IN-Newsletter Vol. 26, No. 37 September 17, 2003 Development The special Spectrum Defense campaign against BPL has raised nearly $274,000 from 5059 donors. The average contribution has climbed to a campaign high of $54.13. The donor list includes 59 clubs that will be recognized in the November QST along with clubs that donated to other segments of our Spectrum Defense campaigns this year. The Education & Technology Program contributions have reached nearly $93,000 from 1474 donors. This campaign continues to enjoy the highest average contribution of any in our Development program -- $62.89 - thanks to some very generous contributions from key donors. Development held a small but high quality Donor Recognition Event in Washington DC on September 15 at Gallaudet University. President Haynie, W5JBP, CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, and host, Robert Weinstock, W3RQ, on hand to greet donors and the guest of honor, Representative Mike Ross WD5DVR, of Arkansas. Rep. Ross's comments about his introduction to Amateur Radio and his commitment to education resonated with the audience. He is dedicated to working with ARRL to expand the reach and voice for Amateur Radio in official Washington. On Sept.16 Development staff met with John Chwat and Derek Riker in Washington to develop a strategy for federal program grants. Focus on this strategy will be on emergency communications and education for 2004, 2005 and 2006. ARRL received a $1000 grant from IBM generated by an application form IBM employee Tom Agoston, WB2HTJ. While IBM does not match employee contributions, they will match volunteer hours. The grant is providing partial funding for the most recent printing of the Field Resources Manual. Media Relations Jennifer distributed a press release to promote year-two of the CNCS grant. The media list included many of the reporters who covered the initial grant story last year. Immediate interest came in from KTVT-TV in Dallas. Jennifer is working with SM Rabey to round up a few good interviewees for the television reporter. The release was posted to the League's PR pages and shared with participants of the PR reflector, with the hope that they'd use it on the local level to promote the activities of local hams who have taken the EmComm courses. A separate pitch to include UTC grant information was used with the Connecticut media, and all contacts were informed that we'd very likely have news regarding ham radio activity during Hurricane Isabel later in the week. The Daily Kent Stater, the campus newspaper at Kent State University in Ohio, is planning to run a feature article on ham radio. Jennifer worked with a student writer and gave him a general overview of ham radio today. He was particularly interested in current demographics and emergency communications. Jennifer and he talked at length about ARRL's outreach to youth, the League's connection with the Department of Homeland Security, and specific examples of ham radio's role during disasters. Jennifer assisted a member in Arizona who wanted ham radio PR information to include in a club presentation. Logbook of the World Logbook of the World opened for business September 15. In the first four days of operation, slightly over 1000 valid certificate requests have been received. More than 600 postcards with passwords were mailed Wednesday. On Thursday the first few passwords were entered online by Connecticut hams who received the postcard the day after it was sent. We expect to issue the first certificates on Friday or Monday. We continue to refine the HQ administrative tools for efficient handling of certificate request issues, and the Logbook user Web site is undergoing some final tweaking preparatory to being made available to Logbook users. We have made a number of small corrections and changes to the system, but so far everything is working as anticipated. Production/Editorial We checked printer's proofs for a new printing of Experimental Methods in RF Design and the Microwave Update Proceedings, and released the Antenna Book CD to the duplicator. Rick Lindquist reports The ARRL Letter Vol 22, No 36 (Sep 12) circulated to 66,157 members, up by 124 from a week earlier. Rick wrote/edited stories on ham radio's response to Hurricane Fabian, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station contact with students at Cornell University, IARU administrative council meeting in Amsterdam (w/ thanks to Dave Sumner for the news release and the photos), President Haynie addressing the 9/11 Commemorative Net, ARRL honoring the Amateur Radio Today production team, a problem with the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System, "In Brief" (19 items), "The FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters" and several news briefs. Rick produced and edited ARRL Audio News with voiceover assistance from Jennifer Hagy. Dave Hassler finished up a Web report on the renewal of the federal CNCS grant, which allows hams to be reimbursed after completing the ARRL Level 1 EmComm course. The grant is in its second year of a three-year disbursement. He also edited a number of feature articles for the ARRL Web site and began work on the November QST column, "ARRL in Action." Joel Hallas reports that the November QST Product Review column is