July 2008 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:16911] Re: RE: Red Cross follow-up story posted
by n3llr＠earthlink.net 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

Dave, To be completely fair to our members, I believe we owe it to them to put it in QST and in the ARES e-newsletter. It is important that they all have a chance to know there are still issues being worked on. - Bill N3LLR -----Original Message----- From: "Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ" <dsumner(a)arrl.org> Subj: [arrl-odv:16910] Re:RE: Red Cross follow-up story posted Date: Thu Jul 3, 2008 11:09 am Size: 4K To: "arrl-odv" <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Tnx Bill. Dave Patton is taking care of getting it out to SMs. The next available issue of QST is September, which seems a long way away! Dave -----Original Message----- From: n3llr(a)earthlink.net [mailto:n3llr@earthlink.net] Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 11:03 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:16909] Re: Red Cross follow-up story posted Dave, Good update. I hope this will also be sent out to the SM reflector, ARES E-newsletter and in QST so that all of our members will have access to the update. Best wishes for a safe and happy July 4th. - Bill N3LLR -----Original Message----- From: "Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ" <dsumner(a)arrl.org> Subj: [arrl-odv:16907] Red Cross follow-up story posted Date: Thu Jul 3, 2008 10:41 am Size: 5K To: "arrl-odv" <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Red Cross follow-up story posted The follow-up story on the Red Cross that Joel spoke of in his message on Tuesday will be posted momentarily and will be in this week's ARRL Letter. See text, below. Dave K1ZZ ARRL Tells Red Cross of Remaining Background Check Policy Concerns ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has written to Armond T. Mascelli, Vice President for Domestic Disaster response for the American Red Cross (ARC), to identify the ARRL's remaining concerns over the background check policy for ARC partners. Harrison emphasized that the commencement of negotiation of a replacement Statement of Understanding (SOU) between the two organizations should not be further delayed while these concerns are resolved, and that he looked forward to signing a new SOU once additional edits to the background check Disclosure Form and clarifications of the background check Authorization Form are in place for those radio amateurs who volunteer their service to the Red Cross. Harrison first wrote to Mascelli on November 28, 2007, setting out the ARRL's concerns with the background check procedures recently implemented by the ARC. ARC now requires a background check for amateur radio volunteers seeking to support a Red Cross disaster relief response for more than a seven day period. In the ARRL's view, amateur radio volunteers were being asked to consent to a more intrusive background check than was necessary or appropriate. Mascelli's reply on May 8, 2008, addressed some of the ARRL's concerns, and Harrison's latest letter to the ARC - sent on June 30, 2008 - recognizes considerable improvement in the forms related to the background check procedures that are linked via the ARC's Web site. However, Harrison also states that analysis of the forms has revealed two continuing problems: The Authorization for Background Investigation consent form still contains "some highly equivocal and broad language which, because of its ambiguity, will inevitably discourage substantial numbers of radio amateurs from participating in the background check process." This form was not included with Mascelli's reply and was not seen by the ARRL until later. The "Disclosure Regarding Background Investigation" can still be construed as overly broad, although this can be corrected by fairly simple edits. Harrison told Mascelli, "We do not want the implementation of these additional changes to further delay the negotiation of the terms of a replacement SOU. A new SOU is, in my view, a critical and urgent matter. Because the old SOU expired on September 16, 2007, the vacuum thereafter has served neither ARRL nor ARC well." ARRL and ARC staff are ready to work on a draft replacement SOU, the text of which will be reviewed by the ARRL's Programs and Services Committee and approved by either the Executive Committee or the Board prior to completion. Harrison concluded, "We look forward to continuing to provide seamless disaster response communications by Amateur Radio and to enhancing and expanding ARRL's proud partnership with the American Red Cross. I look forward to meeting with you and executing the new SOU once additional edits to the Disclosure Form, and adequate clarifications are included in the Authorization Form that appears on your web site for partner organizations are made, and when the new SOU terms are agreed upon."

