September 2005 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:13056] Ooops!
by Shelley, Barry, N1VXY 13 Sep '05

13 Sep '05

The final sentence of the first paragraph in my last note should read.... This adjustment is to recognize the increased cost of gasoline in the near term. Sorry, my mouse finger got ahead of my brain. 73, Barry, N1VXY

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[arrl-odv:13055] New Federal Mileage Rate
by Shelley, Barry, N1VXY 13 Sep '05

13 Sep '05

On Sept. 9th, the IRS announced a change to the standard mileage rates for the remaining 4 months of 2005. The new mileage rate is 48.5 cents per mile, an increase of 8 cents from the prior rate of 40.5 cents. The change is retroactive to September 1, 2005. This adjustment is to recognize the The longstanding policy of the ARRL is to reimburse qualified mileage at the rate prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service. Therefore, ARRL volunteers may request reimbursement at a rate of 48.5 cents for the remainder of the year. To help, I've attached a new expense reimbursement form with the mileage adjustment included. Just a note for your information, the new four-month rate for computing deductible medical or moving expenses will be 22 cents a mile, up from 15 cents for the first eight months of 2005. The rate for providing services for charitable organizations is set by statute, not the IRS, and remains at 14 cents a mile. 73, Barry, N1VXY <<2005 Travel Expense Form--Adjusted Mileage Rate.xls>>

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[arrl-odv:13054] Re: Web Search Update and Plan
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 13 Sep '05

13 Sep '05

Yes, that is the plan. Dave ________________________________ From: Brian Mileshosky [mailto:n5zgt@swcp.com] Sent: Mon 9/12/2005 11:11 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:13047] Re: Web Search Update and Plan Dennis - Unless I'm reading something wrong, I think the solution is to use Google. 73, Brian, N5ZGT ________________________________ From: Dennis Bodson [mailto:bodsond@att.net] Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 3:47 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: 'Bloom, Jon, KE3Z' Subject: RE: [arrl-odv:13036] Web Search Update and Plan Harold: Why do we want to reinvent the wheel. Why not use the GOOGLE search engine? What does it cost? Why not go to a possible permanent solution rather than continue to add improvements which may be far inferior to the GOOGLE engine? Dennis ________________________________ From: Kramer, Harold, WJ1B [mailto:wj1b@arrl.org] Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 10:40 AM To: arrl-odv Cc: Bloom, Jon, KE3Z Subject: [arrl-odv:13036] Web Search Update and Plan To: ODV At the July Board meeting, the Board requested some better options for the search functions on the ARRL Web Site. Jon Bloom, Hugh Brower and Tom Hogerty have recommended the option outlined below which we plan to implement by mid-November. Here is the Executive Summary of that report along with the complete document from Jon and his staff. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Providing a robust search capability on a corporate website is a major undertaking, according to several major research organizations. ARRL has in the past used a number of free 'shareware' search tools to provide search capabilities on ARRLWeb. As presently configured these are not well suited to such a large site as ARRL's (11,000+ documents, one million hits per day). Sites with a large number of content pages typically require specialized search tools from commercial vendors. Vendor solutions come as either software which runs on a customer's servers, or as an all-in-one hardware + software package. Because of the overhead that a search engine requires, we recommend that the search function be separated from the physical ARRLWeb server. ARRL Web/Software Development Department has identified the Google Mini "appliance" as the best overall solution to the limitations of the current search tool. Sold by Google, the most popular search engine on the Internet, the Mini will allow the ARRL site to be indexed and searchable in the same manner as the current Google.com site searches the entire Internet. The cost of this appliance is $3,000 to purchase and it will require external web hosting at an approximate cost of $100 per month. We will implement this solution with a target completion date of November 11, 2005. The attached document describes the background and analysis that led us to this conclusion. Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 860 594 0220 www.arrl.org/

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[arrl-odv:13053] Re: GOOGLE?
by John Bellows 13 Sep '05

