IN-Newsletter Vol. 39, No. 36 December 17, 2014 - Covers the period December 7-13. Upcoming Meetings and Events Vice Director Orientation January 14 in Newington, CT LoTW Study Committee January 14 @ 9:00am in Newington, CT Administration & Finance Committee January 15 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT Programs & Services Committee Janauary 15 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT Annual Board Meeting January 16-17, 2015 @ 9:00am in Windsor, CT CEO Office Just a quick note reminding all of you that the ARRL will be closed Thursday, December 25, Friday, December 26 and Thursday, January 1. Happy Holidays to all of you and a Healthy and Happy New Year! Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R Yvette Vinci prepared the email notification for the January 2015 digital edition of QST, distributed to ARRL members on Wednesday, December 10. The distribution list included 114,266 members. The emailing was redesigned-inspired by the celebration of QST's centennial year. Diane Petrilli reports that the last membership campaign of 2014 was mailed on Friday, December 12. The next mailing is scheduled to be sent on January 19. Various email solicitations promoting membership this month (holiday-themed, Cyber Monday, etc.) have returned over 215 members by mid-month. Targeted e-mails were also sent to prospective hams, other licensees in members' households, lapsed international members, and non-member ARRL Volunteer Examiners. This week, we are introducing a new mailing to FIRST TIME members to (1) increase the number of e-mail addresses we have among this group and (2) improve our retention of new members. We know that retention is higher among members for whom we have an email address recorded. This most likely contributes to a more deeply engaged member. Having an email address means we can help provide a member with access to members-only features of the ARRL website, the digital edition of QST, free e-newsletters and other bulletins, membership and license renewal reminders, and solicitations for publications and contributions. The test mailings will be conducted for at least 6 months-and complete retention data will be available in late 2016. A final draft of the survey for the upcoming Amateur Radio market study was committed. The survey is being readied by Readex Research for distribution to a large sample of members, lapsed members, and "never" members in January. Members who have been selected to participate in the survey will receive an invitation by email to complete and submit their survey responses online. Questions from members and non-members about the survey can be directed to Bob Inderbitzen. Steve Capodicasa and Michael Scharr completed a comprehensive review of our compliance with the fulfillment requirements of one of our major publication resellers. We are pleased to report that our warehouse is in complete compliance. The IT Department is working with the warehouse to introduce an additional computer and label printer to the facility to further workflow efficiency and our continued compliance with the new fulfillment requirements. Summary of warehouse fulfillment activity, reported by Steve Capodicasa: Week ending Packages fulfilled Member Premiums 12/12/2014 856 716 12/5/2014 1,924 448 11/26/2014 (short week) 607 225 11/21/2014 906 514 Field Services & Radiosport Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N DXCC Paper/Fieldcheck Processing Time 3 Weeks Logbook Processing Time 3-5 Business Days Field Organization/Public Service Team Leona Adams has been in touch with all candidates for the three Section Manager elections that will be taking place this winter. She is receiving statements from all the candidates and making preparations for the elections. In addition, Leona received and processed a number of Section Manager expense reports. In Arizona, incumbent Section Manager Robert Spencer, KE8DM, is running against Steven Wood, W1SR. In Iowa, incumbent Section Manager Bob McCaffrey, KØCY, is running against Scott Kirstein, NØOOD. In Wyoming, incumbent Section Manager Garth Crowe, WY7GC, is running against Jack Mitchell, N7MJ. Starting in April, 2015, Kentucky will have a new Section Manager. Alan Morgan, KY1O, of Paris, was the only nominee for the office. Current SM Jim Brooks, KY4Z, decided not run for a new term of office. Jim has been the Kentucky Section Manager since April, 2007. The following Section Managers were the only nominated candidates in their respective sections. Therefore, they will begin new terms of office starting in April, 2015. Malcolm Keown, W5XX (Mississippi); Dale Temple, W5RXU (Arkansas); Carl Gardenias, WU6D (Orange); George Forsyth, AA7GS (Montana); Chris Brewer, N5GMJ (North Texas). Radio amateurs from Ohio, Oregon and Eastern Pennsylvania successfully completed requirements to become Official Observers this week. Chuck Skolaut compiled and sent the monthly ARRL Monitoring System/Intruder Watch report to the IARU Region 2 Monitoring Coordinator. Several reports along the East Coast were received regarding interference heard on 160 meters. One follow-up report indicates it is from a military surface radar installation in Nova Scotia. Chuck conducted one morning code practice run and hosted two visiting amateurs as they operated at W1AW. He also conducted one tour for three amateurs visiting headquarters. Steve Ewald received November activity reports from the ARRL Field Organization and compiled them for the column in February QST. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations All Staff 12/25-12/26 Holiday All Staff 1/1 Holiday Bob Allison 12/17 Jury Duty `` 12/22-12/24 PTO Lauren Clarke 12/24 PTO Jackie Ferreira 12/19 PTO `` 12/29-12/31 PTO Steve Ford 12/22-1/2 PTO Scott Gee 12/24-12/29 PTO Dan Henderson 12/17-1/6 PTO Gail Iannone 12/19-1/2 PTO Bob Inderbitzen 12/29-1/2 PTO Deb Jahnke 12/22-12/24 PTO Debra Johnson 12/19 PTO `` 12/24 PTO `` 12/31-1/2 PTO Harold Kramer 12/18-12/29 PTO Sean Kutzko 12/12-12/19 PTO Maryann Macdonald 12/22-12/29 PTO Diane Petrilli 12/22-12/24 PTO `` 1/9 PTO `` 1/26-1/30 PTO Becky Schoenfeld 12/24-12/30 PTO Chuck Skolaut 12/22-12/24 PTO `` 12/30-12/31 PTO Dave Sumner 12/24-12/31 PTO Yvette Vinci 12/29-12/30 PTO