March 2005 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:11945] Re: minimum hamfest?
by n5ok.ok＠att.net 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

Tom, Good question and good comments. I don't usually approved one unless it has an ARRL forum scheduled. It would be hard to schedule a forum in a 90 minute tailgate swap meet. Coy -- ARRL West Gulf Division Director Coy Day, N5OK 20685 SW 29th St Union City, OK 73090 n5ok(a)arrl.org 405-483-5632 -------------- Original message from Tom Frenaye <frenaye(a)pcnet.com>: -------------- > > Over the past several years I've seen some conventions and hamfests shrink in > size and duration. (The NE Div convention has actually expanded...) A few > weeks ago I went to the VT State Convention where they had more than 400 people > (down from 600 ten years ago but stable the last few years) - but it opened at > 8am and was supposed to end at 1pm, but most vendors began to pack up around > noon and it was deserted by 1pm. (They also had a bunch of forums and had a > table that helped to sell ARRL publications.) > > In the last couple of years I've started to see even shorter events - 3-hour > auctions, afternoon/evening tailgate sales, etc. I just received the request > below and it has stretched things even further - just 90 minutes. I'm > inclined to not approve this (see below) as an ARRL hamfest. But, I'm > wondering what the rest of you do when you get requests for very short events > (assuming you do). > > When designated as an ARRL hamfest, we say their event will "receive special > benefits such as free prizes, handouts, and other support." For "average" > hamfests, I think our support is described in the Convention and Hamfest > Planner: (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/hamfests/convhf.pdf) "Headquarters > will provide editorial support in QST for the event, will provide for > advertising in QST at rates below commercial rates, and will on request provide > publications to be used as awards or prizes." > > I'm thinking that anything less than a half day shouldn't be considered. In > this case, I don't know if they want PR in the hamfest database (too late for > QST I think) or the publications (exactly what do we provide these days?). > > -- Tom > > > > ARRL Division: New England > > Event Type: Regular Hamfest > > Event Name: xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx Tailgate Party > > Event Date: xxxxxx, 2005 > > Event Time: 1830 to 2000 local > > Event City: xxxxxxx > > Event State: xxx > > Event Sponsor(s): xxxxxxx > > Event Facility: xxxxxxx; > > Event Facility Address: xxxxx > > Directions to Event: xxxxx > >Special Features of Event: Sellers $5.00 Buyers free > > Exams being given: NO Exams > > Talk-In Freq: xxxxx > > Advance admission fee: 0 > > At-door admission fee: 0 > > Table fee: 5.00 > > Event Web URL: xxxx > > Public contact name: xxx > > Public contact call sign: xxx > > Public contact address: xxxx > > xxxxxx > > Public contact phone: xxxx > > Public contact fax: none > > Public contact email: xxxx > > Chairman name: xxxx > > Chairman call sign: xxxx > > Chairman address: xxxx > > xxxx > > Chairman phone (day): xxx > > Chairman phone (eve): xxx > > Chairman email: xxxx > > Funds available: $100.00 > > Funding source(s): xxxx > > Anticipated attendance: 50 > > Profit disposition: xxxx > > Form submitter name: xxx > > Form submitter call sign: xxxx > > Form submitter email: xxxx > > Date/Time submitted: 12-Mar-2005 1343Z > > > ===== > e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ > Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444 > >

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[arrl-odv:11944] Re: TOPOFF 3
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

