IN-Newsletter
Vol. 27, No.26
June 30, 2004
Upcoming Meetings
July 15th in Newington, CT at 8:30am
Programs & Services Committee
July 15th in Newington, CT at 8:30am
A & F Committee
July 16-17, 2004 in Windsor, CT
Board Meeting
Development
The Spring 2004 Spectrum Defense campaign has topped $217,000 from more
than 4200 donors.
The 2004 Education & Technology Fund is in circulation and the first
return was received on June 29.
Information letters have been mailed to 21 donors who are approaching
Maxim Society status advising them of their lifetime giving total as
they consider their future giving plans.
Letters have been mailed to 47 Diamond Club members whose participation
lapsed earlier this year. The Diamond Club program continues to grow
with most of the new donors coming from the solicitations which have
been mailed as a test in the membership renewal cycle. Discussions are
underway to test a new more detailed reply form with hopes of expanding
the Diamond Club solicitation in the renewal cycle. The program is
scheduled for a major mailing campaign totaling 30,000 in August, but
the success of the monthly process may change that with approval of
Circulation leadership. Debra Johnson's analysis of the Diamond Club
has yielded some very good information: The overall renewal rate has
jumped from 60% last year to 68% this year. All but 2 of the lapsed
Diamond club donors are still ARRL active ARRL members. The average
contribution was projected at $100, but the actual average contribution
is $129.
A "substantial" new planned giving commitment has been received.
Media Relations
Jennifer did a live interview about BPL with KQV-AM, an all-news CBS
radio station in Pittsburgh. The on-air personality who conducted the
interview is a ham, and an ARRL Life Member. The interview aired just
after a recap of recent comments about broadband technology made by
George Bush and John Kerry.
Thanks go to Joel Hallas for talking to a New Haven (CT) Register
reporter about antenna configuration and antenna tuners, specifically
the techniques described in the April 2004 QST article written by former
HQ staffer Paul Danzer, N1II. The reporter was spurred by a press
release generated by the PR folks at Housatonic Community College, where
Danzer currently teaches.
Jennifer talked emergency communications with a Connecticut-based
freelance writer who is preparing a feature for new law enforcement
magazine States Most Wanted. Her primary interest was emergency
communications and homeland defense, although she was also interested in
the ARISS program, general ham radio stats and basic information about
what Amateur Radio operators do on the air. Jen sent the CNCS grant
press releases, along with information on grants received from UTC for
emergency course training. The writer also talked with Dan Miller about
ARRL's online EMCOMM courses.
Jennifer also did two Field Day interviews: The Daily News Transcript
(Needham, MA) and WFLS Radio (Fredericksburg, VA).
The June issue of Contact! was posted to the PR pages.
Production/Editorial
Rick Lindquist reports that The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 26 (June 25),
distributed to 66,942 members. Rick prepared stories on ARRL's reply
comments on BPL, ISS astronaut announces daughter's birth via packet,
short-term renewal enforcement case, $10,000 fine to former CA amateur,
FCC turns 70, Vanity call sign fee to rise, White House relying on NTIA
to make BPL go away, plus edited QRP Community and Youth columns as well
as some news briefs for the Web. With voiceover assistance from
Jennifer Hagy, Rick voiced, edited and produced ARRL Audio News for June
25. (Note: Rick will be gone Jul 2-Jul 9; send news items to Joel
Kleinman.)
Sales and Marketing
August QST has left for the printer. We will begin soliciting ads for
September QST immediately since the vacation rush is just about to begin
for many of our important clients.
The New Ham Express advertising printed supplement to our new ham
mailings have returned from the printer. We have invoiced our customers
and sent sample copies along as well.
Advertising procurement for the upcoming edition of the ARRL Handbook is
proceeding on schedule. Prospective advertisers have received one
mailed print solicitation; one follow-up email solicitation and sales
calls are underway.
Summaries of highlights from the first half of 2004 were produced to
support July Board meeting reports. Over $53,000 worth of ARRL Field
Day merchandise (T-shirts and pins) was sold this year through June 24.
We are negotiating a resale agreement with the author of a book
published in the UK. Once finalized, the agreement will establish ARRL
as an exclusive US distributor for the title.
Forty membership applications were returned from the Northwest Division
Convention in Seaside, Oregon, held June 18-20. Half of these were new
or previous members.
A New Products announcement was sent to 47,000 ARRL members on Tuesday.
Recent exchanges with the author of YASME have contributed to new
promotion ideas for the book. A review will appear in August's issue of
QST. The review and some testimonials have also been added to the
ARRLWeb to enhance the book's description within the e-store.
Membership Services
Awards Branch
WAS Certs. (150 QSLs F/C) 3
WAS Cert. (50 QSLs ES/C) 1
5BWAS Certs. (1000 QSLs F/C) 4
WAS in the 90th Certs. 15
WAC QSL Cards Checked 60
A-1 Op. Noms. 8
LTMA Inquiries 10
VUCC Initial Apps. 4
Grids 257
VUCC End. App. 1
Grids 50
Awards Mailed 54
Processing Status: Current or up to three weeks. For the coming
week-U.S. WAC awards, Basic WAS awards for June, and mail out awards
processed this week.
DXCC Branch
For the week of:
June 27, 2004
Beginning Cards 51,511
Cards Received 9,398
Cards Processed 8,762
Ending Cards 52,147
Applications Pending 392
Processing Time 2.7 Weeks
Year-to-date (2004)
Cards Received 237,679
Cards Returned 311,676
DXCC is currently mailing applications received on June 8, 2004. DXCC
is currently entering cards received on June 8, 2004.
Wayne Mills attended the Friedrichshafen, Germany convention this past
weekend. Stats on card checking are pending his return.
Logbook of the World
QSO records entered into the system 45,550,648
QSL records have resulted 1,501,763
Logs Processed 55,970
Active Certificates 10,254
Users registered in the system 7231
Current Applications 107
Ready Applications 53
Applications Awaiting Mail 54
Contest Branch
Preparation for mailing of the 2003 SS certificates was finished. We
are now working on the 160-meter certificates for 2003. Being the week
before Field Day, we spent a tremendous amount of time handling Field
Day queries. We worked extensively with Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, who has put
together a Field Day Submission applet for the web. It appears to be
working well, as almost 100 Web-based submissions were received by
Monday morning after Field Day. The write-up for the 2004 ARRL DX CW
contest was received from the author and will be edited and sent to
production this week.
QSL Bureau
Processing time is approximately 8 days from receipt. This week 126
pounds of cards were received from members. Approximately 160 pounds of
cards are waiting to be processed. Cards mailed as of 06/27/04:
523,775. Due to staff illness, no cards were mailed this week.
W1AW
Field Day 2004 is a thing of the past! Thanks to Joe, NJ1Q, Dan, N1ND,
Norm, W3IZ and John, N1KB for operating W1AW during Field Day. They
made 657 QSOs were made on 80 through 2 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY.
The highlight of Field Day came when both 10 and 6 meters were open just
past sunset Saturday night.
Joe updated the web code practice files. He also tracked down a problem
with the Command Technologies 20-meter amplifier and the repair is in
the works. He worked the Friday night shift for a vacationing Scott Gee
and ran the W1AW Field Day bulletins during the weekend. Joe also
uploaded W1AW/90 logs to LoTW.
Scott worked on slow and fast code practice files for the latter part of
the month of June and also handled some evening phone sales calls in the
daily 5 PM to 8 PM time slots.
Field & Educational Services
Rosalie worked on reports for the Board meeting and developed new
figures for the re-forecast of the departmental budget. She began work
on the report for the July PSC meeting, and met with Jenn and Steve on
same. Rosalie reviewed the draft of a UTC-grant filing. She spoke with
Chris Imlay about ARISS third party issues, and NASA Hq about future
objectives. She and Leona fielded calls while Linda took a few days off
(congrats to Linda on becoming a grandmother!) and while Norm was out on
business.
Gail Iannone sent 8 hamfest approval letters to the sponsoring
committees confirming the Division Director's approval of the events as
ARRL-sanctioned, processed 5 label requests and 15 material orders for
handouts and door prizes for upcoming events. She also reviewed club
affiliation paperwork for 6 new clubs and sent them to the Division
Directors and Section Managers for their approval in addition to
acknowledgement letters to the club officials.
Regulatory Information
John Hennessee noted an increase in questions on station control this
week. This always happens before Field Day. He also assisted an amateur
with questions on local government zoning in Washoe County, NV (N7GXI).
A new VCE was processed and several club constitutions were reviewed.
Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program
Mark Spencer gave four education talks at HamCom, who provided entrance
and parking at no cost to teachers, scouts and homeschoolers. Hamcom
also paid fees for scouts taking VE exams. He visited the Hamcom booth
set up and staffed by students and teachers of one of our schools,
DeGolyer Elementary. While delivering an antenna, Mark took the
opportunity to schedule a special in-service seminar at our (local)
Talcott Science Academy, one of our schools.
