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Vol. 32, No. 51
December 23, 2009 -- Covers the period December 13-19.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Annual Board Meeting: January 15-16, 2010 @ 9:00am in Windsor, CT
Administration &Finance Committee: January 14, 2010 @ 8:30am - ARRL HQ
Programs & Services Committee: January 14, 2010 @ 8:30am - ARRL HQ
Technical Relations
Reported by Brennan Price, N4QX
Both Brennan Price and Jon Siverling were active last week in meetings
of the Informal Working Groups of the FCC's WRC-12 Advisory Committee.
Jon effectively presented ARRL's view that a proposal by NTIA to utilize
the 495-505 kHz segment for future high speed digital data uses was
inconsistent with a prior WAC action supporting a secondary amateur
allocation in this segment. After the December 17 meetings, it was
suggested by NTIA that there was room for compromise, and that
discussions could commence in the new year.
Brennan Price was elected to the Board of Directors of the United States
ITU Association, maintaining ARRL representation on the Board begun and
maintained until now by CTO Paul Rinaldo.
Development
Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH
The Spectrum Defense Fund continues to generate revenue but lacks the
serious traction needed to hit its goal before December 31. So far the
2009 Defense revenues total $231,462 or 74.5% of the $310,625 annual
goal.
The Diamond Club has reached 94% of its 2009 target and stands at
approximately $235,900 net of membership dues.
Overall Development year-to-date revenues from all sources total
$858,966 or nearly 92% of the original 2009 goal of $936,425.
Production/Editorial
Reported by S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA
The February 2010 issue of QST was released to the printer December 17.
Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed The ARRL Letter for December 17,
2009. She also voiced and produced ARRL Audio News for December 17.
The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News will not be produced December 24 and
December 31.
Lab
Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI
RFI
Mike Gruber reports that he wrote two letters to manufactures concerning
RFI issues. The letters were sent a letter by post mail to Toyota and
Verizon. A third manufacturer, AT&T was contacted by email. ARRL
Letters involving power line noise were sent to SMUD, ComEd, and
CenterPoint.
Mike reports that he discussed some upcoming investigatory work in
Illinois with Brian Cramer, K9RFI. There are a number of power line
noise cases involving ComEd. Brian will be looking at a few in January.
Mike completed and turned in rewritten and corrected material for the
second printing of the RFI Book. Two chapters had to be rewritten as a
result of the FCC mandated changeover to DTV.
Mike compiled a list of open FCC cases requiring action for Laura Smith.
Missing Web content was added to a number of RFI pages.
Product Review Testing
Bob Allison started testing on a very large late model HF/6M
transceiver. This particular radio has considerably more controls and
functions than average. Testing is taking a bit longer than average due
to the radio's complexity.
The FM mobile radios and two Handie Talkies previously tested were
passed on to reviewers.
A large, expensive Linear Amplifier was received in the Lab. It will be
tested when the equipment comes back from calibration.
Calibration time for our test equipment is near. The Lab has received
favorable quotes from ESSCO Laboratories for critical test equipment.
Calibration is re-scheduled for the first half of January to not
conflict with major testing this year
A used 10-dB step attenuator and a used HF power sensor purchased by the
Lab were tested to be good. These will be sent out for calibration as
well.
Sales and Marketing
Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
Amy Hurtado and Deb Jahnke participated in a quarterly teleconference
with staff from RR Donnelley (QST printer). Topics included services
utilized by ARRL, and a handful of new products and services offered by
the printer: premedia technology, the paper market and trends, co-mail
fulfillment operations and facility upgrades. These quarterly meetings
help fulfill a portion of the new contract terms, and are intended to
keep our organization up to date on market trends, vendor options, and
the quality of customer care we receive.
Bob Inderbitzen reports that Dayton Hamvention has accepted ARRL's
proposal to exhibit at the 2010 event, May 14-16. The terms are largely
the same as recent years. ARRL will again occupy a large exhibit area in
the Ballarena Hall-where we have organized ARRL EXPO annually since
2005. The theme of Hamvention 2010 is "Amateur Radio Clubs Worldwide:
The Lifeline." The Hamvention liaison to ARRL is Jim Nies, WX8F
(2006-08 Chair). The new Hamvention Chair is ARRL member Lee
Boeckerman, W8LFB. Gary DesCombs, N8EMO (2004-05 Chair) is the new
Inside Exhibits Chair. Deb Jahnke reported that Hamvention will have
their first 2010 ad in February QST. Gail Iannone has already made
arrangements for ARRL to return to Marriott Fairfield Inn on Miller Lane
in Dayton. Lastly, we learned that Hamvention has just finalized a 3
year contract with the Hara Complex, securing the facility for
Hamvention 2010, 2011, and 2012.
Bob is pursuing a software developer for a PC-based practice exam/study
program.