Brian, because it principally involves HQ I'd prefer to keep Allen's report internal. There's quite a bit about ARES involvement on the Connecticut section Web site, http://www.arrl.org/sections/CT.html Dave -----Original Message----- From: Mileshosky, Brian N5ZGT (Vice Dir, RM) Sent: Monday, March 14, 2005 11:38 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:11943] Re: TOPOFF 3 TOM: Some kind of feedback from the government side would be nice (if possible), but I'm equally interested in an after-action report from ARES/RACES leadership. BTW, this is all just for my own personal curiosity as a fellow ARES member...I think it's cool that Ham Radio has a role in this. DAVE: Is Alan Pitt's briefing report for our eyes only, or can I pass it on to some of my local ARES movers and shakers for their interest? Thanks and 73, Brian, N5ZGT Tom Frenaye <frenaye(a)pcnet.com> said: > At 10:37 AM 3/14/2005, Brian/N5ZGT wrote: > > >Awesome opportunity for Amateur Radio. Is an after-action report, > >even if restricted just to how Ham Radio performed, planned by those > >ARES/RACES groups involved? > > > The info given a local club (CT/MA border) suggests we won't get a whole lot of direct feedback from the government side, though I sure expect we'll have a pretty good idea of how well our involvement worked out from out own analysis. I hope we get some "official" feedback though. It sounds like KO1D is involved from the government, but I don't know what he does. > > -- Tom > > >Some information: > > > >TOPOFF is the Top Officials Congressionally mandated exercise. The first was held several years ago in Denver and New Hampshire. 2 years ago the second was held in Seattle and Chicago. This year there are participants in CT, NJ, Canada and the UK. > > > >As always Washington, DC has its share of Federal Officials taking part. > > > >Please take the exercise very seriously. It will receive coverage from all levels of government and the emergency response community. Do not sit there and gawk at the comms toys unless asked to. Do your jobs as well as you always do and be PROFESSIONAL at all times. > > > >You will not be privy to all aspects of the exercise, accept that now. > > > >You may never learn how well it went, accept that. > > > >There are many components that people have worked months on developng and keep in mind that while this is a full scale exercise, it is to be treated as real as the call up on 9-11 itself. > > > >My only real wish I could take part. That is the crappy part of my job,I have to watch. So please tell me what happens. > > > >Also, work together and keep solid notes on what you do so that you can use that to improve in the future. > > > >Good luck and remember....We're only amateurs because we are not paid! > > > >Dan Sullivan > >KO1D > >Falls Church, VA > > > > ===== > e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ > Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444 > > > --

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[arrl-odv:11943] Re: TOPOFF 3
by Brian Mileshosky 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

TOM: Some kind of feedback from the government side would be nice (if possible), but I'm equally interested in an after-action report from ARES/RACES leadership. BTW, this is all just for my own personal curiosity as a fellow ARES member...I think it's cool that Ham Radio has a role in this. DAVE: Is Alan Pitt's briefing report for our eyes only, or can I pass it on to some of my local ARES movers and shakers for their interest? Thanks and 73, Brian, N5ZGT Tom Frenaye <frenaye(a)pcnet.com> said: > At 10:37 AM 3/14/2005, Brian/N5ZGT wrote: > > >Awesome opportunity for Amateur Radio. Is an after-action report, > >even if restricted just to how Ham Radio performed, planned by those > >ARES/RACES groups involved? > > > The info given a local club (CT/MA border) suggests we won't get a whole lot of direct feedback from the government side, though I sure expect we'll have a pretty good idea of how well our involvement worked out from out own analysis. I hope we get some "official" feedback though. It sounds like KO1D is involved from the government, but I don't know what he does. > > -- Tom > > >Some information: > > > >TOPOFF is the Top Officials Congressionally mandated exercise. The first was held several years ago in Denver and New Hampshire. 2 years ago the second was held in Seattle and Chicago. This year there are participants in CT, NJ, Canada and the UK. > > > >As always Washington, DC has its share of Federal Officials taking part. > > > >Please take the exercise very seriously. It will receive coverage from all levels of government and the emergency response community. Do not sit there and gawk at the comms toys unless asked to. Do your jobs as well as you always do and be PROFESSIONAL at all times. > > > >You will not be privy to all aspects of the exercise, accept that now. > > > >You may never learn how well it went, accept that. > > > >There are many components that people have worked months on developng and keep in mind that while this is a full scale exercise, it is to be treated as real as the call up on 9-11 itself. > > > >My only real wish I could take part. That is the crappy part of my job,I have to watch. So please tell me what happens. > > > >Also, work together and keep solid notes on what you do so that you can use that to improve in the future. > > > >Good luck and remember....We're only amateurs because we are not paid! > > > >Dan Sullivan > >KO1D > >Falls Church, VA > > > > ===== > e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ > Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444 > > > --

