IN-Newsletter Vol. 41, No. 19 June 1, 2016 - Covers the period May 22-28. Upcoming In-Person Meetings and Events LoTW Study Committee July 13 @ 10:00am in Newington, CT Administration & Finance Committee July 14 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT Programs & Services Committee July 14 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT Second Board Meeting July 15-16 @ 9:00am in Windsor, CT Media & Public Relations Reported by Sean Kutzko, KX9X On Tuesday, May 31, Sean Kutzko KX9X, accompanied by Mike Corey KI1U and Tom Gallagher NY2RF, activated NPOTA site HP27, the Minute Man National Historic Monument in Lincoln, Massachusetts. The team made more than 100 contacts during the brief morning stopover, including former ARRL board president, Kay Craigie, N3KN, and ARRL Director Dale Williams, WA8EFK. The team also made several FO-29 satellite contacts including veteran satellite operators Clayton, W5PFG and Paul, N8HM. In the middle of the activation, they were joined by two National Park Rangers, Kevin Kavanaugh and Tony Sudnick who gave a briefing on the historic significance of the site. Following the events at Lexington (the shot heard 'round the world), the colonials marched east toward Boston and engaged British troops that same afternoon in Lincoln in what was likely the first skirmish of the American Revolution. Ranger Kavanaugh pointed out that most Americans know the big parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone and Acadia, but National Parks on the Air has highlighted smaller parks like Minute Man. After the NPOTA activation, the ARRL continued on the real purpose of their journey, and met up with Bob Phinney of Dexter Southfield School in Brookline MA. The school offers a robust electronics and ham radio program, as well as an astronomy program, to students and also to the greater Brookline community. More than a dozen students are participating at any one term. Bob-who runs the school's impressive Clay Science Center-has developed training curriculum and education materials, including hands-on learning aids for students of all ages. Clay Center also provided an evening with their rooftop observatory, including watching a direct overhead pass by the International Space Station. Eastern Massachusetts Section Youth coordinator Jeremy Breef-Pilz, KB1REQ, organized a discussion group of the section's young Amateur Radio leadership with the ARRL team on the topic of youth engagement. Production/Editorial Reported by Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY The July/August issue of QEX has been released to the printer. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R Diane Petrilli reports that May ended with 167,992 members, 608 members ahead of the year-to-date goal. This represents a loss from April of 636 members; a larger loss of 985 was forecast. The on-time renewal rate for May (May expirees who renewed by end of May) is 70.38% vs. 71.06% last May. The largest sources of acquisition were responses to a membership campaign, our regular mailings to "new hams", ARRL notification of FCC license expiration, traffic to the ARRL website, and our exhibit at Dayton Hamvention. There were 1,019 membership applications taken in Dayton, totaling 1,486 membership years; dues of $58,415. Applications from new or previous members at Hamvention totaled 130. Jackie Ferreira reports that May product sales were $281,956, short of the sales forecast of $291,510. All of the shortfall is attributed to the discontinued TravelPlus for Repeaters software product. Direct sales were $197,649; dealer sales were $84,307. Direct sales are $16,679 higher than May 2015. Year to date sales are $1,341,383, $18,002 ahead of forecast. Sales at our exhibit in Dayton contributed $50.8k to direct sales. It was a strong month for royalties earned on sales of our Kindle e-books; $8,706 ($37,054 year to date). The 2016 Field Day product line (t-shirts, hats, pins, patches, mugs) contributed $30,933 in sales this month ($62,854 YTD). We readied materials to support the ARRL booths at the upcoming Northwestern Division Convention in Seaside, Oregon, June 5-7; West Gulf Division Convention in Irving, Texas, June 10-11; and the International Exhibition of Radio Amateurs in Friedrichshafen, Germany, June 