<<042909.doc>>

IN-Newsletter

Vol. 32, No. 17

April 29, 2009  --  Covers the period April 19-25.

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Second Board Meeting

July 17-18, 2009 @ 9:00am in Windsor, CT

Regulatory Information

Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND

A good conversation was held with Jeff Binckes, who is working with the Alfred Mann Foundation on the implanted medical devices on the 70cm band.  He wanted information on our work with the PAVE PAWS radar system, in general trying to get a feel for how wide an impact that posed nationwide.  We shared that while there were two PPR sites in the continental US, that several other US military installations used the 70cm band for other radar projects, including Eglin AFB (FL) Cavalier AFB (ND), Clear AFB (AK) as well as NASA using it at Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.

A draft letter was written for the EVP to send to the Polish national society regarding how RFI safety standards for amateur radio in the US were developed and implemented.  We also spoke with the VEC as they were contacted for information on the ongoing Lucas County Skywarn callsign problem currently being addressed by the FCC. Since it is in FCC hands, they were advised not to be involved any further with either of the two parties involved.

We received a report that there was a bill being offered in the Texas state legislature that would mandate some type of combination of ARES and RACES.  It was also reported that if the bill did not pass that the governor’s office of Emergency Management would implement it anyway.  This report was passed on to the West Gulf team who had their people checking into it.  They will be trying to set up a meeting with the DEM office in Texas to clarify what is being considered.

The Honolulu City Council has passed a cellphone ordinance, which includes an exemption for amateur radio.  The “big island” of Hawaii is facing a similar ordinance that does not include an exemption.  Pacific section leaders are looking to work with the island council to have it conform to the Oahu ordinance.

With Field Day preparations kicking into high gear for most groups, we are experiencing a high number of Field Day queries and calls.  There are now 483 sites listed on the locator applet representing 48 states – only North Dakota and Maine are not currently represented.  There are also sites listed for five Canadian provinces/territories, as well as Puerto Rico.

Media & Public Relations

Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP

The past week was spent at the National Association of Broadcasters convention and the Radio and Television News Directors of America convention.  Many old contacts were renewed and new ones made.  Two major initiatives were begun – seeking to have our PSA’s distributed through the NAB and also possibilities of an EmComm display at the RTNDA in 2010.  The Bill Leonard Award was presented to Ted Randall at the Amateur Radio reception sponsored by Bob Heil.  Many nice things were said about the ARRL from the podium at that reception by Bob, Ted and John Marino.  We also received word that FEMA is now using our PSA videos for updating their field training workshops.  Many PSAs were requested and delivered – both the technology one and also the Field Day promotional piece.

PR-101 CD’s have been delivered, are now serialized and will be passed on to Bob Inderbitzen for marketing this week.  Cost should be $19.95 for the course.  This is well within the December survey’s results when PIOs were asked about course costs.  They are to be available at Dayton and also via the ARRL’s web marketing.

Development

Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH

A trip to the International DX Convention in Visalia CA was both fruitful and delightful.  In addition to seeing many current donors and Maxim Society donors, there were conversations with two donors who expressed their intent to reach Maxim Society level in their cumulative giving.  John Scott Redd, KØDQ was the speaker at the banquet and held a rapt audience in the palm of his had with a combination of ham radio stories, sea stories and his view of the current world terrorist situation.  Sunday morning, Bob Allphin, K4UEE and members of his team told the story of the recent DXpedition to Desecheo Island, K5D.

The ARRL Maxim Society membership currently stands at 61, with 3 new members to be honored at the annual Donor Reception in Dayton.

Nearly 90 donors who have contributed $1000 or more annually will attend the 2009 Donor Reception with honored guest Tim Ellam, VE6SH.

Development is awaiting delivery of more than 30 personalized bricks to be installed in the Diamond Terrace.

Contributions to the ARRL Diamond Club now total $68,620 with a healthy average contribution of $161.  The Defense Fund has raised $30,000 during the first three months of the year with a higher than usual average contribution of $99.73.

More than six plaques have been ordered for members of 50 years or more.

Production/Editorial

Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE

Khrystyne Keane wrote and Joel Kleinman distributed The ARRL Letter, Vol. 28, No. 16, for April 24, 2009.  ARRL Audio News will resume May 1.

Joel Hallas has completed the ARRL online Digital Electronics course.

Lab

Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI

RFI

The Power Line noise case that Mike Gruber investigated near Atlanta, GA, remains ongoing.  Laura Smith has issued follow-up FCC letters to both utilities involved.  It appears they have fixed some of the sources Mike found, but can’t seem to locate any additional sources.

FCC interference investigations are pretty much on temporary hold as a result of the transition to DTV.  Laura Smith indicates she expects non-DTV related FCC field investigations to resume once the transition is complete.

Mike Gruber referred Ron Hranac to Laura Smith concerning a CATV interference investigation in Norfolk, VA.  This is not an ARRL case but Ron offered to help if he could.

I attended the ANSI asc C63 EMC committee meeting at IEEE HQ in Piscataway, NJ.

Lab Maintenance

Mike Gruber purchased a new Simpson 260 analog VOM.

QST

Bob Allison brought in a real “Spy” radio set to be photographed for a possible “Ask the Doctor” question. Stop by and see it.

W1HQ/W1INF

Saturday, Bob Allison assisted me in hosting the New England QRP Club at ARRL HQ.  He opened the Screen Room and tested members’ radios for minimum discernable signal and spectral purity.  He also opened up W1HQ for operation. A fter lunch, he opened up W1AW for operation.  All had a good time and thanked us for our hospitality.

Sales and Marketing

Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R

The spring publications catalog has arrived.  A 60,000 piece publications solicitation has mailed.

An emailing to lapsed members was distributed on Thursday, April 23.

An emailing promoting the ARRL Visa credit card was sent to members on Monday, April 27.

Diane and Bob attended an e-technology summit sponsored by the Hartford Business Journal.  A variety of workshops were given, with a focus on social networking.

The Warehouse crew fulfilled 761 packages for publication and product orders, and shipped 316 free book membership premiums and QST mailing supplements.  Publication and product sales have topped $210k this month, with a few days remaining to reach the $247k goal.

2009 ARRL National Convention Planning

* 70% of the big Dayton shipment has been assembled.

* Convention news and information is regularly posted at www.arrl.org/expo.

ARRL Conventions

Date    Name    Division        City    State   HQ Representative      
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       RM Division     RM      Estes Park      CO      H. Kramer/M. Gruber    
May 30  AT Division     AT      Rochester       NY      Dan Henderson  
Jun 5-7 NW Division (SeaPac)    NW      Seaside OR      Dave Sumner    
Jun 6   Georgia State   SE      Marietta        GA             
Jun 12-13       WG Division (Ham-Com)   WG      Plano   TX      Dave Sumner    
Jun 13  Tennessee State DL      Knoxville       TN      Steve Ewald    
Jun 26-28       HAM RADIO 2009  Int’l   Friedrichshafen Germany B. Inderbitzen/D. Patton       

Membership & Volunteer Programs

Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N

W1AW

Thanks to Bob Allison, WB1GCM, for his hosting at W1AW on Saturday members of the New England QRP Club.

Joe updated the web code practice files and their archives.  He began assembling for test purposes (and eventual install) a new Yaesu G-5500B Azimuth/Elevation rotator.  This Az/El equipment will replace the current Yaesu rotators that have been in operation for about 11 years.  Following up on a report of interference from the 2-meter broadcast transmissions, Joe also conducted some spectral tests of the 2-meter broadcast equipment, in addition to monitoring the repeater that was supposedly affected.  (No interference was heard or found in the tests.)

Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files for the latter part of the month of April and early May.  He also began training with Carol Michaud to assist the DXCC department with plaque ordering data entry.

