Weekly Report December 15, 2002
Beginning Cards 208,920
Cards Received 8,011
Cards Processed 9,646
Ending Cards 207,285
Applications Pending 2,023
Processing Time 11.4 Weeks
Year-to-date
Cards Received 736,102
Cards Returned 600,822
QRPs Issued this week 5
QRPs YTD 259
DXCC is currently mailing applications received on September 26, 2002. DXCC is currently entering cards received on September 27, 2002.
Contest Branch
The August UHF Web article and database were prepared and sent to Web Services for Layout and proofing. The IARU HF Web results article and database were prepared and sent to Web Services. The IARU results article was received back from Production, the author contacted, and more information added into the QST version. The scores for the September VHF QSO Party were received from the log processing team, were merged into the master database for that contest and the boxes scores and tables prepared. They were then sent to the author for that write-up to begin his part of the process. November Sweepstakes cups and pins orders continue to come in and are being sorted for entry into the shipping database. Work with problem logs for the 160 Meter Contest as well as Phone SS was done.
QSL Branch
QSL Service Status: Current. Cards mailed year to date as of 12/15/2002 - 1,815,115. No cards were mailed this week. Heather Dzamba spent 4 hours conducting tours around HQ.
W1AW
Thanks to Dan Henderson, N1ND for operating W1AW in the ARRL 10-Meter Contest. He worked 1706 stations, with 56 sections, for a claimed score of 467,444. W1AW is again QRV on AO-40! Recent passes of this bird have allowed for some pretty good activity. The first DX stations ever worked on AO-40 came from Europe and South America. (Since the 70cm uplink antenna was repaired, operation on AO-40 has gotten a bit easier.)
Scott processed fast and slow code practice runs for the latter part of the month of December. He also handled some evening phone sales calls in the 5 PM to 8 PM time slot.
Joe processed what should be the last of the 2002 FMT submissions. Work has now begun on creating a certificate that will be sent to all participants. He also installed updates to the satellite tracking and contest/logging programs (resident on all the PCs in the station). W1AW telephone sales year to date (2002): $10,779.
Field & Educational Services
The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD) newsletter, just distributed nationwide, includes an article written by Rick Lindquist about Amateur Radio response to the Colorado fires. Rosalie named W6OLD as Nevada SM to replace NK7N who resigned for health reasons; Steve coordinated with W6OLD on duties. Rosalie sent a response to an Internet trade group asking about the use of Internet in emergency response to disasters. Notes from a recent Citizen Corps teleconference meeting show the group is still interested in ARRL being an affiliate in the coming months.
Testing of future ARISS systems including a Kenwood TM-700 and a Yaesu FT-100 is planned for 2003 in Russia. Tests, among others, include: transmit to the antennas, measure electrical field and EMI around antennas, and interaction with other systems. Besides the transceivers, testing will be of the control panels, power supplies, speakers, audio interfaces, mics, antenna tuner, power switching assembly and cables, mounting frame, and antenna switch assemblies. Rosalie was re-elected to a 2-year term as ARISS-International Secretary-Treasurer; she was re-elected as the ARISS educational committee's chairperson. She provided a draft story about the ARISS Meetings for Rick.
Field & Education Support Team
Linda Mullally registered 3 schoolteachers and 12 volunteer instructors. She updated 33 club records with 2 reactivations, and also compiled the PSHR and BPL statistics for QST.
Gail Iannone wrote 29 hamfest and 3 convention announcements for the February issue of QST; she also sent 12 hamfest approval letters to the sponsoring committees confirming the Division Director's approval for the events to be ARRL-sanctioned.
Jean Wolfgang reminds us that GOTA (Guides on the Air) is Feb.15th and 16th. This is very similar to JOTA but almost all the participants are Girl Scouts. (During JOTA only 5% are Girl Scouts.) Jean has been sending out information and directing people to a Canadian web site for information.
Margie Bourgoin reports an upswing in volunteer instructor inquiries as instructors are gearing up for January and February classes. She also notes taking care of two Special Service Club renewals.
Mary Lau reviewed the charter and membership rosters of a Colorado YL club and a Massachusetts Public Service club. Both clubs are seeking affiliation as Category 1 clubs.
C-CE
Howard Robins reports that the RFI course is nearly finalized, on target for going to our Web host next Friday. He worked with Excel to develop a process to automate the batches of check-writing; the first batch was successfully handled, and will significantly reduce the time our accounting staff had spent doing this. Howard continues to make progress working on new CCE courses.