24-26. Jackie prepared a very successful email solicitation for the Memorial Day holiday weekend featuring a handful of bundled products. Among the whopping 751 orders received were orders for 476 bundled items. The last membership campaign before the summer gap in mailings was sent May 13. The mailing has already contributed 75 membership applications. The next mailing will be sent September 9. Diane shared that several of our volunteer tour guides have taken the summer off, and she's busy looking for substitutes to cover 25+ days over the next 3 months. There are some big tours upcoming, including 23 students and 2 teachers Thursday from E.C. Goodwin Technical HS. 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 5/27/2016 848 18.8 26:47:40 9 seconds 5/20/2016 780 17.3 26:44:10 12 seconds 5/13/2016 764 16.9 23:24:06 11 seconds 5/6/2016 799 17.7 23:23:55 9 seconds Summary of warehouse fulfillment activity, reported by Steve Capodicasa: Week Ending Packages fulfilled Member Premiums 5/27/2016 1,013 554 5/20/2016 976 470 5/13/2016 835 420 5/6/2016 968 716 Lab Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI ARRL Expo at Dayton Bob Allison, WB1GCM, Mike Gruber, WIMG, along with Lab Volunteers Martin Ewing, AA6E and Pete Turbide, W1PT, traveled to Dayton, Ohio to participate in the ARRL Expo on behalf of the ARRL Laboratory. As in past years, the Lab tested handheld transceivers for FCC Part 97 emission requirements. As in previous years, most of the cheaper makes and models failed to comply with FCC requirements. The purpose of this work is to identify makes and models that are not to be advertised in QST magazine, or reviewed for Product Review. Over 250 handhelds were tested; the data obtained will be combined with data taken at Pacificon last year and at Orlando, Florida earlier this year, which will be a key part of a future QST Technical Correspondence. The Lab would also like to thank volunteers, Vice Director, Kermit Carlson, W9XA, Lloyd Stallkamp, KA0ADZ, Christian Stallkamp, W0ADZ and Matthias Zapatka, AJ4BB for their dedicated help in the Lab's booth. During the Friday morning of the event, Bob Allison gave a presentation about the work the ARRL Lab does. The room was nearly full and the presentation was well received. After the event was over, Bob Allison and Mike Gruber located several power line noise sources using Radar Engineering equipment in Cable, Ohio and Tipp City, Ohio. In the cable case, Mike Gruber educated Tom Holmes, K8ZR, on how to use the equipment. Tom and another Radio Amateur are looking into purchasing the same equipment to train and assist others in locating power line noise sources. In the Tipp City case, Mike Gruber educated utility workers on what equipment to purchase and how to use it. All in all, Mr. Gruber did an outstanding job of sharing his skills! Bob Allison received Keysight equipment training from Tom Holmes, K8ZR after the power line noise hunting was complete. Bob learned how to capture and record radio spectrum on the N9020A Keysight Spectrum Analyzer and play it back as a signal source on the Keysight signal generator. This method will be very useful for developing new tests. Web Zack Lau updated the Propagation Forecasts for June. The predicted solar flux is just 91. It is likely that we are in for a long decline in solar flux. Product Review Testing Bob Allison completed testing of a software defined transceiver. A data table is being compiled at this time. Bob also started the testing of a 2 meter analog/digital mobile transceiver. Bob received a donation from the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of CT of a Bit Error Rate test box, made by Tektronix, last calibrated in 2006. Though not functioning at the moment, lab volunteer, Pete Turbide is currently looking into it. If functional, the test box will be calibrated and then used to test data error rates of digital signals. Field Services & Radiosport Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N DXCC Paper/Fieldcheck Processing Time 3 Weeks Logbook Processing Time 2-3 Days W1AW Scott Gee worked on fast and slow code practice files for the week. He also processed some VUCC applications. Joe Carcia processed regular QSL card requests. He also updated the W1AW QST code practice source web