<<121708.doc>>

IN-Newsletter

Vol. 31, No. 51

December 17, 2008  --  Covers the period December 7-13.

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Administration &Finance Committee

January 15 @ 9:00am in Newington, CT

Programs & Services Committee

July 17 @ 9:00am in Newington, CT

Annual Board Meeting

January 16-17, 2009 @ 9:00am in Windsor, CT

Regulatory Information

Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND

We are receiving numerous responses to the VC/VCE update letters.  However we are receiving a significant number of the letters returned by the postal service for a number of reasons (no such address, no forwarding, as well as a few deceased).  In January we will work through the replies and returns and finish updating/purging the database.

Upon returning from Italy a great deal of the week was working though about three hundred emails that needed responses.  I also met with the Fathom team, along with the other members of the Regulatory and Advocacy area and prepared a revised architecture for that area of the new web site.

We continue to work with the FCC on several issues, including PAVE PAWS, updating of the CEPT agreements and the updated public notice on CEPT operations.  Also, after discussions held with the FCC by General Counsel, we are sending several pending enforcement items to them for action.  We are still waiting the hiring and start of the new Special Counsel in the Spectrum Enforcement Bureau to replace Riley Hollingsworth, and are hopeful that an announcement from the FCC will be coming in the next several weeks.

The Palmdale, CA antenna zooming ordinance is going to continue to be a major item for the foreseeable future.  This is a two-front problem:  the first is the original reconsideration of the previously approved permit of a local amateur.  The second issue is the extremely restrictive ordinance which the town has enacted. Several ARRL officials are involved in this and we will be actively monitoring this as an expected lawsuit is filed.

Media & Public Relations

Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP

Media Hits and the McGan Award announcements done.  Ongoing work continues on PR-101, a new video PSA, the main website changes and an update to the Hello website.  Announcements were made of the request from George Dillon of the FCC for aid in the coming DTV conversion on the PR reflector, club news and ARRL letter.  As expected, initial reactions were mixed but soon settled out and we’re now getting email from many groups planning to use the opportunity in positive ways to get PR and help neighbors by providing information.

Development

Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH

The Spectrum Defense Fund has reached $222,736, just 50% of its target for 2008.  A $10,000 contribution arrived this week from a Maxim Society member who took advantage of the renewed charitable gift provisions for direct IRA contributions.

With a push for year end contributions Development is working in partnership with other ARRL departments to raise awareness and contributions for 2008.  In a partnership with Sales and Marketing, Development is offering a $10 coupon for publication sales to members who make a contribution of $25 or more before December 31.  Thanks to Norm Fusaro and Deb Jahnke for their help in distributing the year end fund raising message to clubs and advertisers.

Development is participating in Fathom content development meetings regarding information about ARRL and membership.

Production/Editorial

Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE

The January/February 2009 issues of NCJ and QEX have been released to the printer.

Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed The ARRL Letter, Vol. 27, No. 49, for December 12, 2008.. She also produced and voiced ARRL Audio News for December 12.

Lab

Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI

Product Review

Bob Allison is revising and updating the ARRL Lab Test Procedures Manual.

Bob Allison met with Deb Jahnke, Joel Hallas, Steve Ford and Harold Kramer to streamline product review equipment tracking and eliminate confusion as to where it is and who has it.

Web

Zack Lau identified the TIS web pages in which the lab does not have editing privileges.

RFI

Mike Gruber found approximately 50 unresolved RFI cases with some FCC involvement.

TIS Statistics 12/8-12/14

        Question        BA      MG      EFH     ZL      AN      Totals 
01      What rig is best? / Prod Rev    1                       3               4      
02      RFI/EMI/FCC issues      0       10              2               12     
03      How to use equipment                                                   
04      Propagation                                                    
05      Antenna/Feed line/Tower questions       2       1               15      2       20     
06      Locate companies, parts or services     2       1               9       1       13     
07      Software problems       1                       3               4      
08      Regulatory questions                            1       3       4      
09      Operating / amateur exam questions      1       1               7               9      
10      Article photocopies/archive corrections                 39      3       9       51     
11      Other           1               7       1       9      
12      BPL                     7                       7      
13      PAVE-PAWS                                                      
14      Misdirected                             7               7      

Sales and Marketing

Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R

A 50,000-piece membership campaign is being readied, for mailing just before January 1.

Some new designs are being produced to support the ARRL “5 pillars” identity campaign.  The designs will be used on a handful of 2009 marketing and advertising collateral, including QST and display materials.

Publication and product sales have topped the $200k mark in December, with 8 business days to go for the year. The month’s forecast is $283k.

A 140,000 piece “new products" mailing has started to arrive in mailboxes.  The mailing list was doubled to help spur on sluggish sales of the 2009 Handbook, while at the same time introducing a handful of other new products.  An additional benefit of the mailing will be its predictive value as we assemble campaigns throughout 2009.