Jerry Ellis processed 10 class activity sections, and opened a Level II emcomm course and an antenna modeling course. He also handled batches of certificates and ID cards, mailed checks and mentor/student packages, and responded to e-mail inquiries.
Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program (The Big Project)
A Big Project teacher, WA7WKX in Washington, was selected to present an upcoming conference talk on The Big Project at the Northwest Council for Computer Education. Another Big Project school in Colorado, returned a $300 Progress Grant check they had received; the teacher transferred to a new school and was unable to find a replacement teacher interested in taking on the project, and didn't want to start a new project at the new school. Michigan SM Kirkbride assisted a Big Project school that needed 20 Now You're Talking manuals; she called ham clubs for donations, raising money for 24 books! The Big Project Web site has a new FAQ on how to approach schools about Amateur Radio. The school board for a Big Project school, Greenfield (IN) Central High, gave approval to teacher KB9YNK to apply for a Standard Course Waiver to the state Department of Education. If granted, this would allow his Wireless Communication students to receive state-certified credit for the class. The Connecticut State Science Association president brought 15 post-grad students from Southern UConn to Hq to hear about The Big Project.
Regulatory Information
John Hennessee assisted an amateur with a covenant problem in Tombal, TX (KB5IDU). John also continued to work on the final chapters of the FCC Rule Book.
EmComm Grants
Dan Miller says 243 grads have brought us very near the goal of 250 Connecticut Level I emcomm grads under the UTC grant. We should have 250 or more this weekend after an all-day review session is held at ARRL Hq. Instructors are N1FNE, K1DAV and WB1COB. Dan led a seminar forum at the ARRL West Central Florida Convention. For the CNCS grants, of the 1,082 total enrollees, 394 have graduated; a note went to SMs to clear up misconceptions about who can sign up.
Field Organization/Public Service Team
Leona Adams reports Eldon Bryant, K7ZQR, from Arkansas, and Jay Ostrem, W7CW, from Wyoming, were the only SM nominees for those sections. They were declared elected for terms starting April 1, 2003. Leona is collecting statements from SM candidates in North Texas, Oklahoma and Montana.
Steve Ewald worked with Rick Lindquist and Pacific SM Bob Schneider, AH6J, who led the effort to gather news shortly after Typhoon Pongsona hit Guam. Steve finished preparing QST's Public Service column, and reports that Section News e-mail relays have been coming in all week. He made 25 Qs during Skywarn Recognition Day, and heard continuous pile-ups for the 110 NWS stations operating.
Chuck Skolaut is reviewing three audio tapes regarding interference on 75 meter SSB, and he has had more discussion with an OOC concerning Hi Fi SSB on 20 meters. Riley Hollingsworth is seeking additional information from OOs about previous monitoring requests.
73,
Sincerely,
Mark Wilson, K1RO
Chief Operating Officer
MW:lk
Staff Absentee List
Name Date(s) Reason
All Staff 12/25 Holiday
All Staff 1/1 Holiday
Mark Wilson 12/26-1/3 Vacation
Lisa Kustosik 12/26-12/27 Vacation
Jennifer Hagy 12/23-12/27 Vacation
Gail Iannone 12/23-1/3 Vacation
Steve Ford 12/30-12/31 Vacation
Rick Lindquist 12/26-12/30 Vacation
Joe Carcia 12/24 & 12/31 Vacation
Howard Robins 12/23-1/3 Vacation
Mary Lau 12/26-12/27 Vacation
Jan Carman 12/23-1/2 Vacation
Monique Levesque 12/26-1/2 Vacation
Bob Schetgen 12/23-12/27 Vacation
Joel Kleinman 12/30-1/3 Vacation
Kathy Capodicasa 12/23 Vacation
Bob Inderbitzen 12/24 & 12/31 Vacation
Deb Jahnke 12/26-12/27 Vacation
Zoe Belliveau 12/26-12/31 Vacation
Lisa Tardette 12/23-12/27 Vacation
Cathy Stepina 12/26-12/27 Vacation
Dennis Motschenbacher 12/26-12/27 Vacation
Scott Gee 12/26-12/27 Vacation
Wayne Mills 12/23-1/3 Vacation
Sharon Taratula 12/24 Vacation
Martin Cook 12/26 Vacation
Bill Moore 12/26-1/3 Vacation
Dan Henderson 12/24-12/27 Vacation
Leona Adams 12/23-12/24 Vacation
Chuck Skolaut 12/23-12/27 Vacation
Jerry Hill 12/23-12/27 Vacation
John Hennessee 12/23-12/30 Vacation
Rosalie White 12/26-12/27 Vacation
Dan Miller 12/26-12/31 Vacation
1/3 Vacation
