As requested, a summary of the latest SM Conference Call. Harold Harold Kramer, WJ1B Chief Operating Officer ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio 860 594 0220 hkramer@arrl.org <http://www.arrl.org/> ________________________________ From: Ewald, Steve, WV1X [mailto:wv1x@arrl.org] Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 2:49 PM To: smlist Subject: [smlist:4735] Highlights of November SM Teleconference Hello, Section Managers. Here are the summary highlights from last evening's Section Manager teleconference. By the way, I'll be on a Thanksgiving vacation starting November 21. I'll be returning to the office on December 3. Have a nice upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. -- 73, Steve, WV1X Summary of Highlights from the November 2007 Teleconference with Section Managers On Thursday evening, November 15, Membership and Volunteer Programs hosted an ARRL telebridge teleconference with the Section Managers of the Rocky Mountain and West Gulf Divisions. We welcomed the following to the call: Section Managers Jeff Ryan, K0RM (Colorado); Dwyane Allen, WY7FD (Wyoming); John Thomason, WB5SYT (Oklahoma); Ray Taylor, N5NAV (South Texas); West Gulf Division Director Coy Day, N5OK; West Gulf Division Vice Director David Woolweaver, K5RAV; ARRL HQ Staff members Steve Ewald, WV1X, Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, and Katie Breen, W1KRB. Those who had prior commitments and could not attend were: Section Managers Tom Blackwell, N5GAR (North Texas); John Dyer, AE5B (West Texas); Bill Weatherford, KM5FT (New Mexico); Mel Parkes, NM7P (Utah); Rocky Mountain Division Director Rev Morton, WS7W, and Rocky Mountain Vice Director Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT. ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen gave a description of the new, pilot program that will help promote the benefits of ARRL membership. Katie is working with an initial group of section-level membership coordinators in various parts of the country. The program is expected to expand as we learn more and find out what tools, supplies and strategies works best. As ARRL leaders, it's important for all of us to try to make a positive impression as we meet and greet Amateur Radio operators, ARRL members and the public, too, at hamfests, clubs meetings and other gathering. ARRL and HQ aims to provide the tools, supplies and informational resources to help in these efforts. Recruiting youth into Amateur Radio is an on-going challenge. Jeff, K0RM, reported that clubs in Colorado have tried successful ideas. Someone in each club could be designated to ensure that club activities and programs have something that is pertinent to youth. Hamfests and conventions need to offer youth-oriented activities or gathering places at the event. The hamfest or convention application forms could help promote this idea by suggesting youth or family oriented activities. Also the event committee could offer free admission (or at least a price break). This might encourage more families to attend conventions or hamfests together. Radio amateurs could help spread the word about Amateur Radio to schools by way of parent-teacher associations or other such community groups that the radio amateur is already personally involved in or knows someone who is. Thanks to all for your interest and participation. In December, we'll invite the Section Managers of the Southwestern Division to a teleconference. 73, Steve Ewald, WV1X Supervisor, Field Organization Team ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio 860-594-0265 sewald@arrl.org <mailto:sewald@arrl.org>