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[arrl-odv:16910] Re:RE: Red Cross follow-up story posted
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

Tnx Bill. Dave Patton is taking care of getting it out to SMs. The next available issue of QST is September, which seems a long way away! Dave -----Original Message----- From: n3llr(a)earthlink.net [mailto:n3llr@earthlink.net] Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 11:03 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:16909] Re: Red Cross follow-up story posted Dave, Good update. I hope this will also be sent out to the SM reflector, ARES E-newsletter and in QST so that all of our members will have access to the update. Best wishes for a safe and happy July 4th. - Bill N3LLR -----Original Message----- From: "Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ" <dsumner(a)arrl.org> Subj: [arrl-odv:16907] Red Cross follow-up story posted Date: Thu Jul 3, 2008 10:41 am Size: 5K To: "arrl-odv" <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Red Cross follow-up story posted The follow-up story on the Red Cross that Joel spoke of in his message on Tuesday will be posted momentarily and will be in this week's ARRL Letter. See text, below. Dave K1ZZ ARRL Tells Red Cross of Remaining Background Check Policy Concerns ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has written to Armond T. Mascelli, Vice President for Domestic Disaster response for the American Red Cross (ARC), to identify the ARRL's remaining concerns over the background check policy for ARC partners. Harrison emphasized that the commencement of negotiation of a replacement Statement of Understanding (SOU) between the two organizations should not be further delayed while these concerns are resolved, and that he looked forward to signing a new SOU once additional edits to the background check Disclosure Form and clarifications of the background check Authorization Form are in place for those radio amateurs who volunteer their service to the Red Cross. Harrison first wrote to Mascelli on November 28, 2007, setting out the ARRL's concerns with the background check procedures recently implemented by the ARC. ARC now requires a background check for amateur radio volunteers seeking to support a Red Cross disaster relief response for more than a seven day period. In the ARRL's view, amateur radio volunteers were being asked to consent to a more intrusive background check than was necessary or appropriate. Mascelli's reply on May 8, 2008, addressed some of the ARRL's concerns, and Harrison's latest letter to the ARC - sent on June 30, 2008 - recognizes considerable improvement in the forms related to the background check procedures that are linked via the ARC's Web site. However, Harrison also states that analysis of the forms has revealed two continuing problems: The Authorization for Background Investigation consent form still contains "some highly equivocal and broad language which, because of its ambiguity, will inevitably discourage substantial numbers of radio amateurs from participating in the background check process." This form was not included with Mascelli's reply and was not seen by the ARRL until later. The "Disclosure Regarding Background Investigation" can still be construed as overly broad, although this can be corrected by fairly simple edits. Harrison told Mascelli, "We do not want the implementation of these additional changes to further delay the negotiation of the terms of a replacement SOU. A new SOU is, in my view, a critical and urgent matter. Because the old SOU expired on September 16, 2007, the vacuum thereafter has served neither ARRL nor ARC well." ARRL and ARC staff are ready to work on a draft replacement SOU, the text of which will be reviewed by the ARRL's Programs and Services Committee and approved by either the Executive Committee or the Board prior to completion. Harrison concluded, "We look forward to continuing to provide seamless disaster response communications by Amateur Radio and to enhancing and expanding ARRL's proud partnership with the American Red Cross. I look forward to meeting with you and executing the new SOU once additional edits to the Disclosure Form, and adequate clarifications are included in the Authorization Form that appears on your web site for partner organizations are made, and when the new SOU terms are agreed upon."

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[arrl-odv:16909] Re: Red Cross follow-up story posted
by n3llr＠earthlink.net 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