13 Sep '05

At the risk of starting a fire storm, I thought it was our job to establish the policy (in this case improve the search engine capability of the Web page) and the job of staff to implement it. It seems that our COO and IT folks are doing what we asked in the time frame specified. If our intent was to be more specific as to our expectations we should have included additional detail in the instructions. Oversight of this task rests with A&F. I'm comfortable letting A&F do its job. If I'm sounding a bit irascible, I apologize in advance, it's just that I recall one of my Mom's favorite sayings about "too many cooks." 73, Jay, K0QB -----Original Message----- From: Jim K8JE [mailto:K8JE@arrl.org] Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 9:07 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:13052] Re: GOOGLE? Andy, tnx for the brief education. I honestly had no idea about how Google works. It sounds like a good thought to me, at least on the surface. I've never subscribed to the NIH syndrome, myself, but are there other trade-offs that speak against using Google? Anyone? Jim Weaver, K8JE Director, Great Lakes Division ARRL; http://www.arrl.org/ 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040 Tel.: 513-459-0142; E-mail: k8je(a)arrl.org ARRL: The reason Amateur Radio Is! MEMBERS: The reason ARRL Is! -----Original Message----- From: Andy Oppel [mailto:andy_oppel@earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 6:28 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:13049] Re: GOOGLE? The proposal is not a security risk in any way. It is an appliance (a hardware device) that attaches to the ARRL server to index documents (in a private index that is only available to the ARRL network). The device uses a copy of the Google search engine (stored on that same appliance) to perform searches. Lots of companies the size of the ARRL do the same thing. -- Andy Oppel, N6AJO -----Original Message----- From: Jim K8JE Sent: Sep 12, 2005 3:18 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:13048] GOOGLE? I'm also not in favor of needlessly re-inventing slice bread or something. However, as a relative computer illiterate, would be setting up a potential security issue by allowing Google to search inside files that previously have not been open to public review? Educate me O Guru's. Jim Weaver, K8JE Director, Great Lakes Division ARRL; http://www.arrl.org/ 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040 Tel.: 513-459-0142; E-mail: k8je(a)arrl.org ARRL: The reason Amateur Radio Is! MEMBERS: The reason ARRL Is!

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[arrl-odv:13052] Re: GOOGLE?
by Jim K8JE 13 Sep '05

13 Sep '05

Andy, tnx for the brief education. I honestly had no idea about how Google works. It sounds like a good thought to me, at least on the surface. I've never subscribed to the NIH syndrome, myself, but are there other trade-offs that speak against using Google? Anyone? Jim Weaver, K8JE Director, Great Lakes Division ARRL; http://www.arrl.org/ 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040 Tel.: 513-459-0142; E-mail: k8je(a)arrl.org ARRL: The reason Amateur Radio Is! MEMBERS: The reason ARRL Is! -----Original Message----- From: Andy Oppel [mailto:andy_oppel@earthlink.net] Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 6:28 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:13049] Re: GOOGLE? The proposal is not a security risk in any way. It is an appliance (a hardware device) that attaches to the ARRL server to index documents (in a private index that is only available to the ARRL network). The device uses a copy of the Google search engine (stored on that same appliance) to perform searches. Lots of companies the size of the ARRL do the same thing. -- Andy Oppel, N6AJO -----Original Message----- From: Jim K8JE Sent: Sep 12, 2005 3:18 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:13048] GOOGLE? I'm also not in favor of needlessly re-inventing slice bread or something. However, as a relative computer illiterate, would be setting up a potential security issue by allowing Google to search inside files that previously have not been open to public review? Educate me O Guru's. Jim Weaver, K8JE Director, Great Lakes Division ARRL; http://www.arrl.org/ 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040 Tel.: 513-459-0142; E-mail: k8je(a)arrl.org ARRL: The reason Amateur Radio Is! MEMBERS: The reason ARRL Is!

