IN-Newsletter Vol. 41, No. 17 January 6, 2016 - Covers the period December 27-January 2. Upcoming In-Person Meetings and Events LoTW Study Committee January 12 @ 9:00am in Newington, CT CEO Search Committee January 13 @ 9:00am in Newington, CT Administration & Finance Committee January 14 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT Programs & Services Committee January 14 @ 8:30am in Newington, CT Annual Board Meeting January 15-16 @ 9:00am in Windsor, CT Lab Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI Product Review Bob Allison performed a couple of retests and documented the results on a modern HF/6m transceiver. A data table and a document of observations were passed along to the manufacturer, who will perform the same tests on one of their production units. Historical Collection Bob accepted a donation from Andy Stewart, KB1OIQ. Andy handled the estate of Gus Fallgren, W1OG (SK). The donation consisted of the very first transistorized Amateur Radio transmitter to span the Atlantic, which Gus and two other Raytheon Engineers built in 1956. The transmitter's RF output was only 0.08 Watts! Plenty of documentation was provided to tell its story, including an issue of Radio and Television magazine, in which Gus and his transmitter were featured on the cover. This device fits the criteria of the ARRL Historical Collection since it played a significant role in the development of Amateur Radio. EMC Committee Mike Gruber is working on the EMC Committee Report Operating Just before the end of the year Zack Lau W1VT received his 2000th DXCC Challenge point. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R Diane Petrilli reports that December ended with 170,528 members, 2,801 members ahead of the year-to-date goal. This represents a gain from November of 1,471 members; a gain of 606 was forecast. The on-time renewal rate for December is 72.59% vs. 72.63% last December. The yearend membership gain was 4,864 members over 2014. This is an increase of 2.94% for the year (2.13% in 2014, 1.21% in 2013). ARRL membership, having climbed for the 9th consecutive year, stands at its highest total in 19 years. This bodes well as we begin 2016 with the first dues increase in more than a decade. The majority of this year's growth is attributed to effective mail campaigns and emails to specific targeted groups. These efforts have been bolstered by activities throughout the organization that have helped grow our email lists. Jackie Ferriera reports that December product sales were $367,022, exceeding the sales forecast of $345,995. Direct sales were $234,049; dealer sales were $132,973. Direct sales are up $34.6k, and dealer sales are up $33k from December 2014. Royalties earned on sales of our Kindle e-books were $6,348 ($6,235 last month). In stark contrast to the sluggish first half of the year, sales exceeded forecast during the second half of the year. Overall, publication sales totaled $3,084,938 in 2015 ($3,362,343 in 2014) -- $149,431 behind the forecast goal of $3,234,369. Not included in these yearend sales figures are royalties earned on sales of our growing list of Kindle e-books; $63,855 in 2015. Warehouse Supervisor Steve Capodicasa reported that the warehouse processed 51,134 packages for individual and dealer orders in 2015 (48,876 in 2014). New book, Small Antennas for Small Spaces 2nd Edition, contributed $6,246 in December. Our other new title, Work the World with JT65 and JT9, introduced the last week of the month, and contributed $4,924. Now Shipping: Work the World with JT65 and JT9, by Steve Ford, WB8IMY. Members of the warehouse and fulfillment groups supported the annual physical inventory on Monday, January 4, organized by Diane Middleton. Fulfillment processing resumed on Tuesday afternoon, January 5. Summary of Sales and Marketing Department telephone group, reported by Yvette Vinci: Week Ending Calls Answered Calls Per Hour Total Talking Duration Average Speed of Answer 12/31/2015 1028 28.5 37:03:19 13 seconds 12/24/2015 754 20.9 26:08:53 12 seconds 12/18/2015 1147 25.5 40:53:56 11 seconds 12/11/2015 1059 23.5 35:36:46 13 seconds Summary of warehouse fulfillment activity, reported by Steve Capodicasa: Week Ending Packages fulfilled Member Premiums 12/31/2015 1,522 1,112 12/24/2015 970 578 12/18/2015 1,383 872 (helped by Mailroom) 12/11/2015 1,155 1,074 Field Services & Radiosport Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N DXCC Paper/Fieldcheck Processing Time 3 - 4 Weeks Logbook Processing Time 2 - 4 Business Days Number of Centennial applications processed: Centennial Challenge QSO 2819 W1AW/WAS 2002 W1AW Despite the inclement weather the first part of the week, W1AW had quite its fair share of visitors during the holiday week (as is normally expected). Joe Carcia began assembling the Azimuth and Elevation rotator sections for the ARISS Go-Kit. He's also been working on the boom, tripod, and counterweight sections in an effort to make the setup an easy one (on the school's end). Scott Gee electronically archived all the past year's bulletin files, and reset the bulletin generation program for 2016. Field Organization/Public Service Team Thanks to the Mailroom staff for mailing the Section Manager Election ballots to members in the Virginia, Pacific and San Diego sections during the last week of 2015 and ahead of schedule. Leona Adams continued to receive and process 2015 section expense reports before turning them over to the Accounting office for check issuance. Karl Martin, W4JVM, of Chelsea, Alabama, has been nominated to run for the next term of office as Alabama Section Manager during this open period of resolicitation that extends until March 4. Because no nomination petitions were received for both Alabama and Alaska by the original nomination deadline of September 4, 2015, nominations are now being resolicited. The next terms of office will start on July 1, 2016, and last for 18 months. Alabama Section Manager David Drummond, W4MD, will continue as the Section Manager for the first half of this 2016 even though his term of office concluded on December 31, 2015. In Alaska, Ray Hollenbeck, KL1IL, of Wasilla, Alaska, was appointed to succeed Jim Larsen, AL7FS, effective on January 1. Ray Hollenbeck's appointment is in effect for the first half of 2016, and he is eligible to submit a petition to run for the next term of office. Dave Patton made the Section Manager appointment in consultation with Northwestern Division Director Jim Pace and the outgoing SM. Jim Larsen, of Anchorage, completed his fourth term as SM at the end of December, and he decided not to run for another term. Chuck Skolaut reports that a short week to finish 2015 was comprised mostly of sending supplies to Official Observers and receiving and following up on interference complaints. The complaints included operation on 7255 kHz on the west coast, interference on 3908 kHz, continuation of interference on 6 meters in Oregon, and unlicensed hunters using 2 meters in Northern Florida. A West Virginia Official Observer was the target of some extreme negative feedback resulting from the sending of an advisory. Our Intruder Watch monitors were alerted regarding a steady carrier heard on 14050 kHz. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations All Staff 2/15 Holiday Bob Allison 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Margie Bourgoin 2/10-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Lauren Clarke 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Mike Corey 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Norm Fusaro 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Mike Gruber 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Dan Henderson 1/14-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting Gail Iannone 2/10-2/16 PTO Bob Inderbitzen 2/10-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Debra Johnson 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Harold Kramer 1/14-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting Lisa Kustosik 1/15-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting `` 2/10-2/16 National Convention, Orlando, FL/PTO Sean Kutzko 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Kim McNeill 2/10-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Dave Patton 1/14-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting Diane Petrilli 1/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Barry Shelley 1/14-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting Dave Sumner 1/8 DARA meeting, Dayton, OH `` 1/14-1/16 Board Meeting/Committee Meeting `` 2/11-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL Yvette Vinci 2/10-2/14 National Convention, Orlando, FL