Dave, Good update. I hope this will also be sent out to the SM reflector, ARES E-newsletter and in QST so that all of our members will have access to the update. Best wishes for a safe and happy July 4th. - Bill N3LLR -----Original Message----- From: "Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ" <dsumner(a)arrl.org> Subj: [arrl-odv:16907] Red Cross follow-up story posted Date: Thu Jul 3, 2008 10:41 am Size: 5K To: "arrl-odv" <arrl-odv(a)reflector.arrl.org> Red Cross follow-up story posted The follow-up story on the Red Cross that Joel spoke of in his message on Tuesday will be posted momentarily and will be in this weeks ARRL Letter. See text, below. Dave K1ZZ ARRL Tells Red Cross of Remaining Background Check Policy Concerns ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has written to Armond T. Mascelli, Vice President for Domestic Disaster response for the American Red Cross (ARC), to identify the ARRLs remaining concerns over the background check policy for ARC partners. Harrison emphasized that the commencement of negotiation of a replacement Statement of Understanding (SOU) between the two organizations should not be further delayed while these concerns are resolved, and that he looked forward to signing a new SOU once additional edits to the background check Disclosure Form and clarifications of the background check Authorization Form are in place for those radio amateurs who volunteer their service to the Red Cross. Harrison first wrote to Mascelli on November 28, 2007, setting out the ARRLs concerns with the background check procedures recently implemented by the ARC. ARC now requires a background check for amateur radio volunteers seeking to support a Red Cross disaster relief response for more than a seven day period. In the ARRLs view, amateur radio volunteers were being asked to consent to a more intrusive background check than was necessary or appropriate. Mascellis reply on May 8, 2008, addressed some of the ARRLs concerns, and Harrisons latest letter to the ARC sent on June 30, 2008 recognizes considerable improvement in the forms related to the background check procedures that are linked via the ARCs Web site. However, Harrison also states that analysis of the forms has revealed two continuing problems: The Authorization for Background Investigation consent form still contains some highly equivocal and broad language which, because of its ambiguity, will inevitably discourage substantial numbers of radio amateurs from participating in the background check process. This form was not included with Mascellis reply and was not seen by the ARRL until later. The Disclosure Regarding Background Investigation can still be construed as overly broad, although this can be corrected by fairly simple edits. Harrison told Mascelli, We do not want the implementation of these additional changes to further delay the negotiation of the terms of a replacement SOU. A new SOU is, in my view, a critical and urgent matter. Because the old SOU expired on September 16, 2007, the vacuum thereafter has served neither ARRL nor ARC well. ARRL and ARC staff are ready to work on a draft replacement SOU, the text of which will be reviewed by the ARRLs Programs and Services Committee and approved by either the Executive Committee or the Board prior to completion. Harrison concluded, We look forward to continuing to provide seamless disaster response communications by Amateur Radio and to enhancing and expanding ARRLs proud partnership with the American Red Cross. I look forward to meeting with you and executing the new SOU once additional edits to the Disclosure Form, and adequate clarifications are included in the Authorization Form that appears on your web site for partner organizations are made, and when the new SOU terms are agreed upon.

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RE: Board Reports
by Joel Harrison 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

Monday July 14 is the deadline, not the 16th. My error for not consulting a calendar first!!! Again, the deadline is Monday, July 14. Joel _____ From: Joel Harrison [mailto:w5zn@arrl.org] Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 8:38 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: Board Reports A reminder that if you are responsible for submitting a report to the board they are due no later than Monday, July 16, 2008. Those required to submit reports are: ALL officers and ALL committee chairpersons, both ad-hoc and standing. In the past, two people that fall into this category have thought this didn't apply to them..it does! So, if you fall into one of the above categories, please be responsible and provide your report to the Board of Directors by the requested deadline so everyone will have an opportunity to review the material PRIOR to arriving in Hartford. Thank you for your cooperation. 73 Joel W5ZN

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[arrl-odv:16907] Red Cross follow-up story posted
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

The follow-up story on the Red Cross that Joel spoke of in his message on Tuesday will be posted momentarily and will be in this week's ARRL Letter. See text, below. Dave K1ZZ ARRL Tells Red Cross of Remaining Background Check Policy Concerns ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has written to Armond T. Mascelli, Vice President for Domestic Disaster response for the American Red Cross (ARC), to identify the ARRL's remaining concerns over the background check policy for ARC partners. Harrison emphasized that the commencement of negotiation of a replacement Statement of Understanding (SOU) between the two organizations should not be further delayed while these concerns are resolved, and that he looked forward to signing a new SOU once additional edits to the background check Disclosure Form and clarifications of the background check Authorization Form are in place for those radio amateurs who volunteer their service to the Red Cross. Harrison first wrote to Mascelli on November 28, 2007, setting out the ARRL's concerns with the background check procedures recently implemented by the ARC. ARC now requires a background check for amateur radio volunteers seeking to support a Red Cross disaster relief response for more than a seven day period. In the ARRL's view, amateur radio volunteers were being asked to consent to a more intrusive background check than was necessary or appropriate. Mascelli's reply on May 8, 2008, addressed some of the ARRL's concerns, and Harrison's latest letter to the ARC - sent on June 30, 2008 - recognizes considerable improvement in the forms related to the background check procedures that are linked via the ARC's Web site. However, Harrison also states that analysis of the forms has revealed two continuing problems: * The Authorization for Background Investigation consent form still contains "some highly equivocal and broad language which, because of its ambiguity, will inevitably discourage substantial numbers of radio amateurs from participating in the background check process." This form was not included with Mascelli's reply and was not seen by the ARRL until later. * The "Disclosure Regarding Background Investigation" can still be construed as overly broad, although this can be corrected by fairly simple edits. Harrison told Mascelli, "We do not want the implementation of these additional changes to further delay the negotiation of the terms of a replacement SOU. A new SOU is, in my view, a critical and urgent matter. Because the old SOU expired on September 16, 2007, the vacuum thereafter has served neither ARRL nor ARC well." ARRL and ARC staff are ready to work on a draft replacement SOU, the text of which will be reviewed by the ARRL's Programs and Services Committee and approved by either the Executive Committee or the Board prior to completion. Harrison concluded, "We look forward to continuing to provide seamless disaster response communications by Amateur Radio and to enhancing and expanding ARRL's proud partnership with the American Red Cross. I look forward to meeting with you and executing the new SOU once additional edits to the Disclosure Form, and adequate clarifications are included in the Authorization Form that appears on your web site for partner organizations are made, and when the new SOU terms are agreed upon."

