<<082207.doc>> IN-Newsletter <<Microsoft Word Picture>> Vol. 30, No. 34 August 22, 2007 -- Covers the period August 12-18. Upcoming Meetings and Events Executive Committee October 6 in Little Rock, AR United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) October 8-12 - ARRL HQ Ballot Counting for Director/Vice Director Elections November 16 in Newington, CT Administration &Finance Committee November 17 in Newington, CT Regulatory Information Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND As the ARRL Lab provided final confirmation the individualized PAVE PAWS mitigation information letter began being sent on Monday August 13. This will continue over the course of the nest week. An honest assessment is that the large number of the DOD-identified repeaters will not be able to remain on the air based on the measured and calculated amount of signal-strength reductions required (ranging from 7dB to 67dB). Regulatory Information and the ARRL Lab will continue to work with individual repeater owners on questions and techniques to further implement the required DoD reductions. We also spoke with the Air Force Spectrum Management people and they believe a follow-up teleconference in early September would be advisable. This will be scheduled. During the week initial data entry for Field Day entries was completed and the combined Logs Received list was posted to the ARRL Web. We are now handling corrections, omissions, errors, etc. It appears that for 2007 a record number of Field Day entries were received. We also are working with MVP Manager Dave Patton as necessary on contest-related matters during the period where there is no contest manager. Also during the week the presentation for the ARRL Stage at Huntsville was prepared. Media & Public Relations Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP Allen Pitts presented at GAREC about the need for a PIO to be in the JIC at any ARES deployment. We lose far too many good stories because no one is in the right place speaking to media at the time of the incident. With a 24 hour news cycle, even a few hours later is too little too late. This was well received and while many of the region's groups have recently added this to their action plans, approximately a dozen other groups stated that they will be adding this component to their activities and gave us names of who will be their PIO. This information was also well received by some of the international representatives who asked for copies of our PR materials and permission to translate and modify them for use in their home countries. Allen did an interview with TV station WAFF. Despite emails and faxes to all other stations and papers in the region, in addition to the work of the hamfest staff themselves, only this one TV station covered the events. Over 8,000 "Getting the Message Through" brochures were requested later at the hamfest in Huntsville along with copies of "Talk on a Disk" and the "Swiss Army Knife for PIOs - 2007" CDs. 14 more people requested to be added to the PR email reflector and there were several requests for information on how to become an ARRL PIO. The PR booth was well manned by the following people at the Huntsville ARRL Expo Media and PR booth: Allen Pitts, W1AGP, Sherri Brower, W4STB, Geoff Haines, N1GY, Myra Kitchen, K3PGH, Louise Connolly, KI4LNN, Amy Bullock, N5TBB, Karl Bullock, WA5TMC and Brett Shaler, KE5ALK. We also noted that a small sample (200 copies) of the reprinted "Hello!" brochure went out quickly and people were delighted to see that it was available again. The billboard on I-40 in Tennessee is up and pictures of it are available. Cliff Segar, KD4GT, made this possible and it is hoped that it may trigger other land owners who have outdoor signs on their properties to consider this opportunity. Allen has been accepted to attend the FEMA training for advanced crisis PIO work. The classes will be held at FEMA's site in Emmitsburg, MD in December. Development Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH Development was represented at the ARRL National Convention in Huntsville last weekend as were many of the HQ Departments. While our area was relatively quiet, we did come home with 2 new Legacy Circle commitments and interest was strong in the Diamond Terrace. We received word of a new $10,000 estate gift that should be in hand in the next couple of weeks. The new Membership pages continue to generate contributions to Spectrum Defense in advance of the membership solicitation scheduled for September. Production/Editorial Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE The 2008 ARRL Handbook has been released to the printer, as have new editions of The HF Digital Handbook and Low Power Communication. In addition, files for the Handbook CD were turned over to programmer Hugh Brower and a new title, FCC Rules and Regulations, was