IN-Newsletter
Vol. 27, No. 48
December 1, 2004
Upcoming Meetings
Board Meeting
January 21-22, 2005 in Windsor, CT
Development
The 2005 Spectrum Defense campaign has raised more than $175,000 from
3385 donors so far. The average contribution is a generous $51.
Responses are beginning to come in from a third letter to prior donors
from President Haynie.
The new Year-End Campaign that was mailed to a unique and targeted
audience of 38,000 members is beginning to bear fruit. The budgeted
goal for this campaign is $25,000 by December 31 and the first $1000 is
in.
The Member Awards program has been well received in spite of a glitch in
the selection process. A letter of apology and a corrected certificate
and pin are being prepared for the 60 and 70 year members who were
affected by our error. We have received comments of appreciation from
several long time members, and at least one increased Diamond Club
contribution as a direct result. Development has processed requests for
10 plaques, two of which have been requested as gifts from family
members.
A new club Honor Roll for 2004 contributions is being completed for the
web.
Work is continuing on an e-renewal process for Diamond Club donors and
should be ready for launch in January.
Media & Public Relations
The toy drive was supposed to end Thanksgiving weekend, but has taken on
a life of its own and keeps going as clubs and groups continue to send
aid, and we get more positive press. It has been a resounding success
in many ways. Meanwhile, BPL articles are showing up in more and more
small, local media outlets as town leaders believe it could increase
services and gain revenue for their locality. The need for grass-roots
activity is increasing as local editors are most responsive to local
people.
Production/Editorial
Technical articles for February QST have been turned in for typesetting
and layout.
Sales and Marketing
Advertising for January QST was finalized last week and work is wrapping
up on QEX and NCJ advertising for the current issue.
Starting with the February issue of QST we plan a major change to our
email solicitations to our current advertisers. These messages are sent
monthly to generate interest in each issue and provide
insertion/materials due deadline dates. We feel that these
solicitations would be more effective if we provided some magazine
content for each issue. A majority of mainstream magazines provide
advertisers with an editorial calendar to encourage advertising
participation. With the caveat that articles can change, we will
provide short summary information on Technical Articles; General
interest Articles; and selected Workbench articles. We will not provide
any Product Review or Short Take information.
Over 150 backorders have accumulated for the hardcover 2005 ARRL
Handbook. The second printing will be delivered sometime in December.
The holiday-themed publications campaign contributed to a steady flow of
incoming orders throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. We're
particularly thankful for the additional effort made by Zoe Belliveau,
Fatima Lorusso, Cathy Stepina and Lesley Dombrow. They each gave up
part of their weekend to return to work and process orders. Together,
they processed nearly 300 orders on Saturday for sales of ~ $28,000.
That's a nice one-day total, and really helped make-up for the two lost
business days we had last week. On Monday, the warehouse crew returned
to work, prepared to crank out the extra sales volume. They've been
operating in overdrive. Kathy Capodicasa is immersed in this busy
fulfillment operation, managing workflows and staffing--and processing
plenty of orders herself, too.
Direct returns from the October-mailed membership campaign have reached
an unprecedented 3.70%. In one month, the mailing has contributed to
over 750 sign-ups from among lapsed members.
Membership Services
Awards Branch
WAS QSL Cards Checked 350
WAS Certs. (350 QSLs ES/C) 7
WAS Certs. (300 QSLs F/C) 6
5BWAS Cert. (250 QSLs ES/C) 1
5BWAS Cert. (250 QSLs F/C) 1
Extra Class Certs. 26
A-1 Op. Noms. 1
LTMA Inquires 7
VUCC Certs. Processed 12
Awards Mailed 41
Processing Status: Current or up to three weeks. For the coming
week-WAS QSL card checking, Basic WAS awards for Nov., VUCC awards
processing/mailing, and mail out all awards processed this week.
Contest Branch
The combined list (paper and electronic) of Logs Received for the 2004
ARRL September VHF QSO Party and 2004 ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest were
posted to the web. We began shipping the DX Contest plaques. The
August UHF Web results were finalized and opened to the public. The
various tables for the 2004 September VHF QSO Party had to be prepared
manually due to a problem in database conversion from Access 97 to
Access 2003, but were completed and forwarded to the author to begin
work on that write-up.
Logbook of the World
QSO records entered into the system 56,441,427
QSL records have resulted 2,136,335
Logs Processed 81,845
Active Certificates 12,074
Users registered in the system 8,949
Current Applications 32
Ready Applications 0
Applications Awaiting Mail 32
QSL Bureau
Processing time is 3 days. This past week (3 days) 101 pounds of cards
were received from members. Cards mailed as of 11/28/04: 961,060. No
cards were mailed this week.
