IN-Newsletter Vol. 28, No. 18 May 4, 2005 Development Development greeted Legacy Circle member Gene McPherson, N0MHJ who was on his way to Washington to meet with his South Dakota Representatives and Senators. The Education & Technology campaign has topped $47,000 from more than 800 donors, including 4.5% response from prior education donors. A new planned gift has added another member to the ARRL Legacy Circle, bringing the total number of commitments to 43. The Donor Recognition Reception in Dayton will welcome more than 100 guests, the largest event so far. Media & Public Relations The May CONTACT! is up on the web with more for Awareness Week and Field Day. In the past week I have done 2 interviews about BPL issues, aided the SM's in Texas who are facing BPL legislation problems, and made responses to BPL articles. I am trying to set up a media event for May 9th with the US Post Office involving contact for James C Miller III from Georgia to Hawaii which, if successful, should make news. The NAB was a success and I am following up on info and PSA requests from that event. Copies of a request for a Presidential declaration regarding Field Day week were sent via fax, email, phone and regular mail to the various places listed in "dot gov" sites indicating they were the intake points for this action. Dayton plans are progressing. Production/Editorial Rick Lindquist reports The ARRL Letter distributed to 65,422 members on Apr 29. Rick prepared/edited stories on HRES 230, a BPL-related resolution introduced by Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR; progress on the TX BPL bill; ARISS school group QSOs in CA, Switzerland; Senate subcommittee testimony of astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, about life on the ISS; several announcements and news briefs. Rick voiced, edited and produced ARRL Audio News with soundbite assistance from Dave Sumner. Sales & Marketing We are working with U.S. Bank to launch and promote ARRL's new affinity Visa credit card. Keep posted for more details as we move toward a tentative launch in mid-May. We have begun to fulfill a handful of promotion and marketing services to support our joint partnership with HamTestOnline. We are hopeful that the arrangement will extend the reach of ARRL's license and training product line. National Convention Planning Less than 20 days to Dayton! We are tying the ribbons on details for the ARRL National Convention at Dayton Hamvention. The headquarters team enjoyed a preview of ARRL's new convention display on Friday. Special thanks to Sue Fagan and Diane Szlachetka for their design contributions. The result will surely "wow" convention attendees. Advertising During the month of April 2005 (display advertising for QST June 2005, and the New Ham Express advertising supplement), ARRL Advertising signed on three new QST advertisers, one new New Ham Express advertiser and saw an existing QST advertiser double his page space for the June issue. In the New Ham Express... While we continue to solicit additional ad material for the New Ham Express, by the last few days of April, dollar sales targets were already exceeded by a small amount. Remaining available advertising space is filling up rapidly. A new advertiser, S&S Computer Imaging/Callsign Wear, will launch its business relationship with ARRL in the NHE. The NiCd Lady Company - who first placed an ad in our Hamvention tear out - will be running their second ad in this venue. Electronic QSL Centre (eQSL), who ran a number of NCJ ads in the recent past but who suspended that advertising for the present time, is also placing advertising in the NHE. Many of the advertisers who placed ads in last years NHE are returning for another go-round. In QST... June QST includes the debut of ads from three new ARRL advertisers - Misty Hollow Enterprises (1/2-page 2/C), N2VZ Enterprises (1/24th B&W) and Netcertus/AMPSEQUENCER (1/24th B&W). Alpha Delta Communications unexpectedly added a second 1/2-page 2/C ad to its June QST advertising commitment. Publication Sales Preliminary sales reports indicate that publication sales for the month of April will exceed targets by a small margin. Despite the fact that the price of the new Repeater Directory was increased by $1, unit sales for April were approximately 1,000 more units than projected. Membership Our 45,000-piece membership mailing was dropped into the mail two weeks ago and we have already received over 300 memberships. This is a very brisk start to this promotion. Membership Services Awards Branch WAS QSL Cards Checked 650 WAS Ends. (100 QSLs ES/C) 2 WAS Ends. (100 QSLs F/C) 2 WAC QSL Cards Checked 6 WAC Certs. (36 QSLs ES/C) 6 5BWAC Certs. (60 QSLs S/C) 2 A-1 Op. Noms. 7 VUCC End. App. 10 Grids 406 Awards Mailed 12 Processing Status: Current or up to three weeks. For the coming week-Basic WAS awards for April, Extra Class certificates, A-1 Operator and VUCC awards, plus mailing of all this week's processed awards. Contest Branch Data entry for DX Contest pins was begun. We continued to work extensively with the log checker for the DX CW results for the 2005 version of the final product. Once we worked out a couple of kinks, the checked scores were merged into the master database. The various boxes, etc, were then sent to the author to begin his work. Line scores for the 2004 160-Meter results article were prepared and sent to Production for layout, which should be finished early the week of May 2. Preliminary work on the 10-Meter results article was done pending receiving