Field Organization/Public Service Team

Leona Adams reports that she received two SM nomination petitions for the following sections: Lee Cooper, W5LHC of South Texas; Mark Tharp, KB7HDX of Eastern Washington.  Leona continues to update the Field Organization Data Base with new appointments.  She also updated Section budgets with new expenses.

One amateur from Indiana was added to the Official Observer roster after completing his certification this week.  Official Observers were asked to assist with tracing interference to a repeater in Illinois.  An unidentified pulse signal was reported on 3615 as well as one outside the amateur bands on 4770 for possible identification.  Information regarding a bootlegged call sign was forwarded to the FCC due to specific information given.  Questions handled this week included ones regarding BPL, identification on D-Star, operating on 60 meters, and reciprocal licensing.

Thomas Dick, KF2GC, of Saranac Lake, has returned to the office of Section Manager of Northern New York.  He has taken the reins of the Northern New York Field Organization from Tom Valosin, WB2KLD, who had been Section Manager since 2007.  Steve Ewald and Leona Adams have been in touch with Tom to help with the transition.  Steve also prepared for his upcoming trips to the Louisiana State Convention and the Pacific Division Convention/EMCOMMWEST.

Sincerely Compiled by,

Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ

Assistant to the CEO

Staff Absentee List

All Staff       5/25            Holiday

Kathy Allison           5/14-5/15       Vacation

Bob Allison             5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Steve Capodicasa        5/11-5/15       Vacation

Joe Carcia              5/8             Vacation

     ``                 5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

     ``                 5/22pm          Vacation

     ``                 6/19            Vacation

     ``                 7/10            Vacation

Jackie Cornell          5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Steve Ewald             4/24-4/30       Louisiana State Convention, Monroe, LA/Vacation

     ``                 5/1-5/4         Pacific Division Conv/EMCOMM West; Reno, NV

Steve Ford              5/14-5/20       Dayton Hamvention/Vacation

     ``                 6/3-6/5         Publishers Conference, Washington, DC

     ``                 6/27-7/5        Vacation

Scott Gee               5/14-5/15       Vacation

     ``                 5/28-5/29       Vacation

     ``                 7/2             Vacation

Amanda Grimaldi 5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

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

Joel Hallas             4/27-5/1        Vacation

      ``                        5/12-5/18       Dayton Hamvention/Vacation

Nancy Hallas            5/12-5/18               Dayton Hamvention/Vacation

Ed Hare         5/13-5/18       Vacation

     ``                 5/19-5/20       IEEE SDCom EMC committee, Philadelphia, PA

     ``                 5/21-5/24       Wyoming State Convention

Dan Henderson           5/14-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

    ``                  5/29-5/31       Atlantic Division Convention, Rochester, NY

Mary Hobart             5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

     ``                 6/12-6/16       Vacation

Amy Hurtado             5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Bob Inderbitzen         5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Karen Isakson           5/12-5/17       Dayton Hamvention/Vacation

Deb Jahnke              5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Khrystyne Keane 5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Joel Kleinman           5/1pm-5/4am     Vacation

     ``                 5/22            Vacation

    ``                  6/4             Association Publishing Conference, Washington, DC

Harold Kramer           5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Lisa Kustosik           5/13-5/15       Vacation

Sean Kutzko, KX9X       5/14-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Rose-Anne Lawrence      5/22-5/26       Vacation

Maryann Macdonald       5/14-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Kim Mancuso             5/4-5/8         Vacation

Bill Moore              5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Dave Patton             5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Diane Petrilli          5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Allen Pitts             5/14-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

    ``                  5/28-6/2        Vacation

Brennan Price           5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Chuck Skolaut           5/1-5/3         South Carolina Section Convention, Spartanburg, SC

Maria Somma             5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Dave Sumner             5/7-5/8         Vacation

     ``                 5/13-5/17       Dayton Hamvention

Larry Wolfgang          5/14-5/17       Dayton Hamvention