December 2020 - arrl-odv - reflector.arrl.org

[arrl-odv:31502] 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, When All Through The House ...
by John Robert Stratton 24 Dec '20

24 Dec '20

_______________________________________ John Robert Stratton & Mary N5AUS Director, joined by the REAL Director West Gulf Division Office:512-445-6262 Cell:512-426-2028 P.O. Box 2232 Austin, Texas 78768-2232 *_______________________________________***

1 0

[arrl-odv:31498] Ham-Com Last Call
by John Robert Stratton 23 Dec '20

23 Dec '20

Ham-Com was the largest hamfest in the West Gulf Division. This is a permanent closure of the event by the organizers. As an additional note, at present all hamfests of any size in the West Gulf through February have been canceled by the organizers _______________________________________ John Robert Stratton N5AUS Director West Gulf Division Office:512-445-6262 Cell:512-426-2028 P.O. Box 2232 Austin, Texas 78768-2232 *_______________________________________*** -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Ham-Com Last Call Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2020 15:23:52 +0000 From: Ham-Com, Inc <info(a)hamcom.org> Reply-To: Ham-Com, Inc <info(a)hamcom.org> To: n5aus(a)n5aus.com Ham-Com Last Call It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter about the future of Ham-Com. After 41 years, Ham-Com has decided to close its doors in lieu of the restrictions in place for COVID-19 and the rising costs of putting on a show. The decision was not made lightly, but the safety and wellness of our volunteers, vendors, clubs, presenters, and attendees is our paramount concern. We sincerely thank each and every person for their support over the past years. This starts with clubs who have participated in offering forums, transmitter sessions, VE sessions, talk-ins, and many more things through the years. Next, to the commercial and flea market vendors who have helped new hams get their first radio to established hams who are building the ultimate ham shack, we thank you for returning year over year. To the volunteer staff, functional directors, and access control, your dedication and hard work have contributed to the continued success of the show for 41 years. Finally, to our attendees. Without you, there is no show. Over 41 years, we have met a variety of people with one common passion, amateur radio. Ham-Com is proud to contribute to bringing people together to enjoy this passion. We will definitely miss this gathering of the broader community. Our thoughts and best wishes to you and your families and “see you on-the-air”. 73 Bill Nelson President of Ham-Com Inc www.hamcom.org <https://hamcom.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8ba03f5ee0129ad87e5704e69…> This email was sent to n5aus(a)n5aus.com <mailto:n5aus@n5aus.com> /why did I get this?/ <https://hamcom.us19.list-manage.com/about?u=8ba03f5ee0129ad87e5704e69&id=c3…> unsubscribe from this list <https://hamcom.us19.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=8ba03f5ee0129ad87e5704e69…> update subscription preferences <https://hamcom.us19.list-manage.com/profile?u=8ba03f5ee0129ad87e5704e69&id=…> Ham-Com, inc · PO Box 260721 · Plano, TX 75026-0721 · USA Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp <http://www.mailchimp.com/email-referral/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…>

3 2

[arrl-odv:31497] LA Times story on ARISS
by Mark J Tharp 23 Dec '20

23 Dec '20

73.. Mark, HDX https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-12-23/ham-radio-and-astronauts

1 0

[arrl-odv:31493] Dan Marler communication
by Minster, David NA2AA (CEO) 21 Dec '20

