IN-Newsletter Vol. 27, No. 47 November 24, 2004 Upcoming Meetings Board Meeting January 21-22, 2005 in Windsor, CT CEO The ARRL HQ will be closed on Thursday the 25th and Friday the 26th in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. Sending good wishes your way for a safe and happy holiday weekend! Lisa and the Election Committee would like to thank Greg Kwasowski, Mark Dzamba, Gail Iannone, Norm Fusaro, Maty Weinberg, Nonie Madone, Ann Brinius, Rose-Anne Lawrence, Dan Henderson, Pete Warner and Sandy Lund for making ballot counting go so smoothly this year. Thanks also to the managers who also contributed to the effort by supplying the staff. Development The 2005 Spectrum Defense Fund has topped $160,000 from 2995 donors with a high average contribution of $53.66. We are beginning to receive gifts from clubs, following our email solicitation. We will launch a new Honor Roll on the web for clubs and organizations supporting Spectrum Defense. Summary reports on the campaign shows 10 gifts of $1000 or more, 11 gifts of $500 - $999 and 35 gifts in the $250 - $499 range. In other statistics, 78.4% of respondents do not wish to receive a thank you gift so all of their contribution goes into the Defense Fund. 14.7% of the contributions are coming from Life Members. In a report of contributions by Division, the leading Division is Great Lakes which have contributed 13.8% of the revenue so far, followed by Southeast Division at 9.9% and West gulf Division with 9.7%. A third round of letters will mail by the end of the month to prior donors who have not yet responded. The new Year -End campaign is in the mail. The first couple of responses arrived on November 22. The goal of this campaign is to "close the budget gap" by the end of the fiscal year by raising $116,000. The target audience for this campaign is unique with no overlap with the extra Defense Fund effort. Holiday cards are being prepared for major donors. A draft of the minutes from the A & F meeting on November 20 will be complete before Thanksgiving. Media & Public Relations The last package of toys for the children in Florida will be shipped from the 2nd floor lounge on Monday Nov 29. Next status report from United Way is expected by Dec 10th in time to compile into a QST article. A full report will not be available until early January. Creation of bios and media releases about new Directors are in progress. Production/Editorial The January 2005 issue of QST was released to the printer November 23. Editorial and production work is wrapping up on the January/February 2005 issues of QEX and NCJ. We checked printer's proofs for The Emergency Communication Handbook. Rick Lindquist reports The ARRL Letter, Vol. 23, No. 46, went out November 19 to 66,763 members. Rick prepared/edited stories on ARRL's cooperation with IEEE and industry groups in establishing BPL standards, the results of the ARRL divisional elections, Jonathan Adelstein's re-appointment to the FCC, Part 5 Experimental licensees on LF, ARRL Toy Drive update, FCC Warning Notice to NJ ham and "The Amateur Amateur" column by Gary Huffman, KB0H. Rick voiced, edited and produced ARRL Audio News for November 19. Reminder: The next editions of The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News will be dated Friday, December 3. Sales and Marketing The Advertising crew is having a good month bumping page count from some of our clients. Amateur radio equipment and publication dealers, particularly the small independents, appear to be experiencing a particularly slow buying period before the holiday season. We are hearing of layoffs at some of the dealer stores, one more sign that the whole industry appears to be in a very stagnant "holding pattern" likely driven by the outcome of the FCC ruling on BPL, uncertainty about timing and details for license restructuring and a sluggish economy. We are also seeing indicators that competitors for our advertising clients' dollars are feeling the pinch just like us, in some cases offering magazine page space at deep discounts. Our strategy in this market includes not responding specifically to the pricing pressure from the other magazines. Instead, we are working closely with each individual client to determine what we need to do to earn a bigger portion of their promotion budget, showing respect in every reasonable way for the challenges they face in this lean profit market. Our latest membership mailing, featuring a totally new package look and enhanced premium offer, sent to 20,000 lapsed General, Advanced and Extra Class licensees has met our expectations in a very short time. At present, the return percentage from this group of our best sales leads is 3.30%. It has been quite some time since we have seen return percentages at this level. Ingram Publishing, one of our three major mainstream wholesalers, uses a catalog to promote books with their clients. We placed a full-page ad in their Fall/Winter catalog as part of our comprehensive 2005 Handbook sales campaign. When we received a copy of their catalog, we were delighted to discover that Now You're Talking was listed at number 17 of the Top 25 General Technology titles (in order of demand) offered by Ingram. We are Sold Out! The first printing of the hardcover 2005 Handbook, all 1,750 copies, is in the hands of happy customers. Sales continue to be brisk, though. Additionally, the hardcover edition now has the attention of a major wholesaler so we are going back to the press for another run. This is the first