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Board Reports
by Joel Harrison 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

A reminder that if you are responsible for submitting a report to the board they are due no later than Monday, July 16, 2008. Those required to submit reports are: ALL officers and ALL committee chairpersons, both ad-hoc and standing. In the past, two people that fall into this category have thought this didn't apply to them..it does! So, if you fall into one of the above categories, please be responsible and provide your report to the Board of Directors by the requested deadline so everyone will have an opportunity to review the material PRIOR to arriving in Hartford. Thank you for your cooperation. 73 Joel W5ZN

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[arrl-odv:16905] RE: [arrl-odv:16904] Standing Order 63 - Volunteers - Chapter 3, W6RR and DXCC
by Sumner, Dave, K1ZZ 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

I knew Gordon reasonably well, visited his home in 1980 when Rush Drake, W7RM lived next door to him on Foul Weather Bluff, and never heard a word about this offer, either from him or anyone else. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen; in that time frame I had no responsibility for or connection with DXCC. But I had not heard this story prior to today. My daughter Deryn is a USC graduate. I’m very proud of the ARRL, but the League is not in USC’s league. Dave K1ZZ From: Richard J. Norton [mailto:richardjnorton@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 9:26 AM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:16904] Standing Order 63 - Volunteers - Chapter 3, W6RR and DXCC Some years ago, Gordon S. Marshall, W6RR, was involved running his electronic parts distribution company, Marshall Industries. The company was eventually sold to Avnet, and Gordon is retired today. Gordon was an active contester and DXer, but is not presently active in Amateur Radio. He apparently volunteered to have some of his computer programmers automate DXCC. His offer was turned down by the ARRL. Gordon subsequently gave the University of Southern California something like $35 million, and their business school was then named after him. See http://www.marshall.usc.edu/ I don't know the details of the DXCC offer. I don't know what level of the League received the offer. I don't know if higher levels of ARRL management were aware of the offer or not. I don't know what would have been produced had the League accepted the offer. Given my knowledge of Gordon, and his penchant for doing things well, I suspect it would have been a success. This offer was certainly made well before the league took on a significant fund raising effort. It's certainly a case of 20-20 hindsight now, but I guess it might have been a good idea for the League to have become involved with Gordon Marshall. 73, Dick, N6AA

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[arrl-odv:16904] Standing Order 63 - Volunteers - Chapter 3, W6RR and DXCC
by Richard J. Norton 03 Jul '08

03 Jul '08

Some years ago, Gordon S. Marshall, W6RR, was involved running his electronic parts distribution company, Marshall Industries. The company was eventually sold to Avnet, and Gordon is retired today. Gordon was an active contester and DXer, but is not presently active in Amateur Radio. He apparently volunteered to have some of his computer programmers automate DXCC. His offer was turned down by the ARRL. Gordon subsequently gave the University of Southern California something like $35 million, and their business school was then named after him. See http://www.marshall.usc.edu/ I don't know the details of the DXCC offer. I don't know what level of the League received the offer. I don't know if higher levels of ARRL management were aware of the offer or not. I don't know what would have been produced had the League accepted the offer. Given my knowledge of Gordon, and his penchant for doing things well, I suspect it would have been a success. This offer was certainly made well before the league took on a significant fund raising effort. It's certainly a case of 20-20 hindsight now, but I guess it might have been a good idea for the League to have become involved with Gordon Marshall. 73, Dick, N6AA

