<<080509.doc>>
IN-Newsletter
Vol. 32, No. 31
August 5, 2009 -- Covers the period July 26-August 1.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Section Manager Workshop
September 25-27 – ARRL HQ
United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI)
October 12-16 – ARRL HQ
Technical Relations
Reported by Brennan Price, N4QX
The USTTI Amateur Radio Administration Course has been scheduled for October 12-16 in Newington.
Jon Siverling is attending meetings of US Study Group 1 this week. He is also chairing Wednesday's session of IWG-2 of the FCC's WRC-12 Advisory Committee, at which Brennan Price will introduce a proposal on WRC-12 Agenda Item 1.23 (500 kHz).
Media & Public Relations
Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP
The brochure for IARU emergency communications is progressing well. August CONTACT! has been posted and emailed. The new audio PSA that women can be hams too has been made available at http://www.arrl.org/pio/ARRL709D.mp3 plus an informal contest for people to create their own audio PSA’s promoting Amateur Radio has begun and can be seen at http://pr101.wordpress.com . (It will run until Oct 1) Two NM radio interviews are scheduled in the next week in preparation for going to the section’s convention at the Duke City Hamfest.
Two related issues have come up. In Oregon they are looking at developing a subset of PIOs specifically tasked to ARES and working on the scope, requirements and job descriptions for those positions. Meanwhile in Kentucky, an ARES activity received local media attention which was overall positive despite no PIO on scene - but held quotes from a local leader that Amateur Radio is “dying.” The KY-PIC, Nick White, NV9V, was alerted and working on correcting this when the article was repeated in the New York Times (Aug 2). There has been a great deal of discussion about these two activities.
Development
Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH
The Diamond Club logged nearly $20,000 in gross revenues for the month of July 2009, bringing the 2009 year-to-date revenues to $152,349 from 1150 contributions. Revenues for July are up 36% over July 2008 with particularly strong renewal response – up 12% over July 2008 renewal responses - with a strong 2009 average renewal gift of $177.26 compared to $119.18 in 2008. These results are due in part from a solicitation mailed to lapsed Diamond Club members.
Analysis of the Spectrum Defense Fund is nearing completion. This in-depth look at results from past years will help fine tune the fall campaign which is scheduled to mail in early September.
Production/Editorial
Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE
The Compass, the online publication for members of the US Power Squadrons, has published a shortened version of the article Joel Hallas wrote for the July 2009 issue of QST.
Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed The ARRL Letter, Vol 28, No 30, for July 31, 2009. She also voiced and produced ARRL Audio News for July 31.
Lab
Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI
Annual Auction
A break in testing has allowed Bob Allison prepare radios for our annual on-line auction. Several radios recently donated (very dirty) worked after minor repairs and running on the bench. Once deemed sellable, they were cleaned up and made presentable. Equipment that did not work will be sold at a future flea market.
Quite a bit of past Product Review equipment was turned over to the sales department for our on-line auction. Bob Allison’s new system of keeping track of equipment brought into and leaving the Lab helps this process.
RFI
Thanks to help from Mike Martin, we may finally see resolution in a longstanding power line noise case in Florida. Laura Smith will help facilitate a Mike Martin investigation later this month. Based on my urging, Ms. Smith will provide full FCC support, including a requirement that the involved utility provide a repair crew during the investigation.
Up until now, the FCC has not pursued this case in a manner a satisfactory manner. Apparently the Field Office closed the case and didn’t even tell the complainant. Laura Smith indicates they determined the noise was not strong enough to be considered harmful interference. As the record shows however, the same Field Office issued a citation in the same case for the same noise level. A more complete timeline is as follows:
o Approximately 1995 – Complainant hears noise and notifies utility
o 01-29-01 – Complainant first notifies ARRL
o 07-13-01 – Complainant notifies FCC
o 06-10-02 - FCC issues first letter to utility
o 01-09-03 - FCC issues second letter to utility
o 05-20-04 - FCC issues third letter to utility
o December 2005 – I visit site of complaint and generate noise report
o 05-16-06 - FCC issues citation to utility
o November 2007 – Two FCC field agents attend Mike Martin workshop and use this case as a training exercise. Two sources are quickly located in the neighborhood.
