IN-Newsletter Vol. 40, No. 45 December 16, 2015 - Covers the period December 6-12. Upcoming In-Person Meetings and Events LoTW Study Committee January 12 @ 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 Regulatory Information Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND No report. Production/Editorial Reported by Becky Schoenfeld, W1BXY The February 2016 issue of QST is at the printer, as well as the January/February 2016 issues of QEX and NCJ. Development Reported by Lauren Clarke, KB1YDD No report. Lab Reported by Ed Hare, W1RFI No report. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R Diane Petrilli reports that November ended with 169,057 members, 1,936 members ahead of the year-to-date goal. This represents a gain from October of 380 members; a gain of 186 was forecasted. The on-time renewal rate for November is 70.93% vs. 70.07% last November. Acquisition by direct mail and e-mail has been high. Jackie Ferriera reports that November product sales were $271,360, falling short of the sales forecast of $299,155. Direct sales were $177,515; dealer sales were $93,845. Direct sales are up considerably; 86% over November 2014-partially the result of very successful "Black Friday" Thanksgiving week promotions. Royalties earned on sales of our Kindle e-books were $6,235 ($5,620 last month). Yvette Vinci prepared the email notification for the January 2016 digital edition of QST, distributed to ARRL members on Friday, December 11. The distribution list included 122,328 members. We processed 32 paid-in-full Life Memberships and 44 Life Membership pledges in November. "Reminder letters" were sent to 528 members making quarterly payments toward Life Membership. 488 orders were received on Cyber Monday, November 30. These orders were fulfilled during the first week of December. Warehouse Supervisor Steve Capodicasa reports that a record breaking dealer order was processed during the first week of December; 117 Cartons comprising 4,000 lbs of books. Summary of Sales and Marketing Department telephone group, reported by Yvette Vinci: Week Ending Phone Calls Answered Phone Calls Per Hour Total Talking Duration Average Speed of Answer 12/11/2015 1059 23.5 35:36:46 13 seconds 12/4/2015 1203 26.7 40:32:27 14 seconds 11/25/2015 633 23.4 19:32:34 9 seconds 11/20/2015 936 20.8 32:10:01 11 seconds Summary of warehouse fulfillment activity, reported by Steve Capodicasa: Week Ending Packages fulfilled Member Premiums 12/11/2015 1,155 1,074 12/4/2015 2,093 915 11/25/2015 890 120 11/20/2015 904 282 Field Services & Radiosport Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N DXCC Paper/Fieldcheck Processing Time 3 Weeks Logbook Processing Time 2-4 Business Days Number of Centennial applications processed: Centennial Challenge QSO 2789 W1AW/WAS 1990 W1AW Report for the week ending December 12, 2015: W1AW *finally* achieved DXCC Honor Roll! The station's DXCC entity number had been stuck at 330 current entities for almost two years. When the latest Willis Island operation (VK9WA) uploaded their logs to LoTW, W1AW was able to apply for Honor Roll. Joe Carcia updated the web code practice files and their archives. He processed regular QSL card requests. Joe cut the various lengths of coaxial and rotor cables for the ARISS Go-Kit in preparation for connector installation. He also worked the early afternoon/nights shifts on Monday and Tuesday for the vacationing Scott Gee. Scott Gee processed some VUCC applications and certificates. He also worked on fast and slow code practice runs texts for the week. Field Organization Weekly Report Jim Fortney, K6IYK, of Camarillo, California, was elected as the new Section Manager for Santa Barbara when ballots were counted on November 23. Jim Fortney has been active in Field Organization leadership roles for many years. Jim's term of office begins on January 1, 2016. Jim's opponent in this election was incumbent Section Manager Robert Griffin, K6YR, of San Luis Obispo. At the end of this year, Rob Griffin will be concluding his twentieth year at the helm of the ARRL Santa Barbara Section. Rob first became Section Manager on January 1, 1996. He is also the Chair of the ARRL National Traffic System's Pacific Area Staff, and his Amateur Radio station serves as the primary station for the West Coast ARRL Code Proficiency Certificate Program. The following incumbent Section Managers did not face opposition in this fall season's election cycle, and they will continue with new terms of office starting January 1, 2016: Bill Duveneck, KB3KYH (Delaware); Jim Latham, AF6AQ (East Bay); Ron Cowan, KBØDTI (Kansas); Larry Camp, WB8R (Michigan); Edward James, KA8JMW (New Mexico); Keith Miller, N9DGK (Tennessee); Ed Emco, W1KT (Western Massachusetts). The Alabama and Alaska Sections Manager positions will be resolicited in January QST because no nomination petitions were received by the deadline of September 4, 2015. Leona Adams reports that there will be three Section Manager elections this winter season in the Pacific Section, the San Diego Section and the Virginia Section. Preparations for the upcoming elections are continuing. In addition, the following incumbent Section Managers, who submitted petitions to run for re-election, were declared elected for new terms of office starting April 1, 2016, when no other candidates were nominated by the December 4 receipt deadline. Pete Cecere, N2YJZ (Eastern Pennsylvania); Joe Ames, W3JY (Eastern Pennsylvania); Karl Bowman, W4CHX (North Carolina); Chris Stallkamp, WØAZD (South Dakota). Scott Wren, KD5DFL, of Pineville, Louisiana, was the only candidate to submit a nominating petition by the receipt deadline. Therefore, Scott will become the new Louisiana Section Manager on April 1, 2016. Incumbent SM Jim Molan, KD5IGG, decided not to run for another term of office. One radio amateur from Arizona and one from Eastern New York successfully completed requirements to become Official Observers this past week. We received a supporting recommendation for an International Humanitarian Award nominee. We received several comments on proposed changes to the 80 meter band plan. Chuck Skolaut reports that interference reports this past week included one on 75 meters during a recent contest, someone sending CW over the 40 and 75 meter AM calling frequencies, and one regarding interference to a 40 meter net in the EPA section. Questions this week included RST reporting, proper ID for a "Santa special event," third party rules and the operation of a station operating on 28425. Chuck also conducted one morning code practice at W1AW and hosted 3 guest operators. Education Services Reported by Debra Johnson, K1DMJ No report. Sincerely Compiled by, Maty Weinberg, for Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings/Vacations All Staff 12/25 Holiday Lauren Clarke 12/24 PTO Jackie Ferreira 12/24 PTO Steve Ford 12/21-12/31 PTO Dan Henderson 12/17-1/5 PTO Harold Kramer 12/18-25 PTO Bob Inderbitzen 12/24-12/31 PTO Lisa Kustosik 12/1-12/22 PTO Diane Petrilli 12/21-12/24 PTO Dave Sumner 12/28-30 PTO Sincerely, Lisa Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO / Meeting Planner ARRL--The National Association for Amateur Radio 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 Tel: 860-594-0245 --- Fax: 860-594-0259 email: lkustosik@arrl.org