page. He updated the web code practice files and their archives. Joe also created the texts for the June W1AW Qualifying Runs. He installed a new cooling fan for one of the transmitters used on the broadcast racks. Joe continues with certain equipment installs with the ENG van. Field Organization/Public Service Team On Tuesday, May 24, the Alabama Section Manager election ballots were counted at Headquarters. JVann Martin, W4JVM, of Chelsea, won the election over Dennis Littleton, K4DL. JVann starts his 18-month term of office on July 1 because the call for nominations were re-solicited. (Normal terms of office for SMs are for two years.) The outgoing Alabama Section Manager, David Drummond, W4MD, decided not to run for another term of office. David, W4MD, has been SM since 2011. Thanks to Leona Adams, Chuck Skolaut, Gail Iannone, and Steve Ewald for handling the ballot counting and election duties. Starting July 1, the Indiana Section will be led by Brent Walls, N9BA, of Indianapolis as the new Section Manager. He has been the Assistant SM under current Section Manager Joseph Lawrence, K9RFZ. Joseph, of Fort Wayne, decided not to run for a new term of office after serving as Section Manager since July, 2014. The Oregon Section will also have a new Section Manager. John Core, KX7YT, of Portland, will assume the duties from Everett Curry, W6ABM, of Hillsboro, who has been the Oregon SM since January 2014. John is currently active as a District Emergency Coordinator and the Assistant Section Emergency Coordinator. Patrick Moretti, KA1RB, of Dousman, Wisconsin, will become the new Section Manager on July 1, when he was the only nominee. Gary Sorensen, W9ULK, of Oxford, who has been the Wisconsin Section Manager since July, 2013, decided not to run for another term of office. Moretti has been serving as the Wisconsin Official Observer Coordinator, an Official Observer and as a Technical Specialist. The following incumbent Section Managers were not opposed in this springtime election cycle. They will begin their new terms of office on July 1. Ray Hollenbeck, KL1IL (Alaska); Tom Ciciora, KA9QPN (Illinois); Bill Crowley, K1NIT (Maine); Steve Szabo, WB4OMM (Northern Florida); Brandon Bianchi, NI6C, (Santa Clara Valley); and Paul Gayet, AA1SU, (Vermont). Chuck Skolaut reports that we received a report regarding an Over the Horizon Radar heard on 18.080 MHz, and it's thought to be originating from Cyprus or Turkey. A radio amateur from Western Washington was approved and joined the ARRL Monitoring System/Intruder Watch. Documentation was also received regarding interference to the Early Bird Net on 3.940 MHz. Several complaints were received regarding 3.843 MHz and 7.200 MHz. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations All Staff 7/4 Holiday Bob Allison 7/22-7/23 Oklahoma Section Convention, Oklahoma City, OK Alli Barbieri 6/9-6/13 PTO Steve Capodicasa 6/13 PTO `` 6/27 PTO `` 8/22-8/26 PTO `` 9/19-9/23 PTO Lauren Clarke 6/13-6/21 PTO Steve Ford 7/5-7/15 PTO Norm Fusaro 6/3-6/5 Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, OR `` 6/22-6/27 International Exhibition, Friedrichshafen, Germany `` 8/5-8/7 Texas State Convention, Austin, TX `` 8/19-8/21 West Virginia State Convention, Weston, WV Tom Gallagher 6/10-6/12 West Gulf Division Convention, Irving, TX `` 6/14-6/21 PTO `` 6/22-6/27 International Exhibition, Friedrichshafen, Germany `` 6/20 Meeting with Fugate, Washington, DC `` 7/14-7/16 Committee Meetings/Board Meeting `` 8/12-8/14 New Mexico State Convention, Albuquerque, NM Scott Gee 6/30-7/8 PTO Mike Gruber 5/31-6/3 PTO `` 8/22-8/26 PTO `` 9/26-89/30 PTO Ed Hare 6/10-6/20 PTO Dan Henderson 5/31-6/3 PTO `` 6/10 PTO `` 6/29-7/1 PTO `` 7/14-7/16 Committee Meetings/Board Meeting Bob Inderbitzen 6/2-6/6 Northwestern Division Convention, Seaside, OR `` 6/7 PTO `` 6/21-6/27 International Exhibition, Friedrichshafen, Germany `` 6/28-6/29 PTO `` 7/5-7/8 PTO Debra Johnson 6/16-6/23 PTO Lisa Kustosik 7/14-7/16 Board Meeting, Windsor, CT Sean Kutzko 6/17-6/19 Tennessee State Convention, Knoxville, TN Zack Lau 6/17 PTO Diane Middleton 6/14-6/17 PTO `` 7/19 PTO `` 7/25-7/29 PTO Barry Shelley 6/17-7/1 PTO `` 7/14-7/16 Committee Meetings/Board Meeting `` 7/18-7/26 PTO Chuck Skolaut 8/20-8/21 Kansas State Convention, Salina, KS