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[arrl-odv:11942] Re: TOPOFF 3
by Tom Frenaye 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

At 10:37 AM 3/14/2005, Brian/N5ZGT wrote: >Awesome opportunity for Amateur Radio. Is an after-action report, >even if restricted just to how Ham Radio performed, planned by those >ARES/RACES groups involved? The info given a local club (CT/MA border) suggests we won't get a whole lot of direct feedback from the government side, though I sure expect we'll have a pretty good idea of how well our involvement worked out from out own analysis. I hope we get some "official" feedback though. It sounds like KO1D is involved from the government, but I don't know what he does. -- Tom >Some information: > >TOPOFF is the Top Officials Congressionally mandated exercise. The first was held several years ago in Denver and New Hampshire. 2 years ago the second was held in Seattle and Chicago. This year there are participants in CT, NJ, Canada and the UK. > >As always Washington, DC has its share of Federal Officials taking part. > >Please take the exercise very seriously. It will receive coverage from all levels of government and the emergency response community. Do not sit there and gawk at the comms toys unless asked to. Do your jobs as well as you always do and be PROFESSIONAL at all times. > >You will not be privy to all aspects of the exercise, accept that now. > >You may never learn how well it went, accept that. > >There are many components that people have worked months on developng and keep in mind that while this is a full scale exercise, it is to be treated as real as the call up on 9-11 itself. > >My only real wish I could take part. That is the crappy part of my job,I have to watch. So please tell me what happens. > >Also, work together and keep solid notes on what you do so that you can use that to improve in the future. > >Good luck and remember....We're only amateurs because we are not paid! > >Dan Sullivan >KO1D >Falls Church, VA ===== e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444

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[arrl-odv:11941] Re: TOPOFF 3
by Brian Mileshosky 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

Dave, Awesome opportunity for Amateur Radio. Is an after-action report, even if restricted just to how Ham Radio performed, planned by those ARES/RACES groups involved? 73, Brian, N5ZGT On Mon, 14 Mar 2005, Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ wrote: > There is a major terrorism response exercise taking place the week of April 4-8. One of the principal venues is the New London, Connecticut area. Amateur Radio is expected to play a role supplying communications for the Red Cross. Last Friday Allen Pitts attended a briefing and prepared the attached report regarding ARRL HQ and staff involvement. > > Additional information on TOPOFF 3 is available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0594.xml. > > Dave Sumner, K1ZZ > > <<Topoff briefing.doc>> > ARRL Vice-Director, Rocky Mountain Division

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[arrl-odv:11940] TOPOFF 3
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

There is a major terrorism response exercise taking place the week of April 4-8. One of the principal venues is the New London, Connecticut area. Amateur Radio is expected to play a role supplying communications for the Red Cross. Last Friday Allen Pitts attended a briefing and prepared the attached report regarding ARRL HQ and staff involvement. Additional information on TOPOFF 3 is available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0594.xml. Dave Sumner, K1ZZ <<Topoff briefing.doc>>

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[arrl-odv:11939] Re: minimum hamfest?
by Frank Butler 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