On a trial basis, we have started to fulfill orders for publication
bundles being promoted by one of our suppliers. The bundles include the
vendor's product, plus a selection of ARRL publications, and (in one of
the bundles) ARRL membership. The vendor takes direct orders, and
RELAYS the orders to ARRL for fulfillment. Now that's a new take on
American Radio RELAY League.
Product descriptions are being updated and edited on the web store in
advance of the new web site and ecommerce infrastructure planned for
early next year.
ARRL's General and Extra Q&A study guides are being added to Amazon's
Kindle Digital Platform. Since its introduction around the Thanksgiving
holiday, 22 e-book downloads of the Tech Q&A book have been sold via
Amazon.
An invitation was distributed to Oklahoma and Texas radio clubs to
participate in a membership recruitment drive. The drive, suggested by
Director Woolweaver, involves radio clubs throughout the West Gulf
Division. The top 10 clubs recruiting the highest percentage of new
members will be recognized at Ham-Com in Plano, Texas in June.
During the last week, the warehouse crew fulfilled a whopping 1,568
packages for publication and product orders. The weekly package counts
are running ahead of last year's figures.
Now Shipping: The ARRL Antenna Designer's Notebook. Coming soon: 2009
ARRL Periodicals on CD-ROM. Complimentary copies of both items will ship
to ARRL officials in early January.
ARRL Conventions
Date Name Division City State ARRL HQ Rep.
Jan 10 NLI Section (Ham Radio University) HU Bethpage
NY Steve Ford
Jan 29-30 Delta Division DL Jackson MS
Feb 6 South Carolina State RK Ladson SC
Feb 6 Virginia State RK Richmond VA
Feb 12-14 N. Florida Section SE Orlando FL
Feb 27 Vermont State NE Colchester VT
Membership & Volunteer Programs
Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N
Field Organization/Public Service Team
Chuck Skolaut compiled the monthly Official Observer summary and sent
that to Official Observers, Official Observer Coordinators and Section
Managers. One radio amateur from West Virginia has completed
certification to become an OO. The monthly ARRL Monitoring
System/Intruder Watch report was also compiled and forwarded to the IARU
Region 2 Coordinator. The FCC is continuing to follow up on the report
of business use of a repeater. Another report of someone bootlegging
the call sign, NL7R, was heard in South Texas. Also, volunteer monitors
were asked to listen for a "bubble jammer" on 14.260 MHz while
unidentified signals on 1.803 MHz and 3.865 MHz are being investigated.
There is good news to report, too. A resolution was reached on a
jamming situation on 3.905 MHz.
Leona Adams has been coordinating work and making preparations for the
Virginia Section Manager election. The two candidates (Glen Sage,
W4GHS, and incumbent Carl Clements, W4CAC) have submitted their
statements that will accompany the ballots. This is the only Section
Manager election scheduled for this winter. Many Section Managers have
also been sending in their 2009 section-related expense reports and
receipts now that the end of the year is getting close.
Sincerely Compiled by,
Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ
Assistant to the CEO
Staff Absentee List
All Staff 12/25 Holiday
All Staff 1/1 Holiday
Margie Bourgoin 1/1-1/11 Vacation
Steve Capodicasa 12/28 Vacation
Jackie Cornell 12/24 Vacation
Paul Cuppini 12/24 Vacation
Steve Ford 12/22-12/31 Vacation
Scott Gee 12/23-12/24 Vacation
`` 12/31 Vacation
`` 1/4-1/5 Vacation
Katie Glass 12/23-12/31 Vacation
Joel Hallas 12/24 Vacation
Ed Hare 1/5-1/9 PAVE-PAWS meetings Beale AFB, CA
Penny Harts 12/24-12/31 Vacation
Mary Hobart 12/24 Vacation
Dan Henderson 12/21-1/4 Vacation
`` 1/5-1/11 Beale AFB - PAVE PAWS
project
`` 3/5-3/7 S. Texas Section
Convention/Greater Houston Hamfest
Amy Hurtado 12/24-12/29 Vacation
Gail Iannone 12/21-12/31 Vacation
Khrystyne Keane 12/31 Vacation
Linda Kleinschmidt 12/29 Vacation
Lisa Kustosik 12/23 Vacation
Maryann Macdonald 12/28-12/31 Vacation
Bill Moore 12/28-1/6 Vacation
Diane Petrilli 12/21-12/28 Vacation
`` 12/31 Vacation
AnnMarie Pinto 12/24 Vacation
Allen Pitts 12/24-12/31 Vacation
Steve Sant Andrea 12/24-12/31 Vacation
Dave Sumner 12/24 Vacation
`` 12/30-12/31 Vacation
Sharon Taratula 12/24 Vacation
Perry Williams 12/23-12/28 Vacation
