<<040109.doc>>

IN-Newsletter

Vol. 32, No. 13

April 1, 2009  --  Covers the period March 22-28.

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Programs & Services Committee

April 4 @ 9:00am in Newington, CT

Regulatory Information

Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND

A significant amount of time was spent during the week answering telephone and email queries regarding the FCC clarification on the simultaneous transmission requirement of repeaters. The decision affects some digital technologies that were operating in a repeater configuration but were utilizing non-repeater frequencies.  We also answered numerous queries on the medical device NPRM from the FCC. Finally, an inquiry relating to the denial to intervene by the FCC in the Morrison case was answered.

We worked with the NCJ managing editor to verify some facts for an upcoming story and answered several queries of the Regions 1 and 3 vacating the 7.1 to 7.2 MHz area on 40-meters, which is set to be in place the week of March 30.  Other member queries included a request about the legality of someone being added to a mailing list based on their license information,  a VCE request in New Jersey, updates of information for several reciprocal licensing contacts, a question on VOIP operation, and a Missouri antenna restriction case.

Time was spent during the week on the Field Day area for the ARRL Exposition at Dayton, assisting the Contest branch with some data issues, and continuing to review the Regulatory and Legislative areas for the Fathom project.

Media & Public Relations

Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP

CONTACT for April has been completed and sent for posting to the Web.  Final edits of PR-101 were completed by Nancy Hallas and corrections made to the disk.  This final version has been turned in to Steve Ford for duplication (500 units).  The two video PSA’s were released.  The first, on Field Day, is available at http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/2009/2009FieldDayPSA1.wmv  and is a low res 3.85MB Win Media Player file for Web or email uses.

The second, promoting the Technology pillar, is downloadable from http://www.arrl.org/pio/videos/ARRL30secPSA2009.mov  and is a Broadcast Quality .MOV, 43 MB file.  But there also is a low resolution (not for distribution – only to see it) version at http://www.arrl.org/pio/videos/LowRes2009.wmv

Development

Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH

March results for the Diamond Club total $17,640 in revenue from 105 contributions, including a renewal at the Platinum level for $2500.  These results bring the year-to-date totals to $53,979 from 310 contributions.  Further details will be available for the next In-News.

The results for the Spectrum Defense Fund saw $ 3700 in revenue in March, bringing the year-to-date revenue total to $28,275 from 279 donations.  The average contribution remains very high at $103.69.

The 2009 Education & Technology Fund mail campaign is being prepared.  The letter is complete and design for the mailing and web is in production.  An analysis of five-year results for this campaign have yielded information to refine the target audience selection based on geography, license class, age and longevity of membership.  The target audience will total 75,000 pieces to prior major donors, major prospects, prior donors to education and a selection of ARRL members.  A follow up will mail to major donors, major prospects, prior education donors and a refined selection of members.

In March a second extremely generous stock gift was received for the Teachers Institutes in Wireless Technology (TI), a project of the Education & Technology Program.  This contribution brings year-to-date funding received for the TI to more than $45,000.

An additional distribution from the Stoner Estate for $10,000 has been received and placed in the ARRL Endowment.  These proceeds bring the total receipts from the Stone Estate to $66,757.

Production/Editorial

Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE

ARRL Software Library 3.0 and the Southeastern VHF Conference Proceedings have been released to the duplicator/printer.

On March 26, Khrystyne Keane gave a lunchtime talk on “What is Amateur Radio?” to a group of seven women from Ladies of Newington Konnect (LINK).  The group, led by former ARRL staffer Mary Lau, N1VH, had had no previous exposure to Amateur Radio, but seemed very interested to learn about the Service and what opportunities are available through it.  Mary mentioned that a couple of the women were interested in getting their Technician license.

Khrystyne wrote and distributed The ARRL Letter, Vol. 28, No. 12, for March 27, 2009.  She also produced and voiced ARRL Audio News for March 27.

Sales and Marketing

Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R

Membership

The ARRL membership rolls ended the first quarter in a good, overall position.  Membership as of March 31, 2009 was 155,853 – 377 members over the goal of 155,476; a gain of 786 members over February.  Gains are largely attributed to incremental improvements to response rates, and targeted appeals to small, known-active groups of radio amateurs.

Sales

Combined dealer and direct sales exceeded the March forecast by a healthy margin, contributing to a successful first quarter.  A preliminary look at the totals place sales ahead of the first 3 months of 2008.  March figures are being finalized, and will be reported next week.

The Warehouse crew fulfilled 939 packages for publication and product orders, shipped 175 membership premiums, and mailed QST supplements.

ARRL Conventions

Date    Name    Division        City    State   ARRL HQRepresentative  
Apr 3-4 AES Superfest (Hamfest) CL      Milwaukee       WI      Diane Petrilli, Steve Ford     
Apr 4   Delaware State  AT      Georgetown      DE      Norm Fusaro    
Apr 4-5 Communications Academy  NW      Seattle WA      Dennis Dura    
Apr 11  North Carolina State    RK      Raleigh NC      Dan Henderson  
Apr 17-18       Midwest Division        MW      South Sioux City        NE             
Apr 17-19       International DX        PC      Visalia CA      Dave Patton/Mary Hobart
Apr 17-19       SRT International DX    Int’l   Paestum Italy   Norm Fusaro    
Apr 18  Tennessee Section       DL      Bartlett        TN      Dan Henderson  
Apr 24-25       Southeastern VHF Society        RK      Charlotte       NC      Gene Zimmerman 
Apr 24-26       Idaho State     NWn     Boise   ID      Joel Harrison  
Apr 25  Arkansas State  DL      Rogers  AR      Khrystyne Keane
Apr 25  Louisiana State DL      Monroe  LA      Steve Ewald    
Apr 25  Utah State      RM      South Ogden     UT      Harold Kramer  
May 1-3 EMCOMMWEST/Pacificon    PC      Reno    NV      Steve Ewald    
May 2   South Carolina Section  RK      Spartanburg     SC      Chuck Skolaut  
May 15-17       ARRL National   GL      Dayton  OH             
May 22-24       Wyoming State   RM      Casper  WY      Ed Hare
May 29-31       Rocky Mountain Division RM      Estes Park      CO      Harold Kramer, Mike Gruber     
May 30  Atlantic Division       AT      Rochester       NY             