final scores from the log checker of that event. DXCC Branch For the week of: May 1, 2005 Beginning Credits 42,573 Credits Received 18,493 Credits Processed 8,364 Ending Credits 52,702 Applications Pending 352 Processing Time (Conventional) 5.4 Weeks Processing Time (LoTW) 1 Working Day DXCC is currently mailing and entering applications received on March 24, 2005. Bill Moore attended the Birmingham hamfest this past weekend. No attendance numbers were noted. Eight (8) DXCC applications totaling 479 country credits were checked. A forum was conducted on Saturday and was attended by about 35 people. Most of the questions were regarding LoTW and DXCC. Logbook of the World QSO records entered into the system 70,736,423 QSL records have resulted 3,156,072 Logs Processed 117,393 Active Certificates 14,373 Users registered in the system 9,597 Hybrids Pending Mail 41 QSL Bureau Processing time is 10 days from receipt. This week 63 pounds of cards were received from members. Cards mailed as of 04/24/05: 337,050. No cards were mailed this week. The W9 Incoming Bureau Manager, John Meyer, K9QVB, spent a few days this week volunteering his help to the QSL Bureau. Martin Cook's last day at ARRL will be May 6, 2005. W1AW Thanks to Bill Moore, NC1L, for covering the morning shifts at W1AW while regular staff were away on vacation. Joe updated the web code practice files. He created the texts for the May W1AW Qualifying Runs. He also processed some Qualifying Run endorsements and new certificates. He processed regular W1AW QSL card requests. He also worked the late afternoon/night shifts for the vacationing Scott Gee. Joe also handled evening phone sales calls in the daily 5 PM to 8 PM time slots during this time. Field & Educational Services Rosalie took the lead in moderating the ARISS-I telecon while Frank Bauer was on travel. She referred a Salvation Army rep to Steve for getting information he can use in a Public Service column. She networked with Bill Edgar about assisting Red Cross with developing a course on Mass Care, and how communications are involved. She assisted Bill Barrett with two items he devised to use with his Citizen Corps clients. She took part in a telecon with ICOM on youth activities. She prepared a proposal on an idea from a member for the PSC. Field Education Team Norm Fusaro wrote a story about the 10-year-old new ham and his grandfather who visited HQ and operated W1AW. Tom Hogerty uploaded the story to the web. Norm helped several new and prospective hams to find mentors and or clubs. One person in particular who was about to throw in the towel on ham radio attributes Norm to keeping him going, and wrote: "You can pat yourself on the back. Actually you are the one who inspired me to go and take the exams to upgrade my license. I was on the verge of just turning my back on all of it. So, a big thanks to you! Take care and best wishes. Tory W., KD6IQS" Margie Bourgoin processed 44 updates to affiliated club records, and took care of one Special Service Club renewal. She registered four new Volunteer Instructors. Margie also added information 11 new clubs to our Siebel database. She updated the database of Public Service Activity Reports and the database of information from the EmComm Grant Course Surveys. Thanks goes to John Proctor for setting up a new report to allow for banner anniversary certificates for clubs. Jean Wolfgang prepared a call to mentors for 3 of our courses to be opened, and she received 60 replies. She tracked down email problems with 6 students and is dealing with several more. Jean also updated the Web crawlie announcements about our classes for the month of May. She handled the processing of 67 course graduates and registered 8 field tests. Gail Iannone had the check cut and sent to the Dayton Marriott for the first night's deposit for everyone staying in ARRL's block of rooms. She compiled individual department lists of all handouts going to Dayton to ensure they're in Shipping, ready to go. Gail sent 12 hamfest approval letters and 1 convention approval letter to the sponsoring committees confirming the Division Director's approval of their events as ARRL-sanctioned, processed 3 label requests for upcoming events and coordinated travel for Dan Henderson as HQ rep to the Georgia State Convention, June 4 in Marietta. She sent 11 approval letters to club officials confirming the EC's approval of their clubs as ARRL-affiliated. Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program Mark Spencer reports the source documents for the Fox Hunting project and associated lesson suggestions for schools are now on the web. Teachers have sent 22 applications for Teacher's Institute; application deadline is mid May. There are 14 non-ham teacher applicants so far, and the applications come from 12 states (Texas predominates). The requests for the Basic Electronics Course CD continue to trickle in -- to date, 225 non-school requests have been satisfied, and 32 schools have taken advantage of the offer. EmComm Grants Dan Miller is heading to Orlando, Florida, for back-to-back events. The National Disaster Medical System event is the first one, and ends on May 4. On May 7, Dan will set-up the booth for the Salvation Army North American Disaster Training conference. Both events will provide excellent exposure to some of our served agency personnel that we otherwise would not get to meet. Materials were packed for Dayton. Regulatory Information John Hennessee consulted with Chris Imlay on several matters, including an amateur in a national park who was told that he needed a permit from the park to operate his amateur station. Interestingly, another amateur called to report antenna restrictions in a national forest in California. John assisted amateurs with PRB-1 problems in Norwalk, CT (W2IRT) and Chesapeake, VA (KD4ARF). He assisted amateurs with covenant restrictions in Norfolk, VA (KB1LCS); Mulberry, FL (WB8QQR) and Inyo National Forest/Mono County, CA (W7AB). Community Education Program Bill Barrett will be in Humboldt County, IA on May 3 through5 for his next presentation to the area's Citizen Corps Council. He composed and sent an e-letter for councils he will be visiting in the next few months. The e-letter goes to both the SM-SEC-ham leaders and to the Council people. Bill is working to schedule presentations with the last few Citizen Corps locations. A follow-up letter will be mailed to all previous locations to measure lasting results and solicit any comments; this is going to the hams and to the council members, also. Field Organization/Public Service Team Congratulations to Charles Byars, W5GPO (TX); and Paul Toth, NA4AR; Robert Stanhope, W3RMS and Sean Fleeman, N4SCF, all of Florida. They were volunteers recognized as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2005 Environmental Heroes. Networking with the Citizen Corps national office, Steve Ewald heard about plans for National Preparedness Month 2005 in September, sponsored by US DHS and American Red Cross. Citizen Corps affiliates, including ARRL, will promote and participate in this awareness campaign. Steve finalized a message to Section Leaders and ARES leaders clarifying end dates of the grant-sponsored ARECC courses and reminders for registration. A few SMs forwarded the message to all Section members via the ARRL list server. Kansas SM Ron, KB0DTI, and SEC Bob, K0BXF will participate in the Kansas Amateur Radio Homeland Security Council, a newly-formed Kansas umbrella group of ham radio public service/emergency service groups. The council hopes to ensure Kansas ARES, RACES, SKYWARN, SATERN and others coordinate resources to Kansas served agencies and office of emergency management. Chuck Skolaut and Steve joined Connecticut Section ARES members and SEC Chuck Rexroad to conduct a lessons-learned session on the TOPOFF 3. Chuck compiled the ARRL's contribution to the monthly monitoring system report. He handled FCC monitoring requests and forwarded them to Official Observers to listen on a 20-meter frequency and also one on 40 meters. We heard that the Official Observer Coordinator of Nebraska received thanks for his efforts in helping to resolve an interference problem on 20 meters. Currently under investigation are reports of interference to a Florida traffic and technical net. We're also keeping track of interference on the upper end of 75 meters that is believed to be caused by a digital shortwave station. Leona Adams handled over 30 initial supply packages going to new appointees, and four OO test packages. She prepared and sent an updated Field Organization Appointee list to each SM to review for their rosters. In addition to processing section-related expense forms, Leona received an SM petition nominating incumbent Mark Tharp, KB7HDX, for another term of office, and a petition nominating Walter Marshall, W7SE, of Laramie, for Wyoming SM. Sincerely, Dave Patton, NN1N Special Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer Staff Absentee List Dave Sumner 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention Mary Hobart 5/18-5/23 Dayton Hamvention Dave Patton 5/18-5/23 Dayton Hamvention `` 5/23-5/27 Vacation `` 6/21-6/27 Friedrichshafen Germany Convention Wayne Mills 5/19-5/20 Dayton Hamvention `` 6/22-6/27 Friedrichshafen Germany Convention Dan Miller 5/7-5/10 Salvation Army Conference, Lake Buena Vista, FL `` 5/13-5/16 EMCOMM WEST, Reno, NV `` 5/17 Vacation Joe Carcia 5/27 Vacation Ed Hare 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention `` 5/23-5/27 IEEE BPL Study Group Long Beach, CA & Vacation Joel Kleinman 5/13 Vacation Bill Moore 5/11 Vacation `` 5/19-5/20 Dayton Hamvention Scott Gee 5/19-5/20 Vacation Judy Miller 5/5-5/6 Vacation `` 5/19-5/23 Vacation Joel Hallas 5/6pm Vacation `` 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention `` 5/23 Vacation Kathy Capodicasa 5/9-5/13 Vacation `` 5/18-5/23 Dayton Hamvention Joel Kleinman 5/13 Vacation `` 5/23 Vacation Bob Inderbitzen 5/18-5/23 Dayton Hamvention Mike Tracy 5/18-5/23 Dayton Hamvention Maria Somma 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention Debra Johnson 5/19-5/23 Dayton Hamvention `` 5/24 Vacation Dennis Motschenbacher 5/18-5/23 Dayton Hamvention Zoe Belliveau 5/19-5/23 Dayton Hamvention `` 6/20-6/24 Vacation Joe Bottiglieri 5/19-5/23 Dayton Hamvention Rick Lindquist 5/9 Vacation `` 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention `` 5/23 Vacation Fatima Lorusso 6/27-7/1 Vacation Lisa Tardette 6/27-7/8 Vacation `` 7/15 Vacation Steve Ford 5/10 Vacation Zack Lau 6/16-6/17 Vacation Eileen Sapko 5/13 Vacation Stu Cohen 5/4-5/11 Vacation Mark Dzamba 6/9-6/13 Vacation Pam Dzamba 6/9-6/13 Vacation Mark Spencer 5/9-5/12 Vacation `` 5/13-5/16 Emcomm West, Reno, NV `` 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention Norm Fusaro 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention Chuck Skolaut 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention Steve Ewald 5/19-5/22 Dayton Hamvention Rosalie White 5/19-5/26 Dayton Hamvention & Vacation Bob Schetgen 5/6 Vacation