ARRL Audio News

Here is a link to last week’s edition of the ARRL Audio News podcast, dated April 21, 2017:

https://www.blubrry.com/arrlaudionews/23003029/arrl-audio-news-april-212017?sbe=1

Chief Executive Office

Reported by Tom Gallagher, NY2RF

Last week, Tom Gallagher presented (via Skype) to the Twin Cities DX Association, serving the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area. Many of their members are also active contesters as members of the Minnesota Wireless Association. The TCDXA’s purpose and goal as a non-profit organization is the donation of funds to support major DXpeditions all over the world, both large and small (100% of their dues serve this purpose.) The 100+ attendees were very appreciative of the updates on the league and our goals.

Tom also attended the Delaware State Convention (Delmarva Amateur Radio and Electronics EXPO) this past weekend where he was the keynote speaker. Everyone appreciated his candor in discussing the issues and challenges facing the ARRL. While there, Tom also presented awards to the 1^st and 2^nd place winners of the Capstone Project from Delaware Technical Community College.

(Below are some photos of the Tom’s presentation.)

Award to Del Tech 2 (002) Tom 2 Tom

Tom described the 500 convention attendees as highly engaged, technically sophisticated, and consistently civil. Some highpoints of the day’s seminars were “Fusion Radio System” by Cory Sickles, WA3UVV, and “MESH Networking” by Paul Milazzo K3PGM.

2004-05-10 05

HQ had a visit from a group of CCSU electrical engineering undergrads last week, who were here for an SDR demonstration with Volunteer Examiner Dr. Martin Ewing, AA6E (photo at left.)

Education

Reported by Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ

Teacher Registration	Instructor Registration	Graduation Kit Requests	License Class Listings
6	13	1	6

We received 35 proposals during the ARISS spring proposal window on the April 15 deadline.

ARISS Contacts:

· April 19, a direct contact between students at Brook Haven School in Sebastipol, CA, and astronaut Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG was successful.

Watch a video of the contact on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOY45DnmT8M&spfreload=10

Education & Technology

Debra has been positioning display items and resources for shipment to Hamvention.

We have also been responding to inquiries about the Teachers Institute. There were 25 applications were received by week’s end. The application deadline is May 1.

Field Services

Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N

Field Organization

Section Manager election ballots for Northern New Jersey and Utah continue to arrive at ARRL Headquarters. The receipt deadline for these ballots is Friday, May 19, and they will be counted on Tuesday, May 23.

Editorial work proceeds on the July QST article that will cover the 2016 Simulated Emergency Test results.

W1AW

Joe updated the code practice QST source web page. He worked on a second version of the 2m/70cm satellite antenna for the “100 second” video series. He continued testing with the Acom amplifier that was returned from repair. Joe also had a lengthy conversation with Steve Waterman, K4CJX, regarding W1AW’s SHARES/MARS access to the Winlink2000 (WL2K) HF system.

Scott worked on slow and fast code practice texts for the upcoming week. For the previous, week he processed 8 electronic VUCC applications, and processed 397 VUCC credits.

IMG_0720 (002) On Friday, April 21, HQ was visited by four West Point cadets (including two licensees), West Point Electrical Engineering Professor (Matt, KF4WZB), Joe, N6CL (Director of Religious Education), and his wife Carol, W6CL. Dave Patton led them on a full tour with expanded information about ARRL and our programs and work. Several Department managers and assistants (thanks Bob Allison, Maria Somma, Joe Carcia) stepped-up with excellent explanations of the ongoing work in their respective areas of ARRL. Tom Gallagher joined everyone for lunch and led a wide-ranging back-and-forth with our guests that moved this already energized group on their way to license upgrades, and consideration of expanded work and assistance at the West Point club station, W2KGY. In the February 2017 issue of QST, Matthew Sherburne, KF4WZB reported on renovations underway at W2KGY, the West Point Amateur Radio Club.

Media and Public Relations

Reported by Sean Kutzko, KX9X

Sean Kutzko coordinated an interview with Emergency Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U, and ARRL Colorado Section Manager Jack Ciaccia, WM0G, for Emergency Management magazine. The article highlights the desire to be involved with public service as a main reason for growth in Amateur Radio licenses.

Kutzko also was interviewed by a high school reporter at Lyndon B Johnson High School in Round Rock, TX; the school newspaper was seeking comment on the school’s student club station, K5LBJ, winning the Spring 2017 School Club Roundup.