Field Organization/Public Service Team
As follow-up to last week's report, Chuck Skolaut learned that
interference to Sonoma County's (CA) airport by a 2-meter repeater has
been successfully resolved. Chuck received audio tapes from OOs about
interference cases on 20 meters, and on two different 2-meter repeaters
in California. He reviewed and forwarded the tapes to the FCC. In
addition, a radio amateur in Pennsylvania provided an observation report
on a strong, pulsed-type radar signal on 17 meters.
Thanks to the Mailroom Staff, Leona Adams notes that the Minnesota SM
election ballots/statements were mailed to ARRL members one week ahead
of schedule. Minnesota members have until August 20 to return ballots
to HQ. Leona has seen an increase in the number of mailing-label
requests from members of the Field Organization; they use these for
recruiting purposes.
Steve Ewald took part in the monthly Citizen Corps Affiliate's
teleconference where plans are underway for an in-person National
Citizen Corp Conference in Denver in late July. He also worked with the
Mailroom Staff to send an ARESCOM-sponsored informational mailing to SMs
and NTS Leaders. He received word from SMs in Pennsylvania, South
Dakota, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama that their
respective governors have declared "Amateur Radio Week" in their states
surrounding Field Day. Thanks to Tom Hogerty for uploading the 2004 SET
Guidelines and Reporting forms/information to the ARRL's Public Service
Forms Web page area.
CCE
Jean Wolfgang processed 4 field test sessions and sent out certificates.
She also printed certificates and ID cards for 53 graduates. Jean
handled a hybrid class using a brand new process; it requires the mentor
to collect the checks from the students and send all of these in at one
time. This eliminates several steps of work for F&ES, accounting, and
for our Web host. Jean sent out mentor calls for the next four classes
that will open on July 6th, and assigned mentors to the 3 sections that
will begin on June 29. She discussed with Rosalie another idea for
publicizing our online courses.
Emcomm Grants
Dan Miller's SeaPac seminar saw 33 attendees; 2 were Field appointees,
11 were licensed more than 10 years, 67% were ARRL members, 22% were
involved in Citizen Corps and attendees spent 11.5 hours per month on
emcomm activities.
Club/Mentor Program
Norm Fusaro handled increased club correspondence about Field Day
activity. He initiated a new ARRL Affiliated Club President's
Reflector, which is now "live." A story about it will be the headline
topic for this week's mailing to clubs. Norm is now moved into his new
QTH in Bristol, CT, with antennas soon to follow.
73,
Sincerely,
Mark Wilson, K1RO
Chief Operating Officer
MW:lk
Staff Absentee List
All Staff 7/5 Holiday
Jennifer Hagy 6/28-7/6 Vacation
Barry Shelley 6/28-7/2 Vacation
Mark Wilson 7/6 Vacation
Dave Patton 7/8-7/13 Vacation
`` 7/16-7/17 Board Meeting,
Windsor, CT
Perry Williams 7/1-7/14 Vacation
`` 7/16-9/7 Vacation
Dennis Motschenbacher 7/23-7/25 Central States VHF,
Toronto, Canada
`` 8/20-8/21 Convention,
Albuquerque, NM
`` 8/27-8/29 SW Division
Convention, Phoenix, AZ
Rick Lindquist 7/2-7/9 Vacation
Robert Inderbitzen 7/19-7/30 Vacation
Fatima Lorusso 7/6-7/9 Vacation
Janet Rocco 7/26-7/30 Vacation
`` 8/9-8/13 Vacation
Jon Bloom 6/14-7/2 Vacation
Mark Spencer 6/23-7/4 Vacation
Debra Jahnke 7/5-7/9 Vacation
`` 8/9-8/13 Vacation
Zack Lau 6/28-7/2 Vacation
Ed Hare 6/30-7/14 AZ State
Convention/Vacation
Lisa Tardette 6/28-7/2 Vacation
Joel Kleinman 7/9-7/13 Vacation
Danny Sayad 7/2 Vacation
Mark Dzamba 8/23-8/27 Vacation
Pam Dzamba 8/23-8/27 Vacation
Chuck Skolaut 7/8-7/14 Convention, San
Francisco, CA/Vacation
Joe Carcia 7/6-7/9 Vacation
Kathy Allison 7/6-7/12 Vacation
Bill Moore 7/16 Pacific NW Convention
Kathy Capodicasa 7/8-7/12 Vacation
Di Szlachetka 7/6-7/7 Vacation