Hello Tom, You raise an interesting point. I haven't been looking closely at the time of operation on the applications. I went back through all the applications for hamfests since January 1, 2005 (29 events). Most showed an ending at 2:00 pm; a few at 1:00 pm; the earliest close was 12 noon for a couple. None of these were evening events. I think I would be inclined to disapprove anything shorter thatn 8-12 noon. 73, Frank Butler, W4RH ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Frenaye" <frenaye(a)pcnet.com> To: "arrl-odv" <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 3:16 PM Subject: [arrl-odv:11937] minimum hamfest? > > Over the past several years I've seen some conventions and hamfests shrink in size and duration. (The NE Div convention has actually expanded...) A few weeks ago I went to the VT State Convention where they had more than 400 people (down from 600 ten years ago but stable the last few years) - but it opened at 8am and was supposed to end at 1pm, but most vendors began to pack up around noon and it was deserted by 1pm. (They also had a bunch of forums and had a table that helped to sell ARRL publications.) > > In the last couple of years I've started to see even shorter events - 3-hour auctions, afternoon/evening tailgate sales, etc. I just received the request below and it has stretched things even further - just 90 minutes. I'm inclined to not approve this (see below) as an ARRL hamfest. But, I'm wondering what the rest of you do when you get requests for very short events (assuming you do). > > When designated as an ARRL hamfest, we say their event will "receive special benefits such as free prizes, handouts, and other support." For "average" hamfests, I think our support is described in the Convention and Hamfest Planner: (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/hamfests/convhf.pdf) "Headquarters will provide editorial support in QST for the event, will provide for advertising in QST at rates below commercial rates, and will on request provide publications to be used as awards or prizes." > > I'm thinking that anything less than a half day shouldn't be considered. In this case, I don't know if they want PR in the hamfest database (too late for QST I think) or the publications (exactly what do we provide these days?). > > -- Tom > > > > ARRL Division: New England > > Event Type: Regular Hamfest > > Event Name: xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx Tailgate Party > > Event Date: xxxxxx, 2005 > > Event Time: 1830 to 2000 local > > Event City: xxxxxxx > > Event State: xxx > > Event Sponsor(s): xxxxxxx > > Event Facility: xxxxxxx; > > Event Facility Address: xxxxx > > Directions to Event: xxxxx > >Special Features of Event: Sellers $5.00 Buyers free > > Exams being given: NO Exams > > Talk-In Freq: xxxxx > > Advance admission fee: 0 > > At-door admission fee: 0 > > Table fee: 5.00 > > Event Web URL: xxxx > > Public contact name: xxx > > Public contact call sign: xxx > > Public contact address: xxxx > > xxxxxx > > Public contact phone: xxxx > > Public contact fax: none > > Public contact email: xxxx > > Chairman name: xxxx > > Chairman call sign: xxxx > > Chairman address: xxxx > > xxxx > > Chairman phone (day): xxx > > Chairman phone (eve): xxx > > Chairman email: xxxx > > Funds available: $100.00 > > Funding source(s): xxxx > > Anticipated attendance: 50 > > Profit disposition: xxxx > > Form submitter name: xxx > > Form submitter call sign: xxxx > > Form submitter email: xxxx > > Date/Time submitted: 12-Mar-2005 1343Z > > > ===== > e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ > Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444 > > >

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[arrl-odv:11938] Re: Minimum Hamfest
by dick＠pobox.com 13 Mar '05

13 Mar '05

13 MAR, 2005 - 1745 CST Hello Tom... In my four years as a director, I have turned down three ARRL hamfest approval applications. 1. The first one was for an ATV dinner at a restaurant that would last about two hours. I turned it down and got an unhappy reply that my predecessor "always approved it" so they could have some free ARRL merchandise prizes to give away to the 30 or so attendees. 2. I did not approve ARRL sanctioning for an antique radio swap meet because several hams who are also antique radio collectors told me this event said has nothing to do with amateur radio and they charged fees to attend their antique radio collecting/restoration forums unless you were a dues-paying member of the association. 3. And I also turned down a tail-gate party for about 40-50 projected attendees. That's an average of less than one a year. As a general rule of thumb, I question hamfest approval applications that have a projected attendance of 200 or less or ones - I know from experience - that routinely draw in this range. After four years, I think I'm seeing fewer of these applications because they know what my answer will be. BTW, my personal hamfest appearance requirements are based on a higher attendance number of 400 to 600 factored with the distance to be traveled. A couple of times I have been able to combine an appearance with personal travel and I have relaxed this requirement. This rule of thumb may not be practical in sparsely populated states, or portions thereof. 73 - Dick, W9GIG