Kutzko and his team of video freelancers completed shooting and editing four new videos this month: Tom Gallagher’s May “60-Second Century” editorial promo; The Yaesu FT891 Product Review, and two videos in the new series “ARRL Tech Tips.” Tech Tips is a series of 100-second videos aimed at teaching one specific project or task, targeting newly-licensed or inexperienced hams. One teaches how to build a 2-meter ground plane out of coat hangers, and the other offers instruction on how to properly fill out a QSL card. These will be posted to the ARRL YouTube channel shortly.

Kutzko also began working with QST Managing Editor Becky Schoenfeld to coordinate ARRL’s media plan during Hamvention.

Social media stats for the week of April 15-22:

Facebook: 74,437 followers (up 118 since April 14)

Twitter: 30,126 followers (up 81 since April 14

Instagram: 2,584 followers (up 48 since April 14)

Media & PR are also experimenting with the use of exclusive content on Instagram to boost ARRL’s following on that platform.

Posts with most engagement:

Joe Walsh for #internationalGuitarMonth

Video of Sean KX9X making W1AW satellite contacts on #WorldAmateurRadioDay

ARRL President Rick Roderick and CEO Tom Gallagher’s message for #WorldAmateurRadioDay

Radiosport

Reported by Norm Fusaro, W3IZ

Paper/Fieldcheck Processing Time	2 – 3 Weeks
Logbook Processing Time	1 – 2 Business Days
2017 DXCC Applications	4,019
2017 WAS Applications	486
2017 VUCC Applications	145
2017 WPX Applications	197

Sales and Marketing
Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R

Now shipping: 2017 ARRL Field Day supplies; t-shirts, hats, pins, etc. All advance orders have been shipped.

We completed some additional planning for ARRL’s exhibits and activities at Hamvention, May 19-21. Team shirts and exhibitor badges will mail on Friday, April 28. Bob Inderbitzen is particularly pleased with planning for the ARRL Collegiate Amateur Radio Initiative booth – which includes support from a dozen young hams. Yvette Vinci sent out a reminder to staff about having materials bulk shipped to Hamvention (that deadline was April 27). The shipment is expected to arrive in Ohio on Friday, May 5. Jackie Ferreira coordinated the production for booth banners, posters, and other signs.

Yvette prepared a reminder emailing to members with a summary of “What’s Trending” in May QST. The notification was sent to 118,298 members on Wednesday, April 19.

Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations

Leona Adams 05/26 PTO

“ 06/26 – 06/30 PTO

Bob Allison 05/18 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Margie Bourgoin 05/17 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Joe Carcia 05/04 PTO

“ 05/26 PTO

“ 06/09 PTO

“ 06/16 PTO

“ 07/05 – 07/07 PTO

“ 07/14 PTO

“ 07/21 PTO

“ 07/28 PTO

“ 08/04 PTO

“ 08/07 – 08/11 PTO

“ 08/25 PTO

“ 10/09 PTO

Lauren Clarke 05/17 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Michael Corey 04/20 – 05/01 PTO

“ 05/15 – 05/18 National VOAD Conference, Houston, TX

“ 05/18 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Jon Faasen 05/17 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Steve Ford 05/19 PTO

Norm Fusaro 05/18 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Tom Gallagher 05/05 PTO

“ 05/18 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

“ 06/01 – 06-04 SEA-PAC, Seaside, OR

“ 06/26 PCC.II Meeting, Orlando, FL

Regina Galuppi 05/17 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Scott Gee 05/18 – 05/19 PTO

“ 05/30 – 06/02 PTO

“ 06/29 – 06/30 PTO

“ 09/15 – 09/18 PTO

Perry Green TBD Medical Leave

Mike Gruber 05/18 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Bob Inderbitzen 05/17 – 05/22 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

“ 06/01 – 06/04 SEA-PAC, Seaside, OR

“ 06/30 – 07/05 PTO

“ 07/11 – 07/17 HAM RADIO, Friedrichshafen, Germany

“ 07/18 PTO

“ 08/21 – 08/25 PTO

Sabrina Jackson 05/18 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Sean Kutzko 05/17 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

“ 05/25 – 05/30 Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Cody, WY

“ 06/29 – 06/30 PTO

Kimberly McNeill 05/17 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Dave Patton 05/17 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Michael Scharr 05/17 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Becky Schoenfeld 05/18 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Yvette Vinci 05/17 – 05/21 Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH

Compiled and Edited by:

Carla Pereira, Assistant to CEO