released to the printer. We checked printer's proofs for the September/October issues of NCJ and QEX. Khrystyne Keane gave a talk on how to write for QST at the National Convention in Huntsville. Khrystyne and Joel Kleinman wrote and prepared the ARRL Letter, Vol. 26, No. 33, for Friday, August 17. It was distributed to 65,506 members, an increase of 213 over last week. ARRL Audio News will resume Friday, August 24. The October issue of QST will be released to the printer August 23. Joel Hallas has turned in most of the technical material for the November issue. Membership & Volunteer Programs Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N QSL Branch There is no delay in opening mail and a 1 day delay in slotting of cards. This week, 95 pounds of cards were received from members. W1AW Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files for the latter part of the month of August. He also assisted the DXCC department with checking database-inputted cards against DXCC applications. Joe updated the web code practice files and their archives. He processed one Qualifying Run certificate. Joe also processed and uploaded logs to LoTW for contacts made the previous week. Field Organization/Public Service Team A new member has been added to the ARRL Monitoring System/Intruder Watch and two new Official Observers completed certification this week. Word was received that the FBI and local FCC office became involved with the case of a bootlegger using several Rockford, IL, repeaters. Chuck Skolaut learned that the South American "PUN' beacon continues to be heard on many of the amateur bands, and the FCC informs us that they have sent another request to the country responsible to get it resolved. The FCC has been asked to assist in locating an unidentified beacon on 30 meters. Intruder reports this week included a "numbers" station on 20 meters and a suspected BY7 Over the Horizon radar on 30 meters. Chuck also filled in at W1AW for one session of the early code practice and assisted visitors in operating W1AW afterward. Incumbent Michigan Section Manager Dale Williams, WA8EFK, has been nominated to run for another term of office starting January, 2008. Leona Adams has also followed up via e-mail to those SMs who have not yet sent in their nominations in case they want to run for another term that starts in January. She has been in touch with each Section Manager with current details of their section's annual budget. Fifteen new Field Organization appointee packages were sent out. Steve Ewald and Dennis Dura kept in touch with Pacific Section Leaders as Hurricane Flossie affected portions of Hawaii. We also heard from the Hurricane Watch Net, VoIP Hurricane Net, and WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center late in the week as Hurricane Dennis began its march through the Caribbean. Reports were gathered and posted on the ARRL Web's news page. Steve continued work on the Public Service column, and he filled in a couple of times as a HQ tour guide for visitors as other staff members traveled to Huntsville. Web/Software Development Reported by Jon Bloom, KE3Z Hugh Brower is working on the 2008 Handbook CD. Hugh also supplied weekend support for ARRL Web stories about Hurricane Dean, and he continues to try to work through problems with BellSouth delivery of our bulk e-mailings. Micah Murray continues to perform site updates and refinements to the membership forms. I worked on Web/Siebel integration programming before leaving on Thursday to attend the National Convention in Huntsville. Members I spoke to at the convention seemed upbeat and appreciative of the substantial ARRL showing there. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Staff Absentee List All Staff 9/3 Holiday Jon Bloom 8/23-8/24 Vacation `` 9/26-10/5 Vacation Hugh Brower 9/7-9/14 Vacation Steve Capodicasa 9/4-9/10 Vacation Joe Carcia 8/24 Vacation Steve Ford 9/7 Vacation Norm Fusaro 8/20-8/27 Japan Ham Fair, Tokyo, Japan Scott Gee 9/4 Vacation `` 9/21 Vacation Mike Gruber 10/1-10/5 Vacation Joel Hallas 8/20-8/24 Vacation Ed Hare 8/24-8/26 West Virginia State Convention, Weston, WV `` 8/27-8/28 Vacation Dan Henderson 8/16-8/28 ARRL National Convention, Huntsville, AL/Vacation `` 9/21-10/1 Wash. State Conv., Spokane, WA/PC NW VHF Conf., OR Mary Hobart 8/24 Vacation `` 8/31 Vacation `` 9/7-9/9 MFJ Anniversary/Starkville MS `` 9/14-9/16 W9DX Convention, Chicago, IL `` 10/5-10/6 DARA Board meeting, Dayton, OH Gail Iannone 8/17-8/31 Vacation Joel Kleinman 9/6-9/15 Vacation Zak Lau 8/16-8/24 Vacation Monique Levesque 8/30-9/4 Vacation AnnMarie Pinto 8/13-8/24 Vacation Allen Pitts 8/30-8/31 Vacation John Proctor 9/27-10/9 Vacation Barry Shelley 8/10-8/24 Vacation Dave Sumner 9/8-9/15 IARU Reg. 2 Conference, Brasilia Mike Tracy 9/7-9/14 Vacation `` 10/26 Vacation Perry Williams 7/19-9/4 Vacation