Membership & Volunteer Programs

Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N

Contest Branch

The 2008 November Sweepstakes cups, pins, brooms and magnets have started going out the door.  All orders will be processed by the end of the week.  2008 DX SSB certificates have been mailed.

Gavels for the Club Competition during the 2008 ARRL DX Contest, June VHF Sweepstakes and September VHF QSO Parties have been mailed to the President of the winning clubs.

3,137 logs were received for the ARRL DX CW Contest.  With less than a week to go to the DX SSB log submission deadline, we have received 2,393 electronic logs.

W1AW

A "W1AW Digital Listener" Zoomerang survey was sent out to just under 10,000 ARRL members.  The survey deals with the W1AW digital broadcast transmissions.  The hope is that the results will give us a better idea as to which digital modes (such as PSK31, MT63, etc.) W1AW should incorporate into its broadcast schedule.

Joe updated the web code practice files and their archives.  He created the texts for the April W1AW Qualifying Runs.  Joe also updated the W1AW web page with the April QR schedule.  He processed one Qualifying Run certificate.  Joe also processed regular QSL card requests.  He also installed in the Harris racks a Hameg HM5011 Spectrum Analyzer.  This analyzer is on loan from the ARRL Laboratory.  It will be used to make spectral tests on the broadcast equipment.

Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files for the latter part of the month of March and early April.

Field Organization/Public Service Team

The ARRL Public Service Communications Web page now sports an improved area that highlights the efforts and work of the ARRL National Traffic System with links to references and resources.  Steve Ewald attended the “Spring Training” Workshop that was sponsored by Connecticut ARES Region 5 in Southbury.  Nearly 60 radio amateurs from around the state took part.

Thanks to the Mailroom Staff, ballots and candidate statements for the ARRL Utah Section Manager election were mailed from Newington on March 26, several days before the April 1 mailing deadline.  Members in Utah have until May 15 to return their marked ballots to ARRL HQ.  Leona continued to receive Field Appointment roster updates and revisions from Section Managers and Section Leaders.

Chuck Skolaut began registering Amateur Radio stations that qualify and wish to participate in the Global SET scheduled for April 18.  Several reports were received about a “bubbler” or “gurgle” type signal that is on the low end of 20 meters.  Our monitoring team is collecting information.  Also, several reports of bad language on 75 meters and broadcasting of music on 160 meters are receiving attention by Official Observers.

While corresponding with an Official Observer Coordinator in Florida about an on-going case, the FCC’s Laura Smith wrote the this nice comment: “We here at the Commission have nothing but the highest praise for all you guys do and can't thank you enough for your service!”

Sincerely Compiled by,

Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ

Assistant to the CEO

Staff Absentee List

All Staff       4/10            Holiday

Leona Adams             4/3             Vacation

Margie Bourgoin 4/14            Vacation

Hugh Brower             4/24-4/29       Vacation

Steve Capodicasa        5/11-5/15       Vacation

Joe Carcia              4/22            Vacation

       ``                       5/8             Vacation

     ``                 5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

     ``                 6/19            Vacation

Jackie Cornell          4/20-4/24       Vacation

Steve Ford              4/2-4/3         AES Superfest, Milwaukee, WI

     ``                 4/20-4/24       Vacation

Norm Fusaro             4/2-4/7         Vacation

      ``                        4/15-4/24       SRT International DX Convention - Italy

Scott Gee               4/15-4/17       Vacation

    ``                  5/14-5/15       Vacation

Mike Gruber             5/29-5/31       Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Estes Park, CO

Joel Hallas             5/13-5/19       Dayton Hamvention/Vacation

Ed Hare         4/20-4/24       C63 EMC Committee, Piscataway, NJ

    ``                  5/13-5/15       Vacation

     ``                 5/20-5/21       IEEE SDCom EMC committee, Philadephia, PA

     ``                 5/22-5/25       Wyoming State Convention

     ``                 5/26-5/27       Vacation

Dan Henderson           4/10-4/12       North Carolina State Convention, Raleigh, NC

      ``                        4/17-4/19       Tennessee Section Convention, Memphis, TN

     ``                 5/14-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Mary Hobart             4/6-4/8         Vacation

       ``                       4/17-4/20       International DX Convention/Visalia, CA

     ``                 5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Bob Inderbitzen         4/13-4/15       Vacation

Khrystyne Keane 4/3             Vacation

       ``                       4/24-4/26       Arkansas State Convention, Rogers, AR

Maryann Macdonald       5/14-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Carol Michaud           4/15-4/17       Vacation

Bill Moore              5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Dave Patton             4/16-4/19       International DX – Visalia, CA

    ``                  5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Ashley Rakus            4/13            Jury Duty

Barry Shelley           4/16-4/21       Vacation

Sharon Taratula         4/2             Vacation

       ``                       4/14            Vacation