<<032311.doc>> IN-Newsletter <<Microsoft Word Picture>> Vol. 34, No. 12 March 23, 2011 -- Covers the period March 13-19. Upcoming Meetings and Events Administration & Finance Committee April 9 @ 8:30am - ARRL HQ Technical Relations Reported by Brennan Price, N4QX Washington Office staff is drafting comments for the newest round of WRC-12 Advisory Committee proposals. An external ad for the vacant administrative assistant position has been posted. Regulatory Information Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND A good deal of the week was spent in "catch-up" mode, handling backlogged queries. Several VC applications were forwarded to directors for consideration. The web version of Part 97 was updated to show the rule changes that went into effect February 14. A new PDF of the current rules was also added to the website. They will be edited again when the Spread Spectrum ruling released March 4 become effective (30-days after appearing in the Federal Register). We updated the "Recent FCC Actions" area to link to PDFs of the Report & Orders issued for the 2010 change in 97.113 and the 2011 Vanity Callsign program changes. We received several queries about the legality of handling third-party traffic related to the disasters in Japan. We reminded amateurs that Part 97.115 (a) (2) allows for such communications when providing disaster relief or emergency communications. We completed work with Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, on the revisions to the OO Manual and passed it on to his area to be published. Thanks to Allen Pitts, W1AGP, we reviewed a new "What is Field Day?" flier that has been translated into Spanish and posted to the Field Day page. We are also working with Allen on having the full Field Day rules translated into Spanish for posting to the website. Several Contest Branch - related tasks/queries were handled, covering for Contest Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, who was on vacation. We also handled member queries related to reciprocal operating in the Caribbean and in Europe. Media & Public Relations Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP HR 607 related emails and support plus the annual report continue to take up most of the day's time. On the positive side are the numbers of letters that Section Managers and PICs are reporting being sent to Chwat & Co. On the negative side are the reports of representatives sending back messages to members which are completely void of all references to the issue causing opposition. Development Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH I am happy to announce that David Brandenburg, K5RQ has accepted our invitation to Chair the ARRL Second Century Campaign. Next steps include recruiting the Campaign Committee and launching the prospect research process. The Diamond Club has benefited from results of the recent mailing to both active and lapsed donors. To date the Diamond Club revenues total $63,505 or 23% of the 2011 revenue goal. Revenue for the Spectrum Defense Fund has reached $35,888 or 10% of the 2011 goal. Invitations to the annual Donor Reception in Dayton are in house and will be mailed this week to donors whose contributions total $1000 or more during the past two years. Legacy Circle and Maxim Society donors are also invited. The Guest of Honor will be Campaign Chairman David Brandenburg, K5RQ. Production/Editorial Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed the ARRL Letter and produced and voiced ARRL Audio News for March 17, 2011. Lab Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI Lab Renovation The lab has temporarily moved to the attic of W1AW. The floor tiles have been removed and the walls re-painted. QST Bob Reviewed ads for the next issue of QST and also wrote two "Short Takes" articles for future QSTs. RFI Mike Gruber worked closely with Gordon Beattie, W2TTT at AT&T to develop a filing and response process to handle U-Verse complaints as a routine matter. Laura Smith has been very active toward catching up with RFI complaints at the FCC. She has been out of the office due to a death in the family. Brian Cramer reports that there has been a ComEd response to his RFI investigation report. As previously reported, this case involves Mike Swiatkowski, AA9VI in Northbook, IL. This case remains ongoing. The Sounds of RFI Page has now been completed by volunteer Craig Miller, KA1GYBm and should be published this week. Mike Martin off RFI Services will conduct an RFI Workshop at the ARRL Conference Room on 16th and 17th of June. Product Review The yearly calibration of all test equipment used for Product Review has been completed. The calibration cycle was coordinated during Lab renovations. All test equipment has been re-installed. The lab is up and running with no impact on the test schedule due to renovations. Testing was completed of a mid priced, HF/6M transceiver. Extra testing was performed with a second radio of the same problem to confirm improvements made by the manufacturer at the suggestion of the test engineer and Product Review editors. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R A 2008 Ford E-150 cargo van is the new (used) company vehicle, replacing our old 1998 Dodge Dakota pickup. The van is already on the road, making our daily mail and parcel treks between the warehouse, headquarters, and the Newington US Post Office. A slate of ARRL presentations has been turned over to Ham-Com's local arrangements committee for the National Convention in Plano. The warehouse crew fulfilled 817 packages for publication and product orders, 692 membership premiums, and QST mailing supplements. Life Membership administration, including quarterly payment reminders, was completed this week. The biannual Life Membership report, including a summary of new Life Members, was prepared for the recent ARRL Executive Committee meeting. A full page ad for the ARRL License Manuals, featuring the new practice exam software feature, has been prepared for the May 2011 issue of Monitoring Times. Two email solicitations promoting the suite of ARRL License Manuals with a $5 flat rate shipping offer generated 168 online orders over a 10 day period. A commemorative ARRL VEC "challenge coin" is in the works, the second in the series. An ARES 75th anniversary challenge coin was introduced last September. Diane Petrilli attended a conference sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)--their annual membership and marketing conference. A handful of targeted membership emailings were prepared, soliciting lapsed members, active Volunteer Examiners, and online "guest" users. Now Shipping! 2011 ARRL Field Day gear Membership & Volunteer Programs Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N W1AW Joe processed four Qualifying Run certificates. He started work on a new W1AW web page that will highlight operating activity at W1AW (such as Field Day). Joe also updated the W1AW/West Coast Qualifying Run schedule and weekly CW practice QST source web pages. He also processed regular QSL card requests. Scott worked on slow and fast code practice files for the middle part of the month of March. Field Organization/Public Service Team Steve Ewald and Ken Bailey traveled to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on March 16, to make a presentation about ARES and ARRL at the FEMA Region 1- sponsored Regional Response Team meeting. According to the conference organizers, our presentation was "well received by all, and raised awareness regarding the vast network of radio operators that would be so critical if other communications were lost." Steve also traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska on March 18 to represent ARRL Headquarters at the ARRL Nebraska State Convention that was sponsored by the Lincoln Amateur Radio Club. Midwest Director Cliff Ahrens, Vice Director Rod Blocksome, and Nebraska Section Manager Art Zygielbaum, K0AIZ, handled the logistics to allow 141 radio amateurs to sign printed letters to their U.S. congressional representatives in response to HR 607. Leona Adams completed preliminary work on the Nevada Section Manager election ballot and candidate statements. These items were sent to the printer at the end of the work week. Chuck Skolaut compiled and sent the monthly OO summary to all Official Observers, OOCs, and Section Managers. One amateur from Arkansas and one from Michigan completed certification to become Official Observers this week. The monthly Monitoring System/Intruder watch summary was compiled. The FCC reported follow-up on two cases of radio amateurs not keeping their address up to date, truckers in Ohio using 10 meters and two radio amateurs that have been banned from local repeater use. Chuck continued to work on the revision to the Official Observer training guide. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Staff Absentee List All Staff 4/22 Holiday Margie Bourgoin 3/28-4/1 Vacation Scott Gee 3/30-4/1 Vacation Mike Gruber 4/29 Vacation `` 5/31-6/3 Vacation Dan Henderson 3/28-3/29 Vacation `` 4/25-4/29 Vacation Mary Hobart 3/28-3/30 Vacation Gail Iannone 3/30-4/1 Vacation Joel Kleinman 3/31 Vacation Zack Lau 5/6 Vacation `` 6/16-6/17 Vacation John Proctor 6/22-7/8 Vacation Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings Bob Inderbitzen 3/31-4/2 AES Superfest, Milwaukee, WI Mary Hobart 4/14-4/17 International DX Convention, Visalia, CA Allen Pitts 4/15-4/18 Communications Academy, Seattle, WA Dan Henderson 4/22-4/24 Louisiana State Convention, Monroe, LA Bob Allison 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Margie Bourgoin 5/18-5/23 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH/Vacation Jackie Ferreira 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Mike Gruber 5/19-5/20 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Dan Henderson 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Mary Hobart 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Sabrina Hughes 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Amy Hurtado 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Diane Petrilli 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Bob Allison 6/8-6/11 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Jackie Ferreira 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Mike Gruber 6/9-6/10 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Dan Henderson 6/9-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Mary Hobart 6/9-6/11 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Amy Hurtado 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Bob Inderbitzen 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Diane Petrilli 6/8-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX