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[arrl-odv:16902] Radio Shack Power Supply Recall
by dick＠pobox.com 02 Jul '08

02 Jul '08

2 JUL, 2008 - 1636 CDT Since a lot of hams use Radio Shack power supplies, I think this recall notice should be widely circulated within the amateur radio community. This notice forwarded courtesy of the LaCrosse (WI) Hams Reflector. - Dick, W9GIG ******************************************************** U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 2, 2008 Release #08-319 Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 843-7422 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 RadioShack Recalls Power Supplies Due to Electrocution and Fire Hazards WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: 13.8V DC Power Supplies Units: About 160,000 Importer: RadioShack Corp., of Fort Worth, Texas Hazard: The recalled power supplies are wired incorrectly, posing electrocution and fire hazards. Incidents/Injuries: None reported. Description: The recall involves RadioShack 13.8V DC Power Supplies, catalog numbers 22-507 and 22-508 with date codes from 08A04 through 01A08. Date code format is MMAYY where MM is the month and YY is the year. The catalog number and date code are located on the back of the power supply. Power Supplies with a green dot on the product and the product's packaging have already been repaired and are not included in the recall. Sold at: RadioShack stores nationwide from October 2004 through January 2008 for between $50 and $85. Manufactured in: China Remedy: Consumers should unplug the recalled power supply immediately and take it to any RadioShack store for a free repair. Registered owners of the recalled power supplies will be mailed a notice. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact RadioShack at 800-843-7422 anytime, or visit the firm's website at: http://www.radioshack.com/recall To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtm108/08319.html ********************************************************

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RE: [arrl-odv:16900] SO 19 - Elimination of US Mail Copies of Board Meeting Announcements
by K8JE 02 Jul '08

02 Jul '08

I must say I agree with Dick regarding USPS-mailed notices of Board meetings. Admittedly, the change to all-e-mail notices (when this is possible) would not save a bunch of bucks, it will save on upwards to $100/year on unnecessary postage and stationery expenditures. The savings in personnel effort depend largely on the degree of automation of the mailing process, but there certainly would be some saving in time investment. If my view of the issue is off-base, I will appreciate a discussion to provide me with correct alternate views. Jim Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director ARRL Great Lakes Division 5065 Bethany Rd. Mason, OH 45040 E-mail: <mailto:k8je@arrl.org> k8je(a)arrl.org; Tel.: 513-459-0142 ARRL - The Reason Amateur Radio Is! Members - The Reason ARRL Is! _____ From: Richard J. Norton [mailto:richardjnorton@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 4:56 PM To: arrl-odv Subject: [arrl-odv:16900] SO 19 - Elimination of US Mail Copies of Board Meeting Announcements Recently the Board was twice advised about the upcoming July meeting by E-mail. Shortly after each E-mail, we received copies of the same announcements which were sent through the US Mail. I was, and remain, uncertain about the value of sending duplicate copies by US Mail. In an attempt to annually direct a couple hundred dollars of our member's assets to more productive use, I started to write an E-mail to ODV suggesting that we change standing order 19 to eliminate the "by mail." It appears that we have already done this! I checked on the arrl.org site, and noticed that Standing Order 19 had been revised as of January 2005. I then looked at my copy of the January 2005 Board workbook, and found the text of the communique from the EC which proposed the revisions. Surprisingly enough the words "by letter" were specifically lined out. I can't imagine that the Board's intent was anything other than the elimination of the postal letters, and notification by E-mail. At least that was my intent. The texts are at the end of this message. Do any of you still support sending out the US Mail letters? If not, do any of you have any ideas about what we need to do to stop them? 73, Dick Norton, N6AA Present form of SO 19, July 2008: 19) The Secretary is directed to inform all Directors at least two weeks before the formal call for the Board meeting, that such call will be made, giving the date, so that Directors have sufficient time to file notice to changes in Articles of Association and By-Laws before the formal meeting notice is mailed. [Amended January 2005] Form of SO 19 before January 2005: 19) The Secretary is directed to inform all Directors by letter at least two weeks before the formal call for the Board meeting, that such call will be made, giving the date, so that Directors have sufficient time to file notice to changes in Articles of Association and By-Laws before the formal meeting notice is mailed. [Amended January 2005]

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