<<040109.doc>> IN-Newsletter <<Microsoft Word Picture>> Vol. 32, No. 13 April 1, 2009 -- Covers the period March 22-28. Upcoming Meetings and Events Programs & Services Committee April 4 @ 9:00am in Newington, CT Regulatory Information Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND A significant amount of time was spent during the week answering telephone and email queries regarding the FCC clarification on the simultaneous transmission requirement of repeaters. The decision affects some digital technologies that were operating in a repeater configuration but were utilizing non-repeater frequencies. We also answered numerous queries on the medical device NPRM from the FCC. Finally, an inquiry relating to the denial to intervene by the FCC in the Morrison case was answered. We worked with the NCJ managing editor to verify some facts for an upcoming story and answered several queries of the Regions 1 and 3 vacating the 7.1 to 7.2 MHz area on 40-meters, which is set to be in place the week of March 30. Other member queries included a request about the legality of someone being added to a mailing list based on their license information, a VCE request in New Jersey, updates of information for several reciprocal licensing contacts, a question on VOIP operation, and a Missouri antenna restriction case. Time was spent during the week on the Field Day area for the ARRL Exposition at Dayton, assisting the Contest branch with some data issues, and continuing to review the Regulatory and Legislative areas for the Fathom project. Media & Public Relations Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP CONTACT for April has been completed and sent for posting to the Web. Final edits of PR-101 were completed by Nancy Hallas and corrections made to the disk. This final version has been turned in to Steve Ford for duplication (500 units). The two video PSA's were released. The first, on Field Day, is available at http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/2009/2009FieldDayPSA1.wmv and is a low res 3.85MB Win Media Player file for Web or email uses. The second, promoting the Technology pillar, is downloadable from http://www.arrl.org/pio/videos/ARRL30secPSA2009.mov and is a Broadcast Quality .MOV, 43 MB file. But there also is a low resolution (not for distribution - only to see it) version at http://www.arrl.org/pio/videos/LowRes2009.wmv Development Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH March results for the Diamond Club total $17,640 in revenue from 105 contributions, including a renewal at the Platinum level for $2500. These results bring the year-to-date totals to $53,979 from 310 contributions. Further details will be available for the next In-News. The results for the Spectrum Defense Fund saw $ 3700 in revenue in March, bringing the year-to-date revenue total to $28,275 from 279 donations. The average contribution remains very high at $103.69. The 2009 Education & Technology Fund mail campaign is being prepared. The letter is complete and design for the mailing and web is in production. An analysis of five-year results for this campaign have yielded information to refine the target audience selection based on geography, license class, age and longevity of membership. The target audience will total 75,000 pieces to prior major donors, major prospects, prior donors to education and a selection of ARRL members. A follow up will mail to major donors, major prospects, prior education donors and a refined selection of members. In March a second extremely generous stock gift was received for the Teachers Institutes in Wireless Technology (TI), a project of the Education & Technology Program. This contribution brings year-to-date funding received for the TI to more than $45,000. An additional distribution from the Stoner Estate for $10,000 has been received and placed in the ARRL Endowment. These proceeds bring the total receipts from the Stone Estate to $66,757. Production/Editorial Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE ARRL Software Library 3.0 and the Southeastern VHF Conference Proceedings have been released to the duplicator/printer. On March 26, Khrystyne Keane gave a lunchtime talk on "What is Amateur Radio?" to a group of seven women from Ladies of Newington Konnect (LINK). The group, led by former ARRL staffer Mary Lau, N1VH, had had no previous exposure to Amateur Radio, but seemed very interested to learn about the Service and what opportunities are available through it. Mary mentioned that a couple of the women were interested in getting their Technician license. Khrystyne wrote and distributed The ARRL Letter, Vol. 28, No. 12, for March 27, 2009. She also produced and voiced ARRL Audio News for March 27. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R Membership The ARRL membership rolls ended the first quarter in a good, overall position. Membership as of March 31, 2009 was 155,853 - 377 members over the goal of 155,476; a gain of 786 members over February. Gains are largely attributed to incremental improvements to response rates, and targeted appeals to small, known-active groups of radio amateurs. Sales Combined dealer and direct sales exceeded the March forecast by a healthy margin, contributing to a successful first quarter. A preliminary look at the totals place sales ahead of the first 3 months of 2008. March figures are being finalized, and will be reported next week. The Warehouse crew fulfilled 939 packages for publication and product orders, shipped 175 membership premiums, and mailed QST supplements. ARRL Conventions Date Name Division City State ARRL HQRepresentative Apr 3-4 AES Superfest (Hamfest) CL Milwaukee WI Diane Petrilli, Steve Ford Apr 4 Delaware State AT Georgetown DE Norm Fusaro Apr 4-5 Communications Academy NW Seattle WA Dennis Dura Apr 11 North Carolina State RK Raleigh NC Dan Henderson Apr 17-18 Midwest Division MW South Sioux City NE Apr 17-19 International DX PC Visalia CA Dave Patton/Mary Hobart Apr 17-19 SRT International DX Int'l Paestum Italy Norm Fusaro Apr 18 Tennessee Section DL Bartlett TN Dan Henderson Apr 24-25 Southeastern VHF Society RK Charlotte NC Gene Zimmerman Apr 24-26 Idaho State NWn Boise ID Joel Harrison Apr 25 Arkansas State DL Rogers AR Khrystyne Keane Apr 25 Louisiana State DL Monroe LA Steve Ewald Apr 25 Utah State RM South Ogden UT Harold Kramer May 1-3 EMCOMMWEST/Pacificon PC Reno NV Steve Ewald May 2 South Carolina Section RK Spartanburg SC Chuck Skolaut May 15-17 ARRL National GL Dayton OH May 22-24 Wyoming State RM Casper WY Ed Hare May 29-31 Rocky Mountain Division RM Estes Park CO Harold Kramer, Mike Gruber May 30 Atlantic Division AT Rochester NY Membership & Volunteer Programs Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N Contest Branch The 2008 November Sweepstakes cups, pins, brooms and magnets have started going out the door. All orders will be processed by the end of the week. 2008 DX SSB certificates have been mailed. Gavels for the Club Competition during the 2008 ARRL DX Contest, June VHF Sweepstakes and September VHF QSO Parties have been mailed to the President of the winning clubs. 3,137 logs were received for the ARRL DX CW Contest. With less than a week to go to the DX SSB log submission deadline, we have received 2,393 electronic logs. W1AW A "W1AW Digital Listener" Zoomerang survey was sent out to just under 10,000 ARRL members. The survey deals with the W1AW digital broadcast transmissions. The hope is that the results will give us a better idea as to which digital modes (such as PSK31, MT63, etc.) W1AW should incorporate into its broadcast schedule. Joe updated the web code practice files and their archives. He created the texts for the April W1AW Qualifying Runs. Joe also updated the W1AW web page with the April QR schedule. He processed one Qualifying Run certificate. Joe also processed regular QSL card requests. He also installed in the Harris racks a Hameg HM5011 Spectrum Analyzer. This analyzer is on loan from the ARRL Laboratory. It will be used to make spectral tests on the broadcast equipment. Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files for the latter part of the month of March and early April. Field Organization/Public Service Team The ARRL Public Service Communications Web page now sports an improved area that highlights the efforts and work of the ARRL National Traffic System with links to references and resources. Steve Ewald attended the "Spring Training" Workshop that was sponsored by Connecticut ARES Region 5 in Southbury. Nearly 60 radio amateurs from around the state took part. Thanks to the Mailroom Staff, ballots and candidate statements for the ARRL Utah Section Manager election were mailed from Newington on March 26, several days before the April 1 mailing deadline. Members in Utah have until May 15 to return their marked ballots to ARRL HQ. Leona continued to receive Field Appointment roster updates and revisions from Section Managers and Section Leaders. Chuck Skolaut began registering Amateur Radio stations that qualify and wish to participate in the Global SET scheduled for April 18. Several reports were received about a "bubbler" or "gurgle" type signal that is on the low end of 20 meters. Our monitoring team is collecting information. Also, several reports of bad language on 75 meters and broadcasting of music on 160 meters are receiving attention by Official Observers. While corresponding with an Official Observer Coordinator in Florida about an on-going case, the FCC's Laura Smith wrote the this nice comment: "We here at the Commission have nothing but the highest praise for all you guys do and can't thank you enough for your service!" Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Staff Absentee List All Staff 4/10 Holiday Leona Adams 4/3 Vacation Margie Bourgoin 4/14 Vacation Hugh Brower 4/24-4/29 Vacation Steve Capodicasa 5/11-5/15 Vacation Joe Carcia 4/22 Vacation `` 5/8 Vacation `` 5/13-5/17 Dayton Hamvention `` 6/19 Vacation Jackie Cornell 4/20-4/24 Vacation Steve Ford 4/2-4/3 AES Superfest, Milwaukee, WI `` 4/20-4/24 Vacation Norm Fusaro 4/2-4/7 Vacation `` 4/15-4/24 SRT International DX Convention - Italy Scott Gee 4/15-4/17 Vacation `` 5/14-5/15 Vacation Mike Gruber 5/29-5/31 Rocky Mountain Division Convention, Estes Park, CO Joel Hallas 5/13-5/19 Dayton Hamvention/Vacation Ed Hare 4/20-4/24 C63 EMC Committee, Piscataway, NJ `` 5/13-5/15 Vacation `` 5/20-5/21 IEEE SDCom EMC committee, Philadephia, PA `` 5/22-5/25 Wyoming State Convention `` 5/26-5/27 Vacation Dan Henderson 4/10-4/12 North Carolina State Convention, Raleigh, NC `` 4/17-4/19 Tennessee Section Convention, Memphis, TN `` 5/14-5/17 Dayton Hamvention Mary Hobart 4/6-4/8 Vacation `` 4/17-4/20 International DX Convention/Visalia, CA `` 5/13-5/17 Dayton Hamvention Bob Inderbitzen 4/13-4/15 Vacation Khrystyne Keane 4/3 Vacation `` 4/24-4/26 Arkansas State Convention, Rogers, AR Maryann Macdonald 5/14-5/17 Dayton Hamvention Carol Michaud 4/15-4/17 Vacation Bill Moore 5/13-5/17 Dayton Hamvention Dave Patton 4/16-4/19 International DX - Visalia, CA `` 5/13-5/17 Dayton Hamvention Ashley Rakus 4/13 Jury Duty Barry Shelley 4/16-4/21 Vacation Sharon Taratula 4/2 Vacation `` 4/14 Vacation