21 Dec '20

I know that Dan’s Zoom meetings have been a topic of discussion here on ODV on and off for some time. As all of you are aware, I admire Dan’s initiative in creating this environment to educate our SM’s – in the absence of HQ doing the job it should have been doing in the first place. That said, I am not supportive of the direction that it has taken in breaking off into its own organization which completely stands apart from ARRL. I am not ready to address the SM’s yet, as you will see in my email to Dan below, but I am very interested in taking them through the great work we will be doing with them in 2021, as well as our initiatives with clubs. I will do that through an ARRL sponsored Zoom conference, not one held by a 3rd party. I’m forwarding on this email as I am not sure what the ‘public broadcasting’ of my message or the associated response will be. In fact, for me, it is a test to see how others will behave regarding messaging like this. You have this original from me so that there is no confusion. David From: CEO Mailbox Sent: Monday, December 21, 2020 3:52 PM To: 'Dan/K7REX RATPAC' <ratpacplan(a)gmail.com> Subject: RE: Meeting with Section Managers ??? Hi Dan. Thanks for your interest in having me join your Zoom call! I am currently working on a re-engineering of how we serve the field, especially SM’s and Clubs. I really would not be prepared to get on a Zoom conference with the SM’s for a discussion before then. Also, a number of SM’s have reached out to me about their interests and concerns so that dialog has been ongoing. Once we have built out the new structure of support and services, I will – along with the team here at ARRL HQ – be setting up a Zoom conference with the SM’s to review the path forward. All of our VD’s and Directors will also be invited to that conference, as some of them will have had deep involvement in the re-engineering process, and they are invited to any of the meetings that I conduct, internal or otherwise. Stay tuned! I suspect it will be February, after the board meeting, before we’ve got it all worked out and ready to communicate. Thanks for all of your efforts in educating the community, and I wish you a happy and healthy 2021. Very 73. David, NA2AA From: Dan/K7REX RATPAC <ratpacplan(a)gmail.com<mailto:ratpacplan@gmail.com>> Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2020 8:08 PM To: CEO Mailbox <ceo(a)arrl.org<mailto:ceo@arrl.org>> Subject: Meeting with Section Managers ??? Hi David, RATPAC would like to invite you to meet with section managers on Zoom. We normally have our section manager Zoom meetings on Wednesday 9:00 PM EST. I apologize for the late hour, but it is the best we could do when including section managers in seven different time zones. Please provide a Wednesday date what will work for you and we'll make it happen. Thanks, Best of 73's and please stay safe. Happy Holidays. ~Dan Dan Marler, K7REX ratpac.plan(a)gmail.com<mailto:ratpac.plan@gmail.com> http://www.qrz.com/db/K7REX [cid:image001.jpg@01D6D796.59A99300] Radio Amateur Training Planning and Activities Committee (RATPAC) comprises ARRL section managers and appointed field leadership. They host nationwide Amateur Radio Zoom presentations twice-a-week, Wednesdays on general radio topics and Thursday on amateur radio emergency communications. The topics are selected from audience recommendations that planning committee then seeks topic experts or discussion panel members. The presentation audience consist of thousands of amateur radio operators from around the world who view each presentation in four groups: * Initial zoom meeting participants. * Thousands of hams are provided links to videos of each presentation and related documentation through our groups.io sites and other social media. * Videos of presentations are being used as training tools by ham clubs, ARES groups and organizations, such as WINLINK®. * The over 70 amateur radio diverse Zoom presentations so far this year has provided knowledge and skills to contribute to the lifelong learning, ever changing emergency communications and technological changes. Moving ham radio forward.

4 3

[arrl-odv:31490] Subscription to print on the air magazine
by rjairam＠gmail.com 21 Dec '20

21 Dec '20

A member asked me today if we can get on the air magazine (print) as an add-on. Instead of just getting QST print, you get OTA as well. However he was given the impression that this requires Board action. He’s not the first to ask this and I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to explore, especially if we can tie it in to some upgraded membership like diamond club, or similar. What are your thoughts and what would it take to get this done? Ria N2RJ

3 2

[arrl-odv:31489] Reorganization of the Advisory Committee Structure
by Matt Holden 20 Dec '20

20 Dec '20

To: the members of the ARRL Board and Officers From: The Programs and Services Committee Date: December 2020 Topic: Reorganization of the Advisory Committee Structure You will find attached with this email a motion, passed on December 15, 2020 by the PSC for consideration by the full Board. This memo provides background information on the motion. At both meetings of the Executive Committee in 2018, the topic of evaluating and possibly restructuring the current Advisory Committee structures was discussed. During the EC’s Spring meeting working group of Directors David Norris, K5UZ and Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, and Assistant Secretary Dan Henderson, N1ND, was appointed to discuss the matter, and report back to the Board. After the EC’s Fall meeting, it was decided to refer the topic to the Programs and Services Committee for consideration and to develop a proposal for consideration by the full Board at a later time. During 2019 and 2020, the PSC appointed a working group of Directors Norris, Rod Blocksome, K0DAS, and Assistant Secretary Henderson to make recommendations. What you have before you is the proposal from that working group, that was passed by the full PSC in a December 15th teleconference. The question that is immediately raised is, of course, why take this action? Several thoughts came into consideration here. After significant discussions, and over a period of time starting before the EC’s consideration of this action in 2018, there became a growing consensus that smaller, short-term working groups would be a more efficient method for the advisory committees to provide input. Having a small group of recognized experts on specific topics work to provide input to the PSC allows for quicker response times and allows the PSC to more quickly have follow-up input from a working group. This proposal is not in anyway, and should not be seen as, an attempt to “fire” the current members of the CAC or the DXAC. In fact, if the proposal is approved and implemented, the PSC strongly encourages each director, as they vet and nominate persons for the Advisory Working Group pools, to determine if the existing representatives from their division are willing to consider become involved in the new structure. This proposal expands the “talent pool” of vetted experts on various issues that the PSC can draw on to serve. It allows for the “old guard” to continue to play a role in the process, while also allowing newer, younger members who have demonstrated an interest to participate. It creates the chance to bring new perspectives and additional talent from which the League can benefit. The proposal offers every director the opportunity to enlist and engage more “advisors” from their division’s membership. It offers the chance for more people to be involved in helping shape league policies by working with their director on issues of concern to the “rank and file” membership. The structure of this proposal is very adaptable and can be used should the Board decide other areas within the League could benefit from better interaction with experts within the membership. A quick tasking to a vetted working group on a variety of topics that come up could easily be put together, sent to the selected working group, and have a faster turn-around time. This would allow the PSC (or other Board-level groups seeking input) to more quickly and efficiently be able to address the issue in question. Again, to emphasize the point that this is not being considered in any way because of either the DXAC or the CAC not performing their functions. It is recognition of the need to more quickly and efficiently solicit information and opinions from the every-growing group of ARRL members with talent and expertise in a wide range of topics. Small working-groups have been used at times, especially by the PSC, and have proven a very good tool to assist the PSC in its work. It is the belief of the PSC that reorganizing the Advisory Committee structures to such a model will allow the PSC to better serve the membership and the Board, allow a greater voice from more ARRL members when looking at new policies, programs and procedures, and improvement of services offered by the ARRL. In the next 24 hours the PSC liaisons will be informing members of the DXAC and CAC about this motion. This should allow sufficient time for discussion and questions before the upcoming annual ARRL board of directors meeting.

1 0

[arrl-odv:31488] Reorganization of the Advisory Committee Structure
by Matt Holden 20 Dec '20

20 Dec '20

To: The members of the CAC and the DXAC From: The Programs and Services Committee Date: December 2020 Topic: Reorganization of the Advisory Committee Structure At both meetings of the Executive Committee in 2018, the topic of evaluating and possibly restructuring the current Advisory Committee structures was discussed. During the EC’s Spring meeting working group of Directors David Norris, K5UZ and Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, and Assistant Secretary Dan Henderson, N1ND, were appointed to discuss the matter, and report back to the Board. After the EC’s Fall meeting, it was decided to refer the topic to the Programs and Services Committee for consideration and to develop a proposal for consideration by the full Board at a later time. During 2019 and 2020, the PSC appointed a working group of Directors David Norris, K5UZ, Rod Blocksome, K0DAS, and Assistant Secretary Dan Henderson, N1ND to make recommendations. What you have before you is the proposal from that working group, that was passed by the full PSC in a December 15th teleconference. It has not been approved by the Board or ordered implemented at this time. It will be an item for discussion bythe full ARRL Board at its January 2021 meeting. The question that is immediately raised is, of course, why take this action? Several thoughts came into consideration here. After significant discussions, and over a period of time starting before the EC’s consideration of this action in 2018, there became a growing consensus that smaller, short-term working groups were a more efficient method for the advisory committees to provide input. Having a small group of recognized experts on specific topics, working to provide input to the PSC, allows for quicker response times and allows the PSC to more quickly have follow-up input from a working group. This proposal is not in anyway, and should not be seen as, an attempt to “fire” the current members of the CAC or the DXAC. It’s also in no way meant as an indication of unhappiness with the work product of either group. In fact, if the proposal is approved and implemented, the PSC strongly encourages each director, as they vet and nominate persons for the Advisory Working Group pools, to determine if their existing representatives are willing to consider become involved in the new structure. This proposal expands the “talent pool” of vetted experts on various issues that the PSC can draw on to serve. It allows for the “old guard” to continue to play a role in the process, while also allowing newer, younger members, who have demonstrated an interest to participate, the chance to bring new perspective and additional talent from which the League can benefit. The proposal offers every director the opportunity to enlist and engage more “advisors” from their division’s membership. It offers the chance for more people to be involved in helping shape league policies by working with their director on issues of concern to the “rank and file” membership. A quick tasking to a vetted working group on a variety of topics that come up could easily be put together, sent to the selected working group, and have a faster turn-around time. This would allow the PSC (or other Board-level groups seeking input) to more quickly and efficiently be able to address the issue in question. Again, to emphasize the point that this is not being considered in any way because of either the DXAC or the CAC not performing their functions. It is a recognition of the ability to more quickly and efficiently solicit information and opinions from the every-growing group of ARRL members with talent and expertise in a wide range of topics. Small working-groups have been used at times, especially by the PSC, and have proven a very good tool to assist the PSC in its work. It is the belief of the PSC that reorganizing the Advisory Committee structures to such a model will allow the PSC to better serve the membership and the Board, allow a greater voice from more individuals when looking at new policies, programs and procedures, and to improve the services offered by the ARRL. If the Board approves this recommendation, the details of sunsetting the existing structures and implementing the changes will be hammered out and announced. Also the PSC will be working on the vetting criteria and formalizing the new procedures into the ARRL’s rules for advisory committees. The PSC will keep the existing CAC and DXAC apprised of the status and implementation of any changes that are approved.

1 0

[arrl-odv:31486] Digital Band-plan to FCC?
by Michael Ritz 19 Dec '20

19 Dec '20

A member was asking me where we are with submitting the new digital band-plan to the FCC, (separating wide and narrow band digital) which I think was approved by the Board last July. Was this ever done? Thanks, and hope everybody here has a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah! 73; Mike W7VO

2 1

[arrl-odv:31485] IN Newsletter December 18, 2020
by Pereira, Carla, KC1HSX 18 Dec '20

18 Dec '20

Dear All, Please see the attached newsletter for information on what's happening at HQ. Have a great weekend!

1 0

[arrl-odv:31484] ARISS Committee report
by Mark J Tharp 18 Dec '20

18 Dec '20

Carla has placed it in the dropbox folder for your review. 73.. Mark, HDX

1 0