<<070908.doc>>
IN-Newsletter
Vol. 31, No. 28
July 9, 2008 -- Covers the period June 29-July 5.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Administration &Finance Committee
July 17 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT
Programs & Services Committee
July 17 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT
Second Board Meeting
July 18-19, 2008 @ 9:00am in Windsor, CT
Media & Public Relations
Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP
Field Day produced a very high number of media hits this year and they are still coming in as of this writing. A larger proportion of these were television news coverage. There are over 40 pages of just the web links to these news stories, and while some have incorrect information in them, most are excellently done and deserve recognition. The formal ARRL wire release alone had 213 hits according to PRNewswire reports. The inclusion of the Field Day locator web page allowed many reporters to find action local to them and also see that the full scope of the event.
The Public Relations Committee as a whole is working on updating PIO materials such as the handbook.
Development
Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH
The special campaign to say "thank you" to 18,000 Spectrum Defense donors has topped $71,000, bringing the 2008 results to more than $105,000.
Revenues in support of the W1AW Endowment now exceed $50,000 against a goal of $55,000.
Development continues to prepare for the July 2008 Board meeting.
Draft copy is being prepared for campaigns to support the Historic Preservation, Lab and Education & Technology Funds.
Production/Editorial
Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE
Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed The ARRL Letter, Vol 27, No 26, for July 3, 2008. It went out to 70,707 subscribers. She also voiced and produced ARRL Audio News for July 3.
Sales and Marketing
Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R
Membership Update
At the end of June, membership totaled 153,441 (354 below our goal for the month). That puts us only slightly (less than 100) behind the yearend 2007 total.
One of the benefits enjoyed by the automated membership application processing is improved source tracking. In June, 99 members came in as a result of the “Join Now” web button on the front of our website.
Product Sales Update
June product sales were $259,040, exceeding the sales forecast of $207,488 by over $51k. YTD gross sales (first 6 months) were $1,648,086, exceeding forecast by $217,315.
In June, we began shipping the new edition of the Extra Class License Manual; 1,493 units @ $29,931.
A mid-month email solicitation, lasting only 10 days, contributed $18,865 in publication and product sales.
In early June, we stocked out of Field Day T-shirts. We had another 500 units produced which were quickly sold-out (there was probably enough demand for another 500!). Field Day products topped $13,400 in June, and totaling nearly $60,000 from March through June (peak in May). Over 3,100 t-shirts were sold this year—an all-time high!
We are beginning to accumulate back orders for the new General Class Course on CD-ROM. The course was introduced in August QST, and begins shipping in September.
Now Shipping: Discrete-Signal Analysis and Design by William E Sabin, W0IYH (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.); Hands-On Radio Parts Kit for use with ARRL's Hands-On Radio book by H. Ward Silver, N0AX (kit produced by Kanga US); Don C. Wallace: W6AM Amateur Radio's Pioneer by Jan David Perkins, N6AW (Vestal Press Ltd).
HAM RADIO 2008, the 33rd International Exhibition for Radio Amateurs in Friedrichshafen, Germany, was held June 27-29. The team representing ARRL included President Joel Harrison, W5ZN; International Affairs Vice President Rod Stafford, W6ROD; Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI; Chief Executive Officer Dave Sumner, K1ZZ; Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD; Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND and Sales and Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. Dennis participated in GAREC as one of the conference presenters. Dan led the DXCC card checking team. And, Bob managed most of the logistics and organized the ARRL exhibit. We signed 76 memberships, including 45 new members and 2 Life Members. We shared our stand with the IARU--where visitors were greeted by IARU President Larry Price, W4RA and Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH. Bob has posted a recap and photos at www.arrl.org/blog.
The Warehouse crew fulfilled 1,154 packages for publication and product orders, shipped 214 free book membership premiums, and sent July QST mailing supplements.
Business Services
Reported by Deb Jahnke, K1DAJ
We are working on advertising procurement for the September issue of QST. This issue will exceed our goal despite several setbacks. Several advertisers, noting very slow sales have temporarily decreased their advertising space (LDG) or suspended their advertising for the time being (AOR). However, we are pleased to announce that Diamond Antennas will be back in the September issue with a full-page ad and ICOM has committed to 8 additional consecutive pages in the same issue.
A solicitation has also just been sent to current and potential advertisers for the 2009 ARRL Handbook.
We are also continuing our preliminary work on the ARRL On-Line Auction website in preparation for the October Auction.
A print promotion has sent to ARRL Publication Dealers recapping all new titles since the beginning of the year. Follow-up calls will take place later in the week.