W1AW
Joe uploaded W1AW/90 and 2004 ARRL Phone Sweepstakes logs to LoTW. He
also updated the web code practice files. Joe processed regular W1AW/90
QSL card requests. He created another Access database for the 2004
Frequency Measuring Text entries, and began to input entries into that
database.
Scott worked on slow and fast code practice files for the month of
December. He also handled some evening phone sales calls in the daily 5
PM to 8 PM time slots.
Field & Educational Services
Rosalie continued to work with Bill Barrett on items he is developing
for the Community Education Program grant. She took part in an
ARISS-International telecon.
Gail Iannone sent 5 hamfest approval letters to the sponsoring
committees confirming the Division Director's approval of their events
as "ARRL-sanctioned", processed 4 label requests for upcoming events and
coordinated travel for Bill Moore to be the HQ Rep at the North Carolina
Section Convention on April 17, 2005 in Raleigh. She also helped count
SM election ballots.
Mentor/Club/Volunteer Instructor Program
Norm Fusaro I worked on a feature article for QST, and he was
interviewed by a high school student about the Morse code and
telegraphy.
Margie Bourgoin updated 21 clubs and sent out 16 graduation kits and
registered 4 new instructors. She assisted the team in counting SM
ballots and entered the data for the Digital Communications survey.
Responses to her survey of Volunteer Instructors are still arriving.
Field Organization/Public Service
Section Manager election ballots were counted and reported on Tuesday,
November 23. Matt Anderson, KA0BOJ, was elected in Nebraska; Dee
Turner, N4GD, was elected in West Central Florida; and George Tranos,
N2GA, was re-elected in New York City-Long Island. Their new two-year
terms begin January 1. Here's a look at the percentage of ARRL members
who cast a ballot in these SM elections: Nebraska, 39.86%; New York
City-Long Island, 38.1%; West Central Florida, 35%.
Thanks to the F & ES Team of Leona Adams, Chuck Skolaut, Margie
Bourgoin, Gail Ianonne, and Steve Ewald for assisting in the ballot
counting.
Steve Ewald attended a regional meeting with members of ARES, RACES and
MARS in the Eastern New York Section. The groups are developing plans
to promote better cooperation and interoperability. Several Section
Leaders were in attendance as well. The ARRL and National Weather
Service-sponsored SKYWARN Recognition Day is December 6. News
announcements for this event have been posted.
In response to a recent FCC-monitoring request on 20 meters, Chuck
Skolaut has received taped documentation from Official Observers, and
additional tapes on other 20-meter interference cases. Amateur Radio
Volunteer Monitors are reporting 5-letter code groups have been heard on
30 meters and a continuous carrier on 60 meters. Chuck has been keeping
up to date on the recent FCC action concerning the sale of unauthorized
equipment at truck stops.
Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program
Mark Spencer helped the Development Office prepare for a new grant
opportunity during this holiday-shortened week, and he participated at a
local school's science activity.
Regulatory Information
John Hennessee worked on an FAQ for EMCOMM officials outlining Part 97
regulations of concern to them. John continues to receive inquiries
from hams and non-hams on the status of the Restructuring Petitions.
They all express dismay that it is taking so long to complete the
recommendations of WRC-03. John also assisted an amateur with a local
government zoning problem in Washington, ME (KB1DSW).
Certification and Continuing Education
Jean Wolfgang processed 182 EmComm graduates this week. She sent out
mentor calls and a total of 4 course sections including EC-003, VHF/UHF
course, HF Digital course and propagation course to be set up by CTDLC.
These courses will begin on Friday Dec. 3. Jean also reviewed the QST
On-line course ad and handled several withdrawals and mentor questions.
Sincerely,
Dave Patton, NN1N
Special Assistant to the
Chief Executive Officer
DCP: lk
Staff Absentee List
Robert Inderbitzen 12/2-12/3 Vacation
Mark Dzamba 12/24-12/30 Vacation
Pam Dzamba 12/24-12/30 Vacation
Steve Ewald 11/29-12/6 Vacation
Allen Pitts 12/10 Vacation
Gail Iannone 12/20-12/31 Vacation
Scott Gee 12/13-12/14 Vacation
Joel Kleinman 12/9 Vacation
Janet Rocco 12/10 Vacation
Di Szlachetka 12/27-12/30 Vacation