Mike Gruber has located a new volunteer to maintain the Sounds of RFI page, Craig Miller, KA1GYB. Craig has programming skills, in addition to his interest in RFI sounds.
Mike Gruber continued discussions with the Kansas City FCC Field Office—they want Mike to assist them in a difficult power line noise case when he heads out that way.
Mike Gruber has completed his update of the RFI web pages.
Mike Gruber is reviewing options for updating the RFI book’s TVI pages.
QST
Bob Allison worked with Joel Hallas testing open wire transmission line.
Technical Information Service
Bob Allison corresponded with a ham who wanted to know how to conduct a CW class. Bob explained how he did it years ago, but added what would be useful as far as equipment goes. Zack Lau, at the same time, placed a PowerPoint series of photos on “How to build a Practice Code Oscillator” on our web site. Strangely enough, Mike Gruber brought in a practice code oscillator to the Lab as a donation!
Sales and Marketing
Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
Membership
ARRL ended July with 155,308 members -- a net loss of 331 members over June. Membership is up 681 members (goal 1,776) for the calendar year. Returns from a large 50,000 piece membership campaign are expected to help boost August figures. The mailing dropped on July 30.
Product Sales
July product sales ended the month at $208,397—just short of goal by $9,793 (about a day’s worth of sales). Direct sales were $111,884; dealer sales were $96,513. For the calendar year, sales are ahead by $5,739.
The Warehouse crew fulfilled 1,016 packages for publication and product orders, and shipped 481 free book membership premiums and QST mailing supplements.
ARRL Conventions
Date Name Division City State ARRL HQ Rep.
Aug 7-8 Texas State WG Austin TX Dennis Dura
Aug 7-9 Pacific Northwest DX NW Spokane WA Sean Kutzko
Aug 14-15 New Mexico State RM Albuquerque NM Allen Pitts
Aug 15-16 Alabama Section SE Huntsville AL Bill Moore
Aug 15 Southwestern Division SW Santa Barbara CA Chris Imlay
Aug 16 Kansas State MW Salina KS Chuck Skolaut
Aug 22-23 West Virginia State RK Weston WV Ed Hare
Aug 23 W. Pennsylvania Section AT New Kensington PA
Sep 11-12 Delta Division DL Mena AR
Sep 12 GL Division Symposium GL Findlay OH
Sep 12-13 Virginia Section RK Virginia Beach VA
Sep 18-19 W9DXCC CL Elk Grove Village IL
Sep 19 Ohio Section GL Reynoldsburg OH
Sep 26 Mid-AT States VHF Conf. AT Plymouth Meeting PA
Sep 26 Washington State NW Spokane Valley WA
Oct 3 EMCOMM East AT Rochester NY Harold Kramer
Oct 9-11 Pacific Northwest VHF NW Seaside OR
Oct 11 Connecticut State NE Wallingford CT
Membership & Volunteer Programs
Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N
DXCC Branch
Credits Applications
2008 Carryover 105,955 944
2009 Received 401,765 3,412
Cumulative Total 507,720 4,356
2009 Processed 417,442 3,652
Remaining 90,278 704
Processing Time 7 weeks
Category July 2009 Year-to-Date
Triple Play WAS 10 291
WAS Certificates (Manual) 31 184
WAS Certificates (LoTW) 21 200
A-1 Op Nominations 27 126
A-1 Op Certificates 16 159
Extra Class Certificates 4 56
WAC Certificates 30 207
VUCC New / Grids 10/1,880 71 / 6,860
VUCC Endorsement / Grids 9/346 61 / 3,533
Processing Time Current
Logbook of the World
Category July 2009 Percentage Change
Jan – July 09
QSO Records Entered Into System 233,090,318 14%
QSL Record Matches 22,295,402 24%
Logs Processed 1,044,545 28%
Active Certificates 42,779 15%
Registered Users in System 28,129 16%
Logbook (Email Only) Inquiries July 2009
Initial Setup Inquiries 100
Award Related Concerns 33
Maintenance 114
Customer Usage Issues 34
Total 281
W1AW
Thanks to Bill Moore and Chuck Skolaut for covering the Thursday and Friday morning shifts.