in the final approval stage. The November/December issue of NCJ is almost complete with 90% of articles in place and the cover defined and in process. As requested by management, Joel has prepared a proposal to sell surplus equipment on eBay, rather than through auction in QST. Sales & Marketing Deb Jahnke spent a portion of the week assisting ICOM staff in putting together their 2004 advertising plans. In addition, we're pleased that they have committed to an additional 15 pages over the coming months. The group continues preparing its 2004/2005 Plan. Bob contributed material for updating the periodic QST Reader Survey, last conducted in 2000. RSGB is wrapping up production on a new book, titled International Antenna Collection. The book is a joint effort of RSGB and ARRL. About 65% of the book is made-up of material contributed by ARRL, with the remainder contributed by RSGB and other IARU societies. A supply of books will ship to us before the end of the month. Based on a suggestion made by Mike Tracy, we'll soon resurrect the old L/C/F & Coil Winding Calculator. The slide rule is being reintroduced for reasons that include its continued utility to experimenters (convenient to use at the workbench, etc.), and some nostalgia. It hasn't been offered for many years. Mike gets requests for the item, particularly from folks that have lost or worn theirs out. We've identified a vendor that handles the unique production of this type of item. The product will be available in about 6 weeks. Suggested retail, $12.95. The new ARRL Membership benefits brochure is now available to download and print from the following web pages: www.arrl.org/join.html; www.arrl.org/services.html On Monday (Sept 15), Bob Inderbitzen rolled out the new editions of The ARRL Handbook and The ARRL Antenna Book on the e-store. An email solicitation was sent to 45,000 ARRL members, seeking pre-orders for the new products. Nearly $4,000 in sales was received during the first night. The new editions are featured in October QST (page 18). Bob also wrapped up a direct mail solicitation to further initial sales of the products. It will mail to 35,000 customers within the next week. Pre-orders are now being accepted for the following new products: --The ARRL Antenna Book 20th edition (book with CD-ROM) http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=9043 --The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications (2004 hardcover edition) http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1972 --The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications (2004 softcover edition) http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1964 --The ARRL Handbook CD for Radio Communications (2004) http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1980 Now available for ordering on the ARRLWeb: Theory and Practice of Transmission Line Transformers CD-ROM http://www.arr.org/catalog/?item=9088 Membership Services Awards Branch WAS Certs. (400 QSLs F/C) 8 WAS Certs. (350 QSLs ES/C) 7 LTMA Inquiries 3 VUCC End. Apps. 2 Grids 202 Processing Status: Current or up to four weeks. For the coming week-WAS QSL card checking, Code Proficiency awards, continued VUCC awards processing/mailing, and continued work on budget matters. DXCC Branch For the week of: September 14, 2003 Beginning Cards 102,947 Cards Received 17,961 Cards Processed 3,764 Ending Cards 117,144 Applications Pending 1,082 Processing Time 6.5 Weeks Year-to-date (2003) Cards Received 429,451 Cards Returned 519,972 DXCC is currently mailing applications received on July 31, 2003. DXCC is currently entering cards received on August 14, 2003. Contest Branch Data entry for Field Day was completed and a Logs Received page was posted to the web. Corrections or missing entries were being handled. Data entry for IARU continued. A one-page article for QST on rules changes for the 2003-2004 season was written and sent to Production. Work was done on various items related to the 2004 budget. W1AW Thanks to Mark Spencer, WA8SME for operating W1AW in the FISTS Coast To Coast contest. He made enough QSOs on 20-meter CW to earn W1AW a certificate for the event. Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files for the latter part of the month of September. He also handled some evening phone sales calls in the 5 PM to 8 PM time slot. Joe updated the web code practice files. He processed regular W1AW QSL card requests, and also repaired a software problem with the Studio Three PC used for digital communications. W1AW Telephone Sales year to date (2003): $22,399. Field & Educational Services Rosalie took part in a VRC telecon; she and Wade Walstrom prepared minutes. She set up an ARISS international school committee telecon, and prepared minutes from the meeting and the previous meeting. She assisted a ham who proposed a radio program to an area school that was selected for a special NASA project. She and Steve worked with staff and Riley Hollingsworth on a guide on emergency declarations for SMs. The Webster (NY) high school had a good ARISS QSO. The contact generated some good publicity - three TV reports and three newspaper stories. Field Organization/Public Service Team A few SMs were still visiting Steve Ewald and Chuck Skolaut early this week after last weekend's successful SM Workshop; nice comments from Workshop participants are being received, along with some suggestions for improvement next year. Steve worked on his Public Service column for November QST. His team monitored Hurricane Henri and Hurricane Isabel's progress. Leona Adams sent a monthly Field Organization appointment report by e-mail to each SM. She worked with candidates to prepare for elections in Kansas and Tennessee. With the September 5 nomination deadline past, incumbent SMs will begin January 2004 terms in Alaska, Santa Barbara, New Mexico, Western Massachusetts, East Bay and Delaware. Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, was the only Alabama nominee. Chuck forwarded a report of a possible pirate station on the FM broadcast band in Kansas, and received additional documentation about jamming in the San Francisco area. A number of reports of possible boot-legging of calls arrived. Over the past month, 22 SMs have sent 44 e-mail messages for Chuck to relay to members, and all but five SMs have posted to their Section Web pages or updated their Monthly Summary or sent e-mail to members. It was quiet in Orange, South Texas, US Virgin Islands, Utah, and Wyoming. Regulatory Information John Hennessee worked with amateurs with a local government zoning problem in Islip, NY (W2IW), and with a covenant problem in Haines City, FL (W4LHP). He made updates to the VC database. He has noticed an increase in amateurs inquiring about the WRC-03 implementations, and has asked them to keep their Director in the loop. Field & Education Support Team JOTA pre-activity has begun; Jean Wolfgang is receiving JOTA questions by email and phone. She is working on additions to the Web scout page and hopes to soon have them finished. After Jean posted an invitation to "register" JOTA activity at two Scout/Radio sites, there have been several new additions to the Youth Skeds page. Margie Bourgoin reports that she sent out 5 sets of paperwork for brand new clubs for Director approval. She also processed one new SSC this week, plus one renewal, and notes an increase in Volunteer Instructor activity. Gail Iannone wrote 17 hamfest and 3 convention announcements for November QST; sent 6 hamfest and 2 convention approval letters to sponsoring committees confirming the Director's approval of the events as ARRL-sanctioned; processed 1 label request, 9 door prize orders and 1 handout package for an upcoming convention. She coordinated travel for Dan Henderson to be the HQ rep at the South Carolina Section Convention, November 8. Mary Lau reviewed the applications and rosters of three Category 1 clubs in South Texas, Nevada, and Kansas; and one Category 3 regional club in Wisconsin. She has also begun working with Margie Bourgoin on revision to our affiliated Club Kit. Linda Mullally updated 24 clubs, registered 10 Instructors and sent out seven Exhibit kits and three JOTA Kits. She also mailed out 12 initial supply packages to new appointments. CCE Howard Robins reports the new Antenna Design and Construction course is still awaiting posting by our Web host. He developed a list of future courses to consider, and set up a meeting to discuss these and updates possibly needed to existing courses. He prepared and sent email reminders to 10 people for the Level 3 class opening next week. Jerry Ellis processed volunteer mentors for registrants in the Level 1 class that starts next Tuesday. He handled student fulfillment -- printing ARECC graduate certificates and ID cards, and mailing them with reimbursement checks. He processed Field Exam paperwork. Amateur Radio Education and Technology Project Mark Spencer's correspondence has shifted away from individuals and clubs to school teachers requesting information to assist their programs; they ask for "how do I" advice. Curriculum downloads subsided to 60 this week; the total is 833. Mark gave a presentation to visiting SMs on considering establishing an Assistant SM for education outreach to help integrate ham radio and wireless technology into schools. Some had already contemplated establishing something. Mark continues to get asked by individuals, clubs and teachers for information on making Project proposals; a number reported back about receptive audiences. EmComm Grants Dan developed a list of travel events with potential costs to possibly budget for CNCS grant Year 2. His EmComm seminars are moving to the next level for Year 2 and will include a wider variety of EmComm volunteers, in particular, the Field Organization and ARES members. Dan is preparing for a FEMA Region IV seminar at Ft. Gordon, GA. He assisted Steve, Chuck and Mark Spencer with the Section Manager Workshop. 73, Sincerely, Mark Wilson, K1RO Chief Operating Officer MW:lk Staff Absentee List Dave Sumner 9/19-9/21 W9DXCC Convention Dennis Motschenbacher 9/23-9/26 MFJ/ArraySol/TXTwr sales calls 10/2-10/6 Ten Tec Hamfest 10/10-10/12 NNY Section Convention 10/15-10/19 HRO, Pacificon Convention 11/6-11/7 Training Wayne Mills 9/19-9/21 W9DXCC Convention Joe Carcia 9/19pm-9/26 Vacation Rick Lindquist 10/30-11/7 Vacation Dan Miller 9/20-9/22 FEMA region IV Conference, Ft. Gordon, GA Bob Inderbitzen 9/17-9/19 Training Margie Bourgoin 9/19 Vacation Mary Lau 9/29-10/3 Vacation Zack Lau 9/29-10/3 Vacation Stu Cohen 9/15-9/18 Vacation