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[arrl-odv:11937] minimum hamfest?
by Tom Frenaye 13 Mar '05

13 Mar '05

Over the past several years I've seen some conventions and hamfests shrink in size and duration. (The NE Div convention has actually expanded...) A few weeks ago I went to the VT State Convention where they had more than 400 people (down from 600 ten years ago but stable the last few years) - but it opened at 8am and was supposed to end at 1pm, but most vendors began to pack up around noon and it was deserted by 1pm. (They also had a bunch of forums and had a table that helped to sell ARRL publications.) In the last couple of years I've started to see even shorter events - 3-hour auctions, afternoon/evening tailgate sales, etc. I just received the request below and it has stretched things even further - just 90 minutes. I'm inclined to not approve this (see below) as an ARRL hamfest. But, I'm wondering what the rest of you do when you get requests for very short events (assuming you do). When designated as an ARRL hamfest, we say their event will "receive special benefits such as free prizes, handouts, and other support." For "average" hamfests, I think our support is described in the Convention and Hamfest Planner: (http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/hamfests/convhf.pdf) "Headquarters will provide editorial support in QST for the event, will provide for advertising in QST at rates below commercial rates, and will on request provide publications to be used as awards or prizes." I'm thinking that anything less than a half day shouldn't be considered. In this case, I don't know if they want PR in the hamfest database (too late for QST I think) or the publications (exactly what do we provide these days?). -- Tom > ARRL Division: New England > Event Type: Regular Hamfest > Event Name: xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx Tailgate Party > Event Date: xxxxxx, 2005 > Event Time: 1830 to 2000 local > Event City: xxxxxxx > Event State: xxx > Event Sponsor(s): xxxxxxx > Event Facility: xxxxxxx; > Event Facility Address: xxxxx > Directions to Event: xxxxx >Special Features of Event: Sellers $5.00 Buyers free > Exams being given: NO Exams > Talk-In Freq: xxxxx > Advance admission fee: 0 > At-door admission fee: 0 > Table fee: 5.00 > Event Web URL: xxxx > Public contact name: xxx > Public contact call sign: xxx > Public contact address: xxxx > xxxxxx > Public contact phone: xxxx > Public contact fax: none > Public contact email: xxxx > Chairman name: xxxx > Chairman call sign: xxxx > Chairman address: xxxx > xxxx > Chairman phone (day): xxx > Chairman phone (eve): xxx > Chairman email: xxxx > Funds available: $100.00 > Funding source(s): xxxx > Anticipated attendance: 50 > Profit disposition: xxxx > Form submitter name: xxx > Form submitter call sign: xxxx > Form submitter email: xxxx > Date/Time submitted: 12-Mar-2005 1343Z ===== e-mail: k1ki(a)arrl.org ARRL New England Division Director http://www.arrl.org/ Tom Frenaye, K1KI, P O Box J, West Suffield CT 06093 Phone: 860-668-5444

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[arrl-odv:11936] Another Bad FCC Ruling - TV Broadcast Flag
by dick＠pobox.com 12 Mar '05

12 Mar '05

12 MAR, 2005 - 1410 CST My son, Mike, who follows these issues, sent me a URL where I found an article - written in plain English - that explains what is going to happen to the public's ability to make video recordings of HDTV broadcasts after July 1st. Depending on the level of TV technology you are currently using, you may not be immediately affected. But you will be hampered in the future when HDTV becomes commonplace. After you read this article, you might want to make a complaint to your federal representatives. Complaining to the FCC won't do any good. 73 - Dick, W9GIG

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