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Katrina Service expense reimbursement
by Bob Vallio 12 Sep '05

12 Sep '05

Hi Mary, Thanks for the explanation, and a look at the two documents. At the present funding, there appears to enough for one-thousand and seventy $100.00 grants. More grants will be available if more funds are received. Do we really expect to receive grant requests from that number of volunteers? If we do not, what determination has been made for the disposition of the unspent funds? Thanks, Bob -- W6RGG On 9/12/05, Hobart, Mary K1MMH <mhobart(a)arrl.org> wrote: > > Good afternoon, > We got the official word from Washington this weekend with approval of > the $100,000 grant from CNCS to reimburse some expenses incurred by > volunteer radio operators who have been in the field supporting response and > recovery from Hurrican Katrina. While the grant limits ARRL to modest > awards, it is a clear recognition by CNCS of the value of ham radio when all > else fails. At this point we have $107,000 to disburse and additional > contributions to this Ham Aid Fund may come in and will be added to the > coffers. We are not conducting a full public campaign, since this is the > time of year that we seek contributions for Spectrum Defense....and Katrina > has certainly highlighted the value of our frequencies like never before! > Those who inquire may send a contribution payable to ARRL and earmarked for > Ham Aid. > Rick Lindquist will post a story with the details of the rant and how > these grant awards will be made, but I wanted you to read the procedures and > view the form in advance of that. (See attached) We are trying to keep this > process as simple as possible, and our Finance staff will handle these > disbursements. I explained the process at the SW Division convention this > past weekend and no serious questions arose. I hope that is an indicator > that our procedures and goals are clear. Any questions or comments about the > grant or the process should come to me. > My only regret is that we cannot cover all expenses for all hams who have > given so much....no only in this crisis, but for so many other disasters > over the decades. So those who apply for and receive a per diem expense > reimbursement, approved by their SM or SEC, receive it for themselves and > for so many ham volutneers who have gone before. > This is one small way we - and the federal government - can say thank > you. > 73, > Mary K1MMH > >

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[arrl-odv:13049] Re: GOOGLE?
by Andy Oppel 12 Sep '05

12 Sep '05

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[arrl-odv:13048] GOOGLE?
by Jim K8JE 12 Sep '05

12 Sep '05

I'm also not in favor of needlessly re-inventing slice bread or something. However, as a relative computer illiterate, would be setting up a potential security issue by allowing Google to search inside files that previously have not been open to public review? Educate me O Guru's. Jim Weaver, K8JE Director, Great Lakes Division ARRL; http://www.arrl.org/ 5065 Bethany Rd., Mason, OH 45040 Tel.: 513-459-0142; E-mail: k8je(a)arrl.org ARRL: The reason Amateur Radio Is! MEMBERS: The reason ARRL Is!

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[arrl-odv:13047] Re: Web Search Update and Plan
by Brian Mileshosky 12 Sep '05

12 Sep '05

Dennis - Unless I'm reading something wrong, I think the solution is to use Google. 73, Brian, N5ZGT _____ From: Dennis Bodson [mailto:bodsond@att.net] Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 3:47 PM To: arrl-odv Cc: 'Bloom, Jon, KE3Z' Subject: RE: [arrl-odv:13036] Web Search Update and Plan Harold: Why do we want to reinvent the wheel. Why not use the GOOGLE search engine? What does it cost? Why not go to a possible permanent solution rather than continue to add improvements which may be far inferior to the GOOGLE engine? Dennis _____ From: Kramer, Harold, WJ1B [mailto:wj1b@arrl.org] Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 10:40 AM To: arrl-odv Cc: Bloom, Jon, KE3Z Subject: [arrl-odv:13036] Web Search Update and Plan To: ODV At the July Board meeting, the Board requested some better options for the search functions on the ARRL Web Site. Jon Bloom, Hugh Brower and Tom Hogerty have recommended the option outlined below which we plan to implement by mid-November. Here is the Executive Summary of that report along with the complete document from Jon and his staff. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Providing a robust search capability on a corporate website is a major undertaking, according to several major research organizations. ARRL has in the past used a number of free 'shareware' search tools to provide search capabilities on ARRLWeb. As presently configured these are not well suited to such a large site as ARRL's (11,000+ documents, one million hits per day). Sites with a large number of content pages typically require specialized search tools from commercial vendors. Vendor solutions come as either software which runs on a customer's servers, or as an all-in-one hardware + software package. Because of the overhead that a search engine requires, we recommend that the search function be separated from the physical ARRLWeb server. ARRL Web/Software Development Department has identified the Google Mini "appliance" as the best overall solution to the limitations of the current search tool. Sold by Google, the most popular search engine on the Internet, the Mini will allow the ARRL site to be indexed and searchable in the same manner as the current Google.com site searches the entire Internet. The cost of this appliance is $3,000 to purchase and it will require external web hosting at an approximate cost of $100 per month. We will implement this solution with a target completion date of November 11, 2005. The attached document describes the background and analysis that led us to this conclusion. Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 860 594 0220 www.arrl.org/

