IN-Newsletter
Vol. 41, No. 17
January 6, 2016 — Covers the period December 27-January 2.
Upcoming In-Person Meetings and Events
LoTW Study Committee
January 12 @ 9:00am in Newington, CT
CEO Search Committee
January 13 @ 9:00am in Newington, CT
Administration & Finance Committee
January 14 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT
Programs & Services Committee
January 14 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT
Annual Board Meeting
January 15-16 @ 9:00am in Windsor, CT
Lab
Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI
Product Review
Bob Allison performed a couple of retests and documented the results on a modern HF/6m transceiver. A data table and a document of observations were passed along to the manufacturer,
who will perform the same tests on one of their production units.
Historical Collection
Bob accepted a donation from Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ. Andy handled the estate of Gus Fallgren, W1OG (SK). The donation consisted of the very first transistorized Amateur Radio transmitter
to span the Atlantic, which Gus and two other Raytheon Engineers built in 1956. The transmitter’s RF output was only 0.08 Watts! Plenty of documentation was provided to tell its story, including an issue of Radio and Television magazine, in which Gus and
his transmitter were featured on the cover. This device fits the criteria of the ARRL Historical Collection since it played a significant role in the development of Amateur Radio.
EMC Committee
Mike Gruber is working on the EMC Committee Report
Operating
Just before the end of the year Zack Lau W1VT received his 2000th DXCC Challenge point.
Sales and Marketing
Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
Diane Petrilli reports that December ended with 170,528 members, 2,801 members ahead of the year-to-date goal. This represents a gain from November of 1,471 members; a gain of 606 was
forecast. The on-time renewal rate for December is 72.59% vs. 72.63% last December. The yearend membership gain was 4,864 members over 2014. This is an increase of 2.94% for the year (2.13% in 2014, 1.21% in 2013).
ARRL membership, having climbed for the 9th consecutive year, stands at its highest total in 19 years. This bodes well as we begin 2016 with the first dues increase in more than a decade.
The majority of this year’s growth is attributed to effective mail campaigns and emails to specific targeted groups. These efforts have been bolstered by activities throughout the organization that have helped grow our email lists.
Jackie Ferriera reports that December product sales were $367,022, exceeding the sales forecast of $345,995. Direct sales were $234,049; dealer sales were $132,973. Direct sales are
up $34.6k, and dealer sales are up $33k from December 2014. Royalties earned on sales of our Kindle e-books were $6,348 ($6,235 last month). In stark contrast to the sluggish first half of the year, sales exceeded forecast during the second half of the year.
Overall, publication sales totaled $3,084,938 in 2015 ($3,362,343 in 2014) -- $149,431 behind the forecast goal of $3,234,369. Not included in these yearend sales figures are royalties earned on sales of our growing list of Kindle e-books; $63,855 in 2015.
Warehouse Supervisor Steve Capodicasa reported that the warehouse processed 51,134 packages for individual and dealer orders in 2015 (48,876 in 2014).
New book, Small Antennas for Small Spaces 2nd Edition, contributed $6,246 in December. Our other new title, Work the World with JT65 and JT9, introduced the last week of
the month, and contributed $4,924.
Now Shipping: Work the World with JT65 and JT9, by Steve Ford, WB8IMY.
Members of the warehouse and fulfillment groups supported the annual physical inventory on Monday, January 4, organized by Diane Middleton. Fulfillment processing resumed on Tuesday afternoon,
January 5.
