IN-Newsletter Vol. 26, No. 4 January 28, 2003 Development The 2003 Defense Fund total has reached $280,000 from 6,300 donors. Returns continue to arrive in small batches. The Diamond Club participants now number 458, representing $71,000 in donations. The average contribution is more than $154. Acknowledgment letters and certificates for Defense contributions and Diamond Club contributions have been printed and mailed through December 31. Development was notified this week of a $250,000 trust, bringing the total number of estate commitments to 26. The Progress Report for the CNCS grant is in its final stages and will be submitted on the January 31 deadline. The QST ad, solicitation letter and web components for the 2003 Education & Technology Program campaign are in final stages. Sales & Marketing Wishing Advertising Supervisor Hanan Rayyashi, KB1AFX, best of luck in her future endeavors as she leaves ARRL. Some of the advertising clients Hanan has worked with over the years have joined us in passing along their good wishes, too. Sales for ARRL sportswear and associated apparel for the 4th quarter 2002 totaled nearly $25,000 (ARRL's commission, $5000). Sales continue to be strengthened by ongoing interest for ARES-related items. Dennis and Bob met with Dan Henderson to finalize planning for 2003 Field Day products. The opportunity was also used to develop a theme for this year's event. Bob shared the concepts with Sue Fagan who will begin designing new artwork. In 2002, the Field Day product line yielded $64,000 in gross sales ($52,000 in 2001). Mason & Geller, a full service direct marketing agency, will conduct a training program for ARRL staff on February 27. The session is being called "Direct Marketing Boot Camp," and will focus on direct marketing membership strategies through production and analysis. The Sales & Marketing team is hosting the activity, and has extended participation to a number of staff representing a variety of functions. Everyone is hopeful that the experience will help jump-start our recruitment expansion interests. More information will be circulated with attendees as it becomes available. Deb Jahnke handled some significant contact with advertisers as the March issue of QST went to press. Deb initiated contact with the new head buyer of Baker & Taylor, headquartered in New Jersey. The company has carried ARRL publications for some time. However, we've seen declining sales over the past several years. At their invitation, Deb will travel to the company sometime in late February, hoping to persuade B & T to pickup more titles, and in larger quantities. Media Relations Jennifer is completing an article on public relations for the April issue of QST, specifically focusing on ARRL's PICs and PIOs, and what these volunteers do. The article will also encourage more people to get involved with promoting ham radio in their communities. A story on the 2002 Leonard Award winner was written for use in QST and on the Web. A story on our new PR committee chairman and the 2003 committee was sent over to Rick for the Web. The winners of the Leonard Award have been notified, and the plaque is in the works. The ITVA public service announcement now titled "High-Tech World of Amateur Radio" is available. The formal announcement will be made this week. The PR reflector has been very active lately, and several new members have been added (upon their request) over the last week. We currently have more than 240 people on the reflector list. The first PR committee conference call has been scheduled for February 6. PRC Chairman Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, has polled the group about their preferences for regular calls throughout the year. Production/Editorial The March 2003 issue of QST has been released to the printer. We checked printer's proofs for a new printing of RF Exposure and You. Congratulations to Dan Wolfgang for completing the 2002 Periodicals CD project on schedule. Thanks to Sue Fagan for an excellent cover design. CDs should arrive by February 7. Our thanks to Shelly Bloom for working most of Saturday, January 25, to finish the ad pages for the March QST. Kudos to Rick Lindquist and Sue Fagan for their work during the ARRL Board meeting, particularly the effort involved in the Amateur Radio Today video. Membership Services Awards WAS QSL Cards Checked 650 WAS Certificates (150 QSLs F/C) 3 WAS Certificates (100 QSLs ES/C) 2 WAC QSLs 120 WAC Certs (162 QSLs ES/C) 27 5BWAC Certs (60 QSLs ES/C) 2 WAC Endorsements (6 QSLs ES/C) 1 Extra Class Certificates 17 Friendship Awards 10 RCC Awards 6 A-1 Op Nominations 1 Long-Term Member Inquiries 7 VUCC Initial Awards Mailed 5 HF/VHF Awards Manager appointments: John Dyer, AE5B, Cisco, TX and Dave Hough, W7GK, Elko, NV. For the coming week: VUCC, OTC, Code Proficiency, and A-1 Operator awards processing and mail out all awards processed this past week. DXCC Branch Weekly Report January 26, 2003 Beginning Cards 197,596 Cards Received 9,618 Cards Processed 17,270 Ending Cards 189,944 Applications Pending 1,648 Processing Time 17.0 Weeks Year-to-date (2003) Cards Received 28,223 Cards Returned 40,760 QRPs Issued this week 0 QRPs Total 271 Remaining September work: Applications 313 Cards 45,147 There are just a few September applications to be entered. These should be completed on Monday (1/27). In all, the numbers shown above for September represent the remaining mail waiting to go out the door and applications currently in the edit process and a couple of apps waiting to be entered. DXCC is currently mailing applications received on September 30, 2002. DXCC is currently entering cards received on September 30, 2002. Contests Data entry for Straight Key Night, 10-Meter paper logs and late orders for SS cups and pins continued. Final revisions of the 10 GHz and September VHF articles for QST and the Web were done. Work on the 2003 Field Day packet was done, to incorporate changes and revisions proposed from the Board meeting last week. Time was spent with Alan Cohen on a problem with the new certificate layouts that allowed the redesigned DX Contest certificates to be printed. They will be mailed the week of January 27. The newly designed June VHF plaques arrived and the 2001 plaques were shipped. QSL QSL Service Status: Current. Cards mailed as of 01/26/2003: 90,600. No cards were mailed this week. Heather Dzamba spent 4 hours conducting tours around HQ. W1AW Joe repaired the AFSK Generator. (This unit is used to generate the audio tones for the W1AW digital bulletins.) He upgraded the ARRL Audio News PC, and installed additional RFI suppression components to the system. He also processed regular QSL card requests. Scott worked on fast and slow code practice files for the month of February. He also handled some evening phone sales calls in the 5 PM to 8 PM time slot. W1AW Telephone Sales year to date (2003): $266. Field & Educational Services Rosalie prepared a proposal for a talk for the APCO annual public safety officials' conference. She took part in a meeting about the new CD on emergency communications, and in a meeting about federal grant reporting and travel options under the grant. She began working on action items from the Board Meeting. European ARISS volunteers note that the Italian Space Agency is talking about possible involvement in the next ARISS meeting. This new attitude came about after astronaut Robert Vittori, IZ6ERU, had an on-orbit QSO with Italian students. ARISS delegate Jorg Hahn, DL3LUM, requested a letter from Rosalie to assist in getting funds from the German aerospace company, DLR, for ARISS hardware projects. EmComm Grants Dan gathered data for a CNCS report, and prepared for his ARECC Seminar next week at the Jackson, MS Convention. For CNCS Level l courses, all January students have been processed and received access codes; 706 hams have already graduated. Dan assisted Dave Hassler with an ARRL Web story on emcomm hybrid classes. Field & Education Support Team Mary Lau completed the minutes of the ARRL Foundation Annual Meeting and updated other documents destined for the Foundation Board. The Foundation's first Bill Orr Technical Writing Award winner, Ian Poole, G3YWX, was featured in an ARRLWeb article written by Dave Hassler and Rick Lindquist. Margie Bourgoin reports that 11 new clubs have been added to our club database. Welcome packets have gone out, and certificates printed. She is now current with the monthly reports to clubs, and sent them an email reminder about the upcoming deadline for educational awards nominations. Linda Mullally registered 2 schoolteachers and 15 volunteer instructors. She updated 50 club records and 2 reactivations. She also sent out 2669 of the new Leap into Amateur Radio brochures this week. Gail Iannone sent 13 hamfest and 3 convention approval letters to the sponsoring committees confirming the Division Director's approval for the events to be ARRL-sanctioned; she also processed 14 door prize orders, 7 label requests, and sent 17 handout packages for upcoming events. Jean Wolfgang conducted an ARRL tour for 4 Webelos and their scout leaders. She shared ideas and information about utilizing ham radio in the scout program not only in Cub Scouts but also for Boy Scouts. She also participated in the educational portion of an ARISS teleconference. Field Organization/Public Service Team Steve Ewald reports 12 SM e-mail relays sent from 11 different sections this week. He's noticed while monitoring SM e-relays and Web Section News for members, and while corresponding with Field Leaders, that they are promoting the CCE courses. An example is this message to members by our Rhode Island SM: "The ARECC EmComm program continues with strong interest. Take advantage of these courses being offered for little or no cost. They're just one more service of the ARRL that illustrates the value of League membership that Bill WA1RI [ASM] and I have been pointing out to all clubs. Please tell your non member friends about these courses and get them signed up in the ARRL." Chuck Skolaut has been corresponding with participants of the ARRL Volunteer Monitoring program and updating records when necessary. He reviewed and forwarded to the FCC, documents on possible rule violations. One situation involving SSTV on 20 meters was assigned a case number for further investigation. Leona Adams handled 3 dozen Field Organization data entries and supply packages, and continues to receive SM election ballots. Three Section Manger petitions (for terms starting in July) were received: Dick Flanagan, W6OLD - Nevada; Russell J. Santos, K1TSV - New Hampshire; John Dyer, AE5B - West Texas. Regulatory Information John Hennessee assisted amateurs with local government zoning problems in Brookhaven, NY (N2BJL) and Palm Springs, CA (K8ZZO), and with a covenant concern in Scottsdale, AZ (K4EET). He has been in contact with amateurs in Washington state concerning Washington Senate Bill 5200, which is pending in Committee, and would strengthen their existing statute that codifies PRB-1, by establishing a minimum height of 70 feet. John coordinated with everyone involved on the timetable for The FCC Rule Book to go to the printer. Amateur Radio Education & Technology Project Jerry Hill called companies to get quotes on ham station equipment for the new Big Project schools. He also made revisions to the lesson plans, some based on teacher input, and some to make the material flow better. CCE Howard Robins has begun prep for beta-testing of the future V/UHF Beyond the Repeater course submitted by Steve Ford. Ian Poole has completed nearly half the lessons for the future Propagation course. Registration for the first RFI class opens Monday. Pre-registration reminder emails were sent to 9 people requesting these; 7 experienced mentors volunteered to mentor this course. Jon uploaded data into the CCE administration system, so pass dates can be listed for grant-funded grads; this helps us report required data to CNCS. Thanks go to Berta Hould and the Mailroom for shipping over 100 stipend checks. Registrations for non-funded courses are up about 100% over average months due in part to the QST ads. Jerry Ellis opened an Antenna Modeling course and a Level II course, and assigned mentors. He posted RFI and Satellite Communications registration, processed mentor stipend checks, and mailed CNCS certificates, ID cards and refund checks. He assisted with upgrading FAQs on field exams and on hybrid style classes, and with orienting qualified graduates as mentors, ensuring we have enough mentors available for upcoming technical classes. 73, Sincerely, Mark Wilson, K1RO Chief Operating Officer MW:lk Staff Absentee List Name Date(s) Reason Dave Sumner 1/29-211 Vacation Dan Miller 1/31-2/2 Mississippi State Convention Steve Ewald 1/31-2/2 Hurricane Conference, Miami Margie Bourgoin 1/24-2/3 Vacation Joel Kleinman 1/31, 2/3 Vacation Dan Henderson 2/7 Memphis, TN Convention Wayne Mills 2/12-2/14 Vacation