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[arrl-odv:13051] Re: FW: Motorola Apology: ARRL Board of Directors
by Gilgal 12 Sep '05

12 Sep '05

Sounds Good !!! Les K4NK ----- Original Message ----- From: Kramer Harold WJ1B To: arrl-odv Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 4:25 PM Subject: [arrl-odv:13043] FW: Motorola Apology: ARRL Board of Directors Per Motorola's request, I am forwarding you this email. Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL - The National Association for Amateur Radio 860 594 0220 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Madsen Jeffrey D.-QA9968 [mailto:Jeffrey.Madsen@motorola.com] Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 3:47 PM To: Kramer, Harold, WJ1B; Pitts, Allen W1AGP Cc: Illman Dick-CHAW03; BUCHWALD GREG-AGB002 Subject: Motorola Apology: ARRL Board of Directors September 12, 2005 Mr. Harold Kramer Chief OperatingOfficer c/o Board of Directors Amateur Radio Relay League 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111-1494 To the ARRL Board of Directors: Motorola has been reading from several hundred amateur radio operators about their disappointment with a comment made in the Sept. 6 edition of the Wall Street Journal. We have already responded to many operators individually. Some operators have accepted it. Others have not. Today, we offer this public apology to the ARRL Board of Directors: Motorola apologizes for the way Jim Screeden's comments appeared in the story. His comments were quoted out of context. Jim was focusing on Motorola's massive public safety recovery effort in the Gulf Coast region. The quoted comments do not represent Motorola's view on amateur radio. Motorola fully recognizes the incredible work that the amateur radio operator community has voluntarily put forth during the Hurricane Katrina response efforts, as well as many past disasters around the globe. We have more than 100 of our own employees who are amateur radios operators. In our going-forward efforts , we will continue to highlight the unique capabilities that public safety communications and amateur radio operators bring to dealing with natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina: -- Public Safety communication solutions are designed and built to be robust and reliable in MOST circumstances. Katrina was so devastating that many of our customers' systems could not withstand the effects. Katrina now ranks as the single largest disaster recovery effort in Motorola's 77-year history. Motorola has more than 300 people working in the impacted areas, has shipped more than 22,000 pieces of equipment, and is working 24/7 to fully restore both public safety radio customers and even non-customers. Jim Screeden is directing much of our activity. We are keeping his efforts focused on Katrina. -- Amateur radio communications benefit us all by having a distributed architecture and frequency agility that enables you to set up faster in the early phases of disaster recovery and can provide flexible and diverse communications. The WSJ story did a wonderful job of depicting that. Motorola believes that the amateur radio spectrum provides valuable space for these important communications. Amateur radio operators have a long history of using our equipment, and our own amateur radio operators within Motorola have contributed many of our technical advances. As demonstrated our cooperation with amateur radio for the Powerline LV test at ARRL headquarters (http://www.arrl.org/pio/press_releases/2005/0523.html) Motorola values its relationship with amateur radio and respects the critical and unique work your community is doing to help with the Katrina recovery efforts. Motorola appreciates the work the amateur radio operator community is voluntarily putting forth during Katrina and the recovery efforts. We hope we can focus together on assisting those who presently need it most ... those impacted by Hurricane Katrina. We are sorry. Sincerely, Jeffrey D. Madsen Director, Communications & Public Affairs Motorola, Inc. Government & Enterprise Mobility Solutions Jeffrey.madsen(a)motorola.com

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