Summary of Sales and Marketing Department telephone group, reported by Yvette Vinci:
| Week Ending | Calls Answered | Calls Per Hour | Total Talking Duration | Average Speed of Answer |
| 12/31/2015 | 1028 | 28.5 | 37:03:19 | 13 seconds |
| 12/24/2015 | 754 | 20.9 | 26:08:53 | 12 seconds |
| 12/18/2015 | 1147 | 25.5 | 40:53:56 | 11 seconds |
| 12/11/2015 | 1059 | 23.5 | 35:36:46 | 13 seconds |
Summary of warehouse fulfillment activity, reported by Steve Capodicasa:
| Week Ending | Packages fulfilled | Member Premiums |
| 12/31/2015 | 1,522 | 1,112 |
| 12/24/2015 | 970 | 578 |
| 12/18/2015 | 1,383 | 872 (helped by Mailroom) |
| 12/11/2015 | 1,155 | 1,074 |
Field Services & Radiosport
Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N
DXCC
| Paper/Fieldcheck Processing Time | 3 - 4 Weeks |
| Logbook Processing Time | 2 - 4 Business Days |
Number of Centennial applications processed:
| Centennial Challenge QSO | 2819 |
| W1AW/WAS | 2002 |
W1AW
Despite the inclement weather the first part of the week, W1AW had quite its fair share of visitors during the holiday week (as is normally expected).
Joe Carcia began assembling the Azimuth and Elevation rotator sections for the ARISS Go-Kit. He’s also been working on the boom, tripod, and counterweight
sections in an effort to make the setup an easy one (on the school’s end).
Scott Gee electronically archived all the past year’s bulletin files, and reset the bulletin generation program for 2016.
Field Organization/Public Service Team
Thanks to the Mailroom staff for mailing the Section Manager Election ballots to members in the Virginia, Pacific and San Diego sections during the last week of 2015 and ahead of schedule.
Leona Adams continued to receive and process 2015 section expense reports before turning them over to the Accounting office for check issuance.
Karl Martin, W4JVM, of Chelsea, Alabama, has been nominated to run for the next term of office as Alabama Section Manager during this open period of resolicitation that extends until March
4. Because no nomination petitions were received for both Alabama and Alaska by the original nomination deadline of September 4, 2015, nominations are now being resolicited. The next terms of office will start on July 1, 2016, and last for 18 months.
Alabama Section Manager David Drummond, W4MD, will continue as the Section Manager for the first half of this 2016 even though his term of office concluded on December 31, 2015.
In Alaska, Ray Hollenbeck, KL1IL, of Wasilla, Alaska, was appointed to succeed Jim Larsen, AL7FS, effective on January 1. Ray Hollenbeck’s appointment is in effect for the first half
of 2016, and he is eligible to submit a petition to run for the next term of office. Dave Patton made the Section Manager appointment in consultation with Northwestern Division Director Jim Pace and the outgoing SM. Jim Larsen, of Anchorage, completed his
fourth term as SM at the end of December, and he decided not to run for another term.
Chuck Skolaut reports that a short week to finish 2015 was comprised mostly of sending supplies to Official Observers and receiving and following up on interference complaints. The complaints
included operation on 7255 kHz on the west coast, interference on 3908 kHz, continuation of interference on 6 meters in Oregon, and unlicensed hunters using 2 meters in Northern Florida. A West Virginia Official Observer was the target of some extreme negative
feedback resulting from the sending of an advisory. Our Intruder Watch monitors were alerted regarding a steady carrier heard on 14050 kHz.
Sincerely Compiled by,
Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ
Assistant to the CEO
Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations
All Staff 2/15 Holiday
Bob Allison 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Margie Bourgoin 2/10-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Lauren Clarke 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Mike Corey 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Norm Fusaro 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Mike Gruber 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Dan Henderson 1/14-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting
Gail Iannone 2/10-2/16 PTO
Bob Inderbitzen 2/10-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Debra Johnson 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Harold Kramer 1/14-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting
Lisa Kustosik 1/15-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting
`` 2/10-2/16 National Convention, Orlando, FL/PTO
Sean Kutzko 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Kim McNeill 2/10-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Dave Patton 1/14-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting
Diane Petrilli 1/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Barry Shelley 1/14-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting
Dave Sumner 1/8 DARA meeting, Dayton, OH
`` 1/14-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting
`` 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL
Yvette Vinci 2/10-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL