IN-Newsletter Vol. 26, No. 20 May 21, 2003 EVP Logbook of the World debuted for public beta testing May 15. After a week of operation, there are more than 3 million QSOs in the database with about 1000 digital certificates issued. There haven't been any big surprises, but as expected we have uncovered some issues to be addressed before we go live with the production system. We are also uncovering the weak spots in documentation and customer support information. We expect the beta test period to last about 60 days. Please direct any member with questions or comments to Dave Patton, NT1N, here at HQ. Development We were pleased to host 52 donors at the second annual Donor Recognition Reception at the Officers Club of Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Many of the guests were attending for the first time and enjoyed a light supper followed by fascinating remarks of Vice Adm (ret.) Scott Redd, K0DQ, who commanded the US Fifth Fleet during Operation Desert Storm. The evening was highlighted by the award of a Maxim Society plaque to ARRL Vice President Kay Craigie, N3KN, and her husband Carter, N3AO. Mary and Deborah spent the balance of the Dayton Hamvention working the ARRL booth. Chief Development Officer Hobart extended her trip to the midwest with a visit to Indianapolis to meet donor Dr. Beurt SerVaas, W9WVO, and discuss ARRL's Education & Technology Fund. Media Relations The PR Committee held its annual meeting in Dayton during Hamvention weekend. All but two PRC members were able to attend. The meeting was very productive. Committee members discussed ongoing projects, future objectives, and chose individual goals they plan to meet this year. A full recap of the meeting will be posted on the PR Committee reflector shortly. Those who attended the PRC breakfast meeting also took part in the PR forum (which they organized) the following day, and did a fantastic job. A panel discussion, with plenty of questions from the audience, was followed by a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" format PR game. The program was fun and informative. Jennifer will be posting some of the highlights on the PR reflector for those who were unable to attend the forum. ARRL's new reflector for Public Information Coordinators is up and running. Several of the participants have shared their bios with the group. We will continue to encourage all PICs to join the reflector, and PRC members have discussed several ways in which they will interact with the group throughout the year. The Annual Report layout has been reviewed, and is going back to the production department for final corrections. Jennifer submitted bio information and a description of the PR forum to the staff at HamCom. While in Dayton, PRC Chairman Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, and PRC member Rich Moseson, W2VU, volunteered to speak at the forum, along with Jennifer and a PIO from the North Texas section. It should be an excellent program. Production/Editorial Dave Hassler edited several features for the ARRL Web site and wrote several news briefs. He also gave a talk on Hellschreiber at Hamvention. A fax-like method of teleprinting with CW, Hellschreiber was invented in the 1920s but has seen a recent resurgence with the advent of "soundcard" digital modes. Dave, along with QST Technical Editor Stu Cohen, N1SC, and Managing Editor Joel Kleinman, N1BKE, interfaced with a number of ARRL members, authors and potential authors at Hamvention. Sales & Marketing A new membership marketing promotion kicked off at Dayton. The promotion, developed in conjunction with the Ad Hoc Membership Recruitment and Retention Committee, is the first of two pilot projects that enlist the aid of amateur radio industry members in recruiting League members. For a limited time, ICOM dealers will give purchasers of qualifying ICOM equipment a coupon/membership application good for $15 toward membership dues for each brand new or returning (after a lapse of 1 year) ARRL member. Current members may transfer the coupon to a third party. Prior to the Dayton Hamvention, the Sales and Marketing team, worked in concert with ICOM America to create flesh out a detailed program outline and create coupons and signs to be displayed at ICOM dealer stores. This pilot program will run through August 15 and we will be monitoring the results closely over the next several months. Kathy Capodicasa, Bob Inderbitzen and Danny Sayad represented the sales staff at the 2003 Dayton Hamvention. Preliminary attendance reports vary, but the general consensus indicated that Hamvention attendance was less than last year. However, the League booth took in a little over $1,000 more than the previous year. In total, 562 memberships were taken during the event: 389 term renewals; 111 lapsed term members and 61 new members. That's up from 524 last year. In addition, there was one life member sign-up who paid in full at the event. With the booth staffing schedule set up prior to the event, booth coverage was, for the most part, adequate. As usual, rainy weather at times forced everyone inside, creating bursts of activity. A tremendous Thank You to all staff who pitched in to assist sales staff in working at the booth. As always, your assistance is sincerely appreciated. Joe Bottiglieri made the rounds at Hamvention, spending time with current advertisers and combing the site for potential ones. QST advertising kits will be sent to those attendees who do not presently advertise with us. Joe also attended events, hosted by two major manufacturers, who were announcing new product rollouts. Bob took a few moments outside the ARRL booth at Dayton to discuss resale product opportunities with a handful of exhibitors. Included among these were representatives from RSGB, Radio Amateur Callbook, and Worldradio. He also took the stage at the ICOM exhibit for two soapbox style "ARRL Today" presentations. Al Ambrose and Bill Pritchett, the software developers of TravelPlus for Repeaters CD-ROM, shared the ARRL exhibit space at Dayton for another year. Their excellent demonstrations of the newest version of the program drew many new customers. Devout TravelPlus customers enjoyed exchanging feedback with Al and Bill. Many previous buyers upgraded on the spot. The Spring/Summer edition of the ARRL Publications Catalog has arrived. A large direct mailing effort is underway. ARRL dealers have been supplied with copies for their stores. Catalogs can be obtained from any of the Sales & Marketing staff. Membership Services Awards Branch WAS QSL Cards Checked 200 WAC QSL Cards Checked 162 WAC Certs. (102 QSLs ES/C) 17 5BWAC Certs. (60 QSLs ES/C) 2 Extra Class Certs. 13 OTCs 4 L/T Member Inquiries 5 A-1 Operator Noms. 6 LTMAs Records to Siebel 17 VUCC End. App. 1 Grids 51 Awards Mailed 34 Processing Status: Current or up to three weeks. For the coming week-WAS Specialty, Code Proficiency, RCC, and A-1 Operator awards, filing chores associated with LTMA correspondence, and on-going VUCC awards processing/mailing. DXCC Branch Weekly Report May 18, 2003 Beginning Cards 104,673 Cards Received 11,534 Cards Processed 11,867 Ending Cards 104,340 Applications Pending 824 Processing Time 7.7 Weeks Year-to-date (2003) Cards Received 198,076 Cards Returned 301,851 QRPs Issued this week 1 QRP's Issued total 294 DXCC is currently mailing applications received on March 26, 2003. DXCC is currently entering cards received on March 31, 2003. We attended the Dayton Hamvention this past weekend. Official numbers: DXCC-153 apps. with 16,024 QSOs, WAC-2, WAS-4 and VUCC-4. 1 new card checker was appointed in Japan this week. Positive comments were received on a variety of DXCC items such as turn around time to help received from DXCC staff. Contest Branch The 2003 RTTY Roundup results were received from the log checking team, the boxes prepared and sent to production. The 2002 Ten Meter results article for QST was edited for size and content. Data entry for shipping 2003 DX Contest pins was finished. The PowerPoint presentation for the Contest forum at Dayton was prepared. Numerous queries regarding Field Day were handled. QSL Branch QSL service status: Current. Cards mailed year to date as of 05/18/03 - 623,125. Cards mailed on 05/16/2003 - 58,100. Martin covered the morning bulletins at W1AW on Thursday and Friday for Joe Carcia, so he could cover the evening shift for a vacationing Scott Gee. Heather Dzamba has returned to full time duties and spent 5 hours conducting tours around HQ. W1AW Joe Carcia worked the Thursday and Friday late afternoon/night shifts for a vacationing Scott Gee. He also created the texts for the June W1AW Qualifying Runs. Joe processed regular W1AW QSL card requests and handled some evening phone sales calls in the 5 PM to 8 PM time slot. Scott Gee worked on fast and slow code practice files for the month of May. Scott also handled some evening phone sales calls in the 5 PM to 8 PM time slot. W1AW Telephone Sales year to date (2003): $8,694. Field & Educational Services Rosalie took part via telecon in a FEMA meeting on volunteerism at the NVOAD conference. A NASA Web site highlights the terrestrial QSO from Johnson Space Center ARC's W5RRR, with astronauts Barb Morgan, KD5VNP, and Dave Williams, and youth at the Ontario Science Centre. Regulatory Information John Hennessee reports that the SGL Reflector is up and running (thanks to Andy Shefrin) allowing SGLs and interested ARRL Officers, Directors and Vice Directors to network with one another, particularly about legislation related to PRB-1. John assisted an amateur in Simsbury, CT (W1JC) with a local government zoning problem. Field & Education Support Team Jean Wolfgang sent updates to the ARRL scout site. She was included in a member's discussion with others pertaining to ham/scouters, and pointed them to a Yahoo Scoutradio group she is part of. This is the time of year for Boy Scout Camporees and outdoor events in many areas. Several hams have told Jean how they will share ham radio with scouts at these events. Jean and Larry will be at CT's Mohegan District Spring Camporee, May 17-18, operating WA1BSA on 80 and 20 meters. She designed the WA1BSA QSL card. Linda Mullally updated 126 club records and 2 reactivations. She registered 13 Volunteer Instructors, 4 schoolteachers, and sent out 12 Exhibit kits and 2 JOTA Kits. She completed the F&ES Monthly Revenue Report and notes that the Monthly Revenue for April was $2,036.89. She also compiled the Field Organization Reports (PSHR, STM, SEC, and BPL) for July QST. Margie Bourgoin reports 9 new affiliated clubs just voted on by the EC by email. She added these to the database, generated certificates and is putting together welcome packets for each. 4 new clubs' paperwork was sent for Director approval. She will inform the ARISS team via teleconference that Jerry Hill has left HQ and Mark Spencer will join our staff in June to head the Big Project. Mary Lau reviewed the membership rosters and paperwork of four new Category 1 clubs from Ohio, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Nebraska. She also processed contribution acknowledgments and forwarded a renewal-grant request to the Foundation Proposals Committee. CCE Howard Robins reports that our Web host has formatted our newest course, VHF/UHF - Life Beyond the Local Repeater. Howard checked all sections, and registration should open this Monday. For our future troubleshooting course, Howard has found a potential author who will draft an outline and summary for our review. The CCE volunteer mentor coordinator was involved in an accident and is unable to work, but hope to in a few days. Howard advised his students to hold activities. Jerry Ellis has processed results from field exam sessions received recently. CNCS, UTC, and field exam graduates were mailed their printed certificates, ID cards and refund checks (where appropriate). Jerry also folded, stuffed, and mailed 76 mentor stipend letters and corresponding checks; this process is now being done monthly. Field Organization/Public Service Team Steve Ewald turned in July QST's Public Service column and the article on the 2002 SET. He shared information to SMs on the June 1 on-the-air test of WX4NHC, ham station at the National Hurricane Center. Section leaders kept Steve posted on response in storm-affected states. Oklahoma SM John Thomason praised the FCC and ARRL HQ on acting quickly spreading the word about May 10's emergency declaration starting and ending. We also received a thank you for work in getting ARRL Section News online--the member said he now reads nearly all Section reports, and likes how updates are timely. Leona Adams is now using a program she can initiate for sending monthly Field Organization current and expired appointment lists to SMs by email. The data is drawn from the Siebel system. Over 30 appointments were entered into the system and initial supply packages were shipped. Chuck Skolaut received confirmation from the FCC that a reported second harmonic of the Voice of America (VOA) in the Philippines on 20 meters was corrected by VOA. The FCC is investigating interference on 2 meters from fishing boats off the coast of California. Chuck is working with OOs on cases on 20 and 75 meters. EmComm Grants Dan Miller took a day to attend the national conference of the National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters while enroute to Hamvention. Rosalie set up a schedule for him to do a short luncheon presentation. At Hamvention, Dan took part in the ARES forum, took much of the responsibility for the Q&A side of the booth, and networked with hams involved in the grant-sponsored emcomm courses. 73, Sincerely, Mark Wilson, K1RO Chief Operating Officer MW: lk Staff Absentee List Name Date(s) Reason All Staff 5/26 Holiday Jennifer Hagy 7/7-7/11 Vacation Dave Hassler 5/30-6/2 Vacation Joe Carcia 5/27-5/30 Vacation Mary Lau 5/27-6/2 Vacation Chuck Skolaut 5/27-6/6 Vacation Dan Miller 5/30-6/1 Rocky Mt. Division Convention Martin Cook 5/23 Vacation Heather Dzamba 5/27 Vacation Wayne Mills 5/29-6/2 Colorado Convention Bart Jahnke 5/29-6/5am Vacation