Membership & Volunteer Programs
Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N
Awards Branch
Category May 2008 June 2008 Year-to-Date
WAS Certificates (Manual) 37 41 212
WAS Certificates (LoTW) 12 13 84
A-1 Op Nominations 31 21 122
A-1 Op Certificates 24 19 105
Extra Class Certificates 6 11 47
WAC Certificates 29 16 111
VUCC New / Grids 10 / 1,165 17 / 2,623 64 / 7,285
VUCC Endorsement / Grids 10 / 376 15 / 873 65 / 3,639
Processing Time Current Current Current
DXCC Branch
Credits Applications
2007 Carryover 208,275 1,758
YTD Received 342,150 3,115
Cumulative Total 550,425 4,873
YTD Processed 468,482 4,232
Remaining 81,943 641
Processing Time=7 wks.
Contest Branch
Not much to report here in the contest branch this week; Field Day and June VHF logs continue to roll in. IARU is coming up this weekend, and staff will spend some time preparing the robot for the IARU logs.
Logbook of the World
Category May 2008 June 2008
QSO Records Entered Into System 171,593,119 174,592,102
QSL Record Matches 13,570,502 13,919,660
Logs Processed 608,659 630,578
Active Certificates 31,689 32,332
Registered Users in System 20,765 21,196
Logbook (Email Only) Inquiries 2008 YTD
Lost Certificates 842
DXCC Status Inquiries 443
Directions Not Followed 361
Additional Certificates 359
Startup Inquiries 252
Total 2,257
QSL Branch
May 2008 June 2008 Year-to-Date
Cards Received 58,650 39,000 362,400
Cards Mailed 113,800 113,800 307,150
W1AW
Thanks to Bill Moore, NC1L for running the morning code practices and providing visitor coverage when necessary for Joe Carcia, who was working the night shift.
Joe updated the web code practice files and their archives. He processed regular QSL card requests. Joe also assembled pictures and text for use in creating the QSL cards for the June 2008 US Power Squadron Special event operation from W1AW. Joe created the texts for the July and August W1AW Qualifying Runs. He processed two Qualifying Run certificates and one endorsement. He also worked the early afternoon/night shifts on Monday through Thursday for the vacationing Scott Gee.
Field Organization/Public Service Team
Team members have been working closely with the new Section Managers that began their terms on office on July 1. Section Managers and other Field Organization Leaders have reported lots of activity and fun during ARRL Field Day weekend. We received more good comments about the ARRL Web’s Field Day Locator site, and one Section Manager said this should be considered for the “Good Idea of the Year" award.
Ron, W6KJ, the Section Manager of Sacramento Valley, compiled a complete report about the ongoing Amateur Radio operations in relation to the multiple wildfires in Sacramento Valley. He shared that report with members of his section as well as with Headquarters.
Sincerely Compiled by,
Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ
Assistant to the CEO
Staff Absentee List
Leona Adams 7/18 Vacation
Jo-Ann Arel 7/7-7/15 Vacation
Katie Breen 7/10-7/14 Rocky Mt. Division Convention, Bryce Canyon, UT
`` 8/4-8/8 Vacation
Joe Carcia 7/7-7/11 Vacation
`` 7/14-7/31 Sick Leave
`` 8/1-8/8 Vacation
Jackie Cornell 7/7-7/11 Vacation
Steve Ewald 7/24-8/1 Vacation
Scott Gee 10/3 Vacation
`` 12/23-12/26 Vacation
Dan Henderson 8/23-8/30 Vacation
Mary Hobart 7/17-7/19 Committee/Board Meetings
`` 9/19-9/21 W9DXCC, Chicago, IL
`` 10/3 Vacation
Amy Hurtado 7/21-7/25 Vacation
`` 8/8 Vacation
Gail Iannone 8/18-9/2 Vacation
Bob Inderbitzen 8/4-8/15 Vacation
Khrystyne Keane 7/24-7/28 Vacation
Harold Kramer 7/17-7/19 Committee/Board Meetings
`` 7/26-8/4 Vacation
Lisa Kustosik 7/17-7/19 Board Meeting
Steve Sant Andrea 7/7-7/9 Vacation
Barry Shelley 7/17-7/19 Committee/Board Meetings
`` 7/20-7/25 Vacation
`` 7/31-8/1 Vacation
`` 8/11-8/22 Vacation
Dave Sumner 7/9 Washington
`` 7/17-7/19 Committee/Board Meetings
Perry Williams 6/18-7/19 Vacation