<<082113.doc>> IN-Newsletter <<Microsoft Word Picture>> Vol. 36, No. 33 August 21, 2013 -- Covers the period August 11-17. Upcoming Meetings and Events Executive Committee: October 5 @ 8:30am - Denver, CO Director/Vice Director Elections November 15 LoTW Study Committee November 15 @ 9:00am in Newington, CT Administration & Finance Committee November 16 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT Magdalena Owczarska, W1MGZ Digital Content Coordinator The ARRL Home <http://www.arrl.org/home> page now displays the tagline: "Devoted Entirely to Amateur Radio." The promotional carousel on the Home page has been brought to the top and the quick-links have been labeled "What's Popular." Beta testing of the Android app continues and Nxtbook is resolving final bugs prior to the Android app release in the fall. Regulatory Information Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND The Regulatory Information office reviewed potential tower ordinance issues in New York and Alabama during the week. The Alabama ordinance has a specific exemption for amateur radio structures and does not pose a problem. After contacting the Northern New York Section Manager, we have been in contact with local amateurs in West Carthage for an update. We have offered to speak with the town attorney on the issue and provide relevant information if needed to clarify PRB-1 for the town if requested. Occasionally questions arise related to Advanced and Novice class licenses. These questions usually are either from Advanced class licensees who ask when they are going to be grandfathered to the Extra class license or from General class licensees who want to know when we are going to update our frequency charts. We explain that while there are no new Advanced or Novice class licenses being tested, those who hold those licenses are entitled to renew them, so our frequency charts accurately reflect that Part 97 still has frequencies designated for those two license classes. Several membership queries on reciprocal operating and station ID requirements were handled, as was a question pertaining to the AO-7 satellite operation. A member questioned a statement from a recent AO-7 web story. When I returned from vacation, we tracked down that the information came from an outdated AMSAT webpage and the story was corrected. We answered a question about whether a specially authorized 1x1 US callsign could be used outside of US territory under a reciprocal operating agreement. There is no licensee for a 1x1 callsign since it is really a special temporary assignment. Reciprocity is granted to individuals not to calls, so using a 1x1 in a foreign territory, such as I0/N1N would not be a valid use of the 1x1 call. If, however, it was being used on a US-flagged vessel in international waters, then reciprocity doesn't come into play and N1N/MM would be a valid use. Production/Editorial Reported by Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY The October 2013 issue of QST has been uploaded to the printer. Lab Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI Product Review Bob Allison tested a newer version of an inexpensive SSB/CW HF QRP transceiver that had been purchased for Product Review. Unfortunately, this transceiver can also easily transmit on the Citizen's Band like the old one--the review has been halted. Bob also started testing of a dual band, handheld, digital/analog transceiver. One day was needed to get familiar with the rather complicated handheld. RFI Mike Gruber met with two representatives from the Eaton Company, Andy Foerster and Daryll Fogal. They spent the Wednesday afternoon with us discussing a wide variety of topics, including RF immunity challenges and problems with the AFCI Circuit breakers. We learned a lot-it was a very successful meeting. Web Zack Lau updated the Propagation Forecasts for September. The predicted solar flux is 128. http://www.arrl.org/propagation Lab Display The Lab's FlexRadio 5000C (software defined transceiver) was returned to the Lab after repairs from the manufacturer. It was not working after a lightning storm passed close to headquarters. Fortunately, no lightning damage was found, only a faulty antenna relay. The relay issue is a known problem to FlexRadio, which they replaced, free of charge. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R Pre-orders from individuals for the ARRL Centennial Edition 2014 Handbook have topped 1,400 units. Orders will ship in early October. Bob Inderbitzen and Harold Kramer attended the Huntsville Hamfest--the ARRL Alabama State Convention. Along with Director Greg Sarratt, they supported the busy ARRL booth throughout the 2-day event. The event draws 2-3,000 attendees, making it one of the larger annually-held conventions in the US. Diane Petrilli sent an email to prospective attendees in Alabama promoting the membership incentives offered at the ARRL booth. There were 112 membership applications taken (up 30% from 2012), totaling 205 membership years. This includes one paid-in-full family Life Membership, one new Life Membership pledge with a first payment, and one Diamond Club renewal. Dues and subscriptions collected at the convention will exceed $6,400 ($4,194 in 2012). Bob gave a 1-hour presentation as part of the convention's forum slate-covering highlights of ARRL headquarters, membership benefits and publications, planning for the ARRL Centennial year, and some cheerleading for the organization's Second Century. He also published a photo album to ARRL's Facebook page throughout the event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151643676797408.1073741837.2 0069212407&type=1&l=2f0d4d4cec Diane Petrilli reports that the next large membership campaign will mail September 16. She is also immersed in membership planning for 2014. A Tour Guide training is scheduled for August 28 for half a dozen new tour guides. We are expanding the base of volunteers in anticipation of the Centennial celebration next year. A series of targeted emails has been sent out to website guests, prospective hams, lapsed international members and LoTW international users, bringing in nearly 100 new members. Yvette Vinci prepared the email notification for the September 2013 edition of digital edition of QST, distributed to ARRL members on Wednesday, August 14. The distribution list included 113,186 members-up a bit from last month. Summary of warehouse fulfillment activity (reported by Steve Capodicasa): Week of Packages fulfilled Member Premiums 8/12/2013 628 408 Membership & Volunteer Programs Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N DXCC Paper/Fieldcheck Processing Time 1 Week Logbook Processing Time 3-5 Business Days Field Organization/Public Service Team Three radio amateurs, two from Ohio and one from Alabama successfully completed requirements to join the Field Organization as Official Observers this past week. Chuck Skolaut compiled and sent out the monthly Official Observer Summary to all OOs, OOCs, and Section Managers. The New York Aviation Weather station heard on 2000 kHz has ceased operating on that frequency. Reports of QRM to a net on 14.320 MHz and bad language and jamming on 14.313 MHz were received. Chuck also prepared for traveling to the Kansas State Convention in Salina. Leona Adams received a nominating petition for New Mexico Section Manager Bill Kauffman, W5YEJ, to run for a new term of office that begins on January 1, 2014. Additional petitions for this Section Manager election cycle are due at Headquarters by September 6. Steve Ewald continues to prepare and plan for next month's Workshop at Headquarters for new Section Managers on September 20 -22. He has been working with Headquarters staff members to schedule session presentations. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations All Staff 9/2 Holiday Allison Barbieri 8/19-8/23 PTO Steve Capodicasa 9/3 PTO `` 11/25-11/27 PTO Joe Carcia 8/23 PTO `` 8/30pm PTO `` 9/27 PTO `` 10/14 PTO Steve Ford 8/26-8/30 PTO `` 9/5 PTO Scott Gee 8/26-8/27 PTO `` 10/4-10/7 PTO Mike Gruber 8/26-8/30 PTO `` 9/30-10/4 PTO Gail Iannone 8/22-8/30 PTO Bob Inderbitzen 8/29-9/2 North Carolina Section Convention, Shelby, NC Debra Johnson 8/30 PTO Harold Kramer 8/23-8/27 PTO Lisa Kustosik 8/29 PTO Zack Lau 9/23-9/27 PTO Diane Petrilli 8/23 PTO `` 9/20-9/30 PTO Barry Shelley 8/12-8/26 PTO Chuck Skolaut 8/19-8/26 Kansas State Convention, Salina, KS/PTO Dave Sumner 8/21-9/8 PTO `` 9/20-9/28 IARU Region 2 Conference, Cancun, Mexico Yvette Vinci 8/23 PTO