Joe updated the web code practice files and their archives. He created the texts for the August W1AW Qualifying Runs. He also updated the Qualifying Run web page. He processed one Qualifying Run endorsement. In addition to regular logs, Joe also uploaded to LoTW the logs from 2009 Dayton Hamvention Special Event Station W1AW/8 and 2009 ARRL Northwestern Division Convention Special Event Station W1AW/7. He also processed regular QSL card requests.
Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files for the latter part of the month of July and early August. He assisted the DXCC department with plaque processing. Scott also worked the Thursday and Friday early afternoon shifts (in addition to his regular night shifts) for Joe Carcia.
Field Organization/Public Service Team
Steve Ewald participated in the quarterly Citizen Corps Affiliates’ Teleconference Call on Monday, July 27. Plans for the National Conference on Community Preparedness in Arlington, Virginia, were discussed. This national conference is hosted by Citizen Corps and the International Association of Emergency Managers. Steve will be representing ARRL Headquarters at this conference from August 9th to 12th.
Leona Adams reports that New Mexico Section Manager Don Wood, W5FHA, has been nominated to run for another term of office as Section Manager. Petitions for this particular SM election cycle are due at Headquarters by September 4.
Sincerely Compiled by,
Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ
Assistant to the CEO
Staff Absentee List
All Staff 9/7 Holiday
Kathy Allison 9/25-9/28 Vacation
Bob Allison 9/25-9/29 Vacation
Steve Capodicasa 9/8-9/14 Vacation
Joe Carcia 8/7 Vacation
`` 8/14 Vacation
`` 8/21 Vacation
Jackie Cornell 8/6-8/10 Vacation
Dennis Dura 8/6-8/11 Texas Emergency Management Meeting, Austin, TX
Steve Ewald 8/9-8/12 NCCP, Arlington, VA.
Steve Ford 8/24 Vacation
Scott Gee 9/17-9/18 Vacation
Mike Gruber 8/24-8/28 Vacation
Joel Hallas 8/3-8/14 Vacation
`` 8/24-8/28 Vacation
Ed Hare 8/15-8/21 IEEE EMC Symposium , Austin, TX
`` 8/22-8/23 WV State Convention, Weston, WV
`` 8/24-8/25 Vacation
Penny Harts 7/31-8/11 Vacation
Dan Henderson 7/27-8/10 Vacation
Mary Hobart 8/12-8/14 Vacation
`` 8/28 Vacation
`` 9/4-9/8 Vacation
`` 9/25 Vacation
Berta Hould 8/3-8/14 Vacation
Amy Hurtado 8/10-8/14 Vacation
Bob Inderbitzen 8/24-8/28 Vacation
Linda Kleinschmidt 8/10-8/14 Vacation
Harold Kramer 8/3-8/7 Vacation
Sean Kutzko 8/7-8/9 Pacific NW DX Convention, Spokane Valley, WA
Monique Levesque 7/31-8/7 Vacation
Diane Petrilli 9/8-9/11 Vacation
AnnMarie Pinto 8/17-8/28 Vacation
Allen Pitts 8/6-8/7 Vacation
Ashley Rakus 8/7 Vacation
`` 8/14 Vacation
Steve Sant Andrea 8/24-8/25 Vacation
Barry Shelley 8/10-8/21 Vacation
Dave Sumner 8/19-8/26 Tokyo Ham Fair & GAREC-09
Alex Tara 8/24-8/28 Vacation
Sharon Taratula 8/7 Vacation