time in recent history that a Handbook edition has sold out this early--within 1-1/2 months of its release. Two publication promotions introduced this week were aimed at boosting online orders throughout the remainder of the month. Online customers receive free shipping for orders of at least $75. In addition, we are offering a free package of holiday greeting cards (featuring QST) for orders of at least $50 or more. The campaign has already increased the average order size to above $60. Thanks go to Jon Bloom for helping pull together the special web programming required to support the online promotions and to Diane Szlachetka for her eye-catching (and fast) design work on the promotion graphics. Members of our group, with Steve Ford, are discussing quality concerns with QST printer, R. R. Donnelley. Membership Services Awards Branch WAS QSL Cards Checked 150 WAC Certs. (18 QSLs ES/C) 18 WAS in the 90th Awards 41 A-1 Op. Noms. 3 LTMA Inquires 7 VUCC Initial Apps. 2 Grids 157 VUCC End. Apps. 1 Grids 50 Awards Mailed 35 Processing Status: Current or up to three weeks. For the coming week-WAS QSL card checking, WAS specialty awards, Extra Class certificates, VUCC awards processing/mailing, and mail out all awards processed this week. Contest Branch Numerous queries for CW and Phone Sweepstakes have been handled during the last two week period. All certificates for both modes of the 2004 DX Contest have been mailed. We received the plates for the DX Contest plaques and they are being processed for shipping. Final checked scores for the 2004 September VHF Contest were received and are being processed into the database. Data entry for the 10 GHz Contest was completed. Logbook of the World QSO records entered into the system 56,031,914 QSL records have resulted 2,111,120 Logs Processed 80,093 Active Certificates 12,069 Users registered in the system 8,935 Current Applications 43 Ready Applications 0 Applications Awaiting Mail 43 QSL Bureau Processing time is 3 days. This week 132 pounds of cards were received from members. Cards mailed as of 11/21/04: 961,060. Cards mailed on 11/19/04: 78,750. W1AW Special thanks "again" go out to "Team Icom" members Dick Dievendorff, K6KR, Mike Mraz, N6MZ, (of Icom), Ray Novak, N9JA (also of Icom), Julia Whitenight, KD7PJC and Dan Henderson, N1ND. They all participated in the ARRL November SSB Sweepstakes. In addition to working another "Clean Sweep," they worked 1231 stations, on 80 to 15 meters, for a claimed score of 196,960. During the weekend, John Webb, W7NWH and Sara Saeger, K3OOO, were on hand to film a video production about Amateur Radio, W1AW and ARRL. This video (which is being used as part of a "Walking Tour" of W1AW) is sponsored in part by Icom. In addition to operating ARRL SS, Mike, N6MZ also made meteor scatter contacts for W1AW. Using the program WSJT, Mike made three M/S QSOs on 6 meters, with stations as far west as Minnesota. Mark Spencer, WA8SME and Ron Cady, K1RKD were here with Scouts from Troop 883 to demonstrate amateur radio. With permission granted by the Scouts' parents, the scouts were also part of the W1AW video. W1AW received as a donation two (2) AOR ARD9800 digital modems. Taka Nakayama, KW6I, presented the modems to Joe Carcia, NJ1Q. Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV accompanied Taka over to W1AW, and took some publicity photos for QST and ARRLWeb. Aside from the contesting and filming, the 2004 Frequency Measuring Test also took place on Wednesday, November 17. An audio tone was transmitted on published frequencies for 80, 40 and 20 meters. The object of this year's FMT was for amateurs to measure the frequency of that tone. Conditions were not that great, however. With the past two FMTs, at least 10-12 entries were received within the first few days after the runs. For 2004, only three have so far been received. And the entrants indicate that the band conditions were so poor, they were unable to copy us on 20 meters, and just barely on 80 and 40 meters. Joe uploaded W1AW/90 logs to LoTW. He performed final frequency measuring tests on the Harris exciters in preparation for the 2004 FMT. He carried out the 2004 FMT with no glitches. Joe was interviewed and taped for the "Walking Tour" video. He also stuffed and mailed the certificates for the Hiram Percy Maxim 135th Birthday Celebration. Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files for the latter part of the month of November and early December. He assisted Joe with the 2004 Frequency Measuring Test, worked the early afternoon shift on Friday for a vacationing Joe Carcia and also handled some evening phone sales calls in the daily 5 PM to 8 PM time slots. Field & Educational Services Rosalie met with Dan and Mary to review CNCS/UTC graduate numbers and news dispersal on classes. Thanks to Dan Wolfgang, Di Szlachetka, Sue Fagan, Steve Ford and Mary Hobart for meeting with Bill Barrett to move ahead on plans for the new grant. Astronaut Leroy Chaio, KE5BRW, did his first school QSO -- a middle school and two elementary schools shared the QSO. Field Day shirts / pins were presented to the ISS Exp 9 crew at an informal Johnson Space Center gathering; Mike and Gennady excited many hams with Field Day Qs, especially on 430 MHz. Gail Iannone sent nine hamfest approval letters to the sponsoring committees confirming the Division Director's approval of their events as ARRL-sanctioned. She sent three new club applications for ARRL-affiliation to the Division Directors and SMs for their approval and sent three acknowledgement letters to the club officials. She also coordinated travel for Norm Fusaro to be the HQ Rep at the Oklahoma State Convention on March 18-19 in Claremore. She volunteered to help count ballots for the 2005 Director/Vice Director elections. Mentor/Club/Volunteer Instructor Program Norm Fusaro prepared two stories for the web. He seeded the club presidents reflector with comments on one-day licensing classes with follow-up mentoring, and he received numerous responses, both pro and con, from presidents. These will be useful for an upcoming story. Norm reviewed several submissions for possible future QST articles. He facilitated some donations to ARRL, netting a substantial contribution for the Spectrum Defense Fund. Margie Bourgoin and Norm crafted a survey for the Volunteer Instructors; Margie sent this to all of them electronically. She began receiving significant responses within the first hour. The information will be useful in refining the program and enabling us to better support instructors. She registered four new instructors and one schoolteacher, and updated 20 club records. Margie did data entry of emcomm and PSAR surveys, and worked on a database for the digital survey conducted by the ARES-Com committee; thanks goes to John Proctor and Andy Shefrin for their assistance. Field Organization/Public Service Improved propagation brought more CODAR interference reports on 12 meters from the Midwest; Chuck Skolaut has been forwarding these reports to the FCC. We continue to gather and forward complaints about illegal 10-meter operation as well as interference from high power CB-type amplifiers. At the FCC's request, Chuck coordinated OO monitoring assistance on cases in Kentucky and Missouri. SM elections in Nebraska, New York City/Long Island and West Central Florida will conclude on November 23. Leona Adams is heading up the Team effort to count the ballots. She also received SM nominating petitions on behalf of incumbents Jim Lasley, N0JL of Iowa, and Malcolm Keown, W5XX, of Mississippi, for new terms beginning in April, 2005. Steve Ewald participated in two telecons--one, the monthly Citizen Corp Affiliates who are planning a December in-person meeting, and two, the ARES-Comm telecon. SEC reflector discussions are on the SET, seeking ideas to improve reporting and overall exercise performance. Steve hosted Don, KK3G, whose training CT emergency managers on new Disaster Management Interoperability Services software by MTS Inc, a DHS contractor training states on reporting emergency situations and documentation. Don discussed Winlink 2000 and ham radio being used somehow to get data between EOCs and other government facilities in case the Internet fails in an area during an emergency. Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program Mark Spencer mailed the school grant applications and his recommendations to the Executive Committee for their consideration and vote. He has already received the first application for the May 2005 round of grants! The basic electronics curriculum that Mark is working on is in the final stages of development. Regulatory Information John Hennessee corresponded with Ward Silver on changes that occurred in FCC rules; Ward is working on an update of his book, Ham Radio for Dummies. John also reports that he has received an advanced copy of the new edition of the FCC Rule Book (with changes he made affecting 65 pages). He assisted amateurs with local government zoning problems in Thousand Oaks, CA (N6ZOA); Hartland, WI (Chris Meier, call pending) and Cuyahoga County, OH (W8WH). Community Education Program (grant) Bill Barrett is reviewing choices of days given to him by the assistant to the Danbury (CT) mayor, who is also the contact person for the Citizen Corps Council. The assistant chief is very receptive to having Bill give a presentation -- and it will be a good "practice" session for Bill. He set up a calendar of preliminary but specific strategize and complete set of travel dates for the 12 councils around the US. Quite a number of inquiries are being handled from hams in locations not selected. Three comprehensive meetings were held at HQ on all aspects of the program, and work on the program to final form continues. EmComm Grants Dan Miller reviewed and updated the ad that will be used in QST about online classes. Graduates of emcomm classes thus far for UTC Year 2 (ending December 31, 2005) total 824. Graduates of the first few emcomm classes for CNCS Year 3 (ending September 1, 2005), thus far total 92 -- most of these classes are still in progress. Dan received a nice compliment from a member about ARRL's presence at the International Association of Emergency Managers Annual Convention. Sincerely, Dave Patton, NN1N Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer DCP: lk Staff Absentee List All Staff 11/25-11/26 Holiday Mary Hobart 11/29-11/30 Vacation Robert Inderbitzen 12/2-12/3 Vacation Rick Lindquist 11/22-11/24 Vacation Mark Dzamba 12/24-12/30 Vacation Pam Dzamba 12/24-12/30 Vacation Jon Bloom 11/22-11/24 Vacation Shelly Bloom 11/22-11/24 Vacation Dan Miller 11/22-11/30 Vacation Steve Ewald 11/29-12/6 Vacation Rosalie White 11/24-11/29 Vacation Wayne Mills 11/22-11/30 Vacation Allen Pitts 12/10 Vacation Chuck Skolaut 11/29 Vacation Gail Iannone 12/20-12/31 Vacation Bill Moore 11/23-11/30 Convention-Pescara, Italy Scott Gee 12/13-12/14 Vacation Stu Cohen 11/23pm-11/24 Vacation Maryann Macdonald 11/29 Vacation Debra Jahnke 11/24 Vacation