The winter publications catalog is expected at the warehouse January 1, 2009.  Copies will be mailed directly to a selection of customers and members by the end of the month.

We supported the Development Department with an end of year contribution incentive.  Anyone who makes a contribution of $25 or more to any ARRL fund before December 31 will receive a $10 gift certificate, valid for use in the ARRL e-store.

The Warehouse crew fulfilled 1,392 packages for publication and product orders, shipped 345 free book membership premiums, and processed QST mailing supplements for November and December.  Copies of January 2009 QST have arrived at the warehouse—Happy New Year!

Membership & Volunteer Programs

Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N

Contest Branch

The 10 Meter Contest has just recently finished, and we have already received 700 electronic logs.  Just under 1,000 logs have been received for the 160 Meter contest, and 1,723 logs for SSB Sweepstakes.  Deadline for SSB Sweepstakes logs is December 17.

2008 DX Contest plaques were shipped on Monday, December 15.

Carol Michaud, KB1QAW, spent a lot of time over the past two months working on problem awards and plaques that have been lingering for a while and has cleared out the backlog.

W1AW

John Basilotto, W5GI, of Flex Radio Systems, was on hand Friday, December 12 to demonstrate the new Flex-5000A Software-Defined-Radio that was donated to W1AW.  This radio will reside in Studio Three and be used for visitor operations.

Joe worked the early afternoon/night shifts on Monday and Tuesday for the vacationing Scott Gee.  He also processed regular QSL card requests.  Joe also readied equipment that will be sent out for calibration.  This included the Hewlett-Packard HP 5345A Electronic Counter, Bird 43 Wattmeter and BK Precision Dynascan Sweep/Function Generator.

Scott worked on slow and fast code practice files for the middle part of the month of December.

Field Organization/Public Service Team

Leona Adams has begun preparatory work for the Section Manager elections scheduled for this winter in Arizona and North Texas.

Steve Ewald received and compiled Field Organization reports for February QST, and work continues on the production of the Public Service column.  The tenth SKYWARN Recognition Day was held on December 6, and it was co-sponsored by ARRL and the National Weather Service.  Initial reports from the across the country on this operating event were received.

One radio amateur from Oregon successfully completed certification to become an Official Observer this past week.  Intruder reports included an unidentified RTTY signal on 40 meters and a “numbers” station on 3881 kHz.  There is currently an investigation underway in South Carolina about Amateur Radio interference to public service communications.  Also, a jammer on 2 meters in Western Washington is being tracked by Official Observers.

Sincerely Compiled by,

Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ

Assistant to the CEO

Staff Absentee List

All Staff       12/25           Holiday

    ``  1/1             Holiday

Leona Adams             12/24-12/26     Vacation

Kathy Allison           12/26           Vacation

      ``                        1/2             Vacation

Bob Allison             12/26           Vacation

     ``                 1/2             Vacation

       ``                       1/2             Vacation

Joe Carcia              1/2             Vacation

Dennis Dura             12/24-12/26     Vacation

Steve Ford              12/22-1/5       Vacation

Norm Fusaro             12/23-12/31     Vacation

Scott Gee               12/24-12/26     Vacation

Joel Hallas             12/24-12/31     Vacation

     ``                 1/16-1/17       Southern Florida Section Convention, Ft Myers, FL

Ed Hare         1/2             Vacation

     ``                 1/5-1/9         Vacation

Dan Henderson           12/18-1/6       Vacation

Mary Hobart             1/15-1/17       Committee Meeting/BOD Meeting

Gail Iannone            12/23-12/31     Vacation

Khrystyne Keane 12/26-1/2       Vacation

Harold Kramer           1/15-1/17       Committee Meeting/BOD Meeting

Lisa Kustosik           1/2             Vacation

      ``                        1/15-1/17       BOD Meeting

Zack Lau                12/22           Vacation

     ``                 12/29           Vacation

Rose-Anne Lawrence      12/18           Vacation

Bill Moore              12/26-1/2       Vacation

Dave Patton             12/22-12/31     Vacation

      ``                        1/15-1/17       Committee Meeting/BOD Meeting

Diane Petrilli          12/26           Vacation

Allen Pitts             12/26-1/4       Vacation

Brennan Price           12/18-12/19     Washington

     ``                 12/29-12/31     Washington

     ``                 1/12-1/15       Washington

Steve Sant Andrea       1/2-1/5         Vacation

Barry Shelley           1/15-1/17       Committee Meeting/BOD Meeting

Dave Sumner             12/24-12/26     Vacation

        ``                      1/15-1/17       Committee Meeting/BOD Meeting

Alex Tara               1/2             Vacation

Sharon Taratula         12/23pm-12/24   Vacation

Perry Williams          12/17-12/31     Vacation