<<030911.doc>> IN-Newsletter <<Microsoft Word Picture>> Vol. 34, No. 10 March 9, 2011 -- Covers the period February 27-March 5. Upcoming Meetings and Events Executive Committee: March 19 @ 8:30am - Chicago, IL Regulatory Information Reported by Dan Henderson, N1ND Coordinating our efforts in opposition to HR 607 in its present form continues to be our principal focus. On Monday February 28, John Chwat reported that approximately 1000 letters had been received in his office. On Wednesday March 2, the second issue of the ARRL Legislative Update was sent to over 1200 ARRL members who have subscribed to receive it. Thanks to Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, and President Kay Craigie, N3KN, for their efforts in editing and tweaking the message in the update letter. We worked with IL SEC Brad Pioveson W9FX, IL Section Manager Tom Ciciora, KA9QPN, and Central Division Director Dick Isely, W9GIG, regarding IL HB 1390 - a PRB-1 bill introduced into the Illinois state legislature. ARRL HQ and General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, will work with the SM developing bullet points to use in his testimony on the bill at a public hearing the week of March 7. During the week, we have been working on forum presentations for the Alabama Section Convention and the NC Section Convention. A special NC antenna forum has been added to the schedule for the NC Section Convention on March 12. As part of that trip, the ARRL Regulatory Information Manager will also meet with Ryan Cairnes, K3XC about his pending decision to appeal his loss in a recent zoning hearing, and with representatives from the amateur community in Charlotte about the new proposed antenna ordinance in that municipality, Among the usual queries on reciprocal operating during the week was one from Vice-President Jay Bellows, K0QB, about operating in China. We have also recently had several queries about obtaining a US license under the provisions of the HAREC agreement in Europe. Many CEPT administrations will issue a license (and call sign) based on an examination passed in another country if the exam complies with the syllabus for the Harmonized Amateur Radio Examination Certificate (HAREC). Recently we have received several inquiries as to whether the FCC will do the same, but the answer is no. At the present time the only non-CEPT countries that participate in HAREC (CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-02) are New Zealand, Australia, Israel, and Hong Kong. Media & Public Relations Reported by Allen Pitts, W1AGP The HR-607 issue is starting to appear in several places with links and references back to the ARRL web article. A short video about 607 was shot at HQ on Mar 10 with Mary Hobart on screen and volunteer cameraman Al Petrunti and his professional media crew. We hope to have it posted for download very soon. Kevin O'Dell created the opening logo shot. Media Hits for QST was written as well as more work done towards the major projects of the 2010 Annual Report (All department texts are due in to Allen by Mar 15) and the DIY video. Development Reported by Mary Hobart, K1MMH The mailing to all Diamond Club members is on its way. While this mailing is a full month later than in 2010, the mailing is expected to provide incentive to lapsed and active members to participate via monthly giving and thus increase the average contribution. The campaign was a success in 2010 and with improving economic conditions, should prove successful again this year. The Spectrum Defense Matters newsletter is in the final stages of preparation. The mailing components are ready as is the data for the snail mail segment of the campaign. More than 32,000 copies of the first 2011 issue will be mailed. A small segment of donors will receive the newsletter electronically as they have requested and another 112,000 members will receive a link to the electronic copy that will be posted on the ARRL web site. Major donors who contributed $1000 or more last year have been contacted to specify if ARRL may list them in the Annual Report, on the web and in QST. The gift of Bound volumes or CDs of the 2010 ARRL publications have been sent to Maxim Society donors and Diamond Club members at the Director level ($5000 or more per year). The annual mailing to members of 40+ years duration are in production. These members will receive a congratulatory letter, a personalized certificate and a pin marking the decade milestone of their membership. Production/Editorial Reported by Joel Kleinman, N1BKE The General Class License Manual (new 7th edition) and The General Class Q&A (new 4th edition) have been released to the printer. Khrystyne Keane wrote and distributed the ARRL Letter and produced and voiced ARRL Audio News for March 3, 2011. Sales and Marketing Reported by Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R Bob Inderbitzen has been navigating planning for Dayton Hamvention and the ARRL National Convention at Ham-Com. Registration information has been collected from staff, Board officials and Section Managers-so that we can begin committing hotel rooms, exhibit staffing, credentials, and other details. A slate of ARRL presentations has been turned over to Hamvention for their forum planning. Members can find more information about both events by visiting www.arrl.org/expo. The 2011 Field Day items featured in April QST are available for ordering online. All items begin shipping after April 1. Clubs are encouraged to order early, to ensure availability and fulfillment in time for Field Day. This year's product line includes a Polo shirt, hat, pin, and pack of posters. The warehouse crew fulfilled 963 packages for publication and product orders, 320 membership premiums, and QST mailing supplements. Warehouse Supervisor Steve Capodicasa is sourcing a used cargo van for the warehouse. The van will replace the League's 1997 Dodge Dakota pickup truck. Test mailings are conducted a couple of times each year to help improve response rates to membership campaigns. The campaigns are typically split in half-one half utilizing a new appeal, design element(s), or data criteria. A test campaign is being prepared for mailing in the next couple of weeks. Amy Hurtado continues to contribute to planning involving the digital QST proposal-work which will ultimately contribute to a Board report. Survey data from department managers has been compiled, along with research covering industry trends and a cost analysis. New ARRL merchandise, including some new designs for shirts, lapel pins, stickers and decals, are in-the-works for introduction at our big exhibit in Dayton. Membership & Volunteer Programs Reported by Dave Patton, NN1N W1AW In celebration of OSCAR's 50th anniversary, Joe is working with Bob Allison to resurrect the old OSCAR 1 satellite (model) that has been in the ARRL's possession for years. The plan is to repair the internal modules to get the bird functional again, purely for demonstrational purposes. In an effort to obtain technical information about the electronics, Joe has been in contact with at least three of the original hams involved with the initial OSCAR 1 project. Also, Joe processed regular QSL cards. He also processed one Qualifying Run certificate and one endorsement. Joe updated the W1AW Operating Schedule web page to include all UTC times for each time segment. He also readied the equipment in Studio One for use in the ARRL International SSB DX contest by ARRL club station W1HQ. Field Organization/Public Service Team Leona Adams reports that Utah Section Manager Mel Parkes, NM7P, and Northern New Jersey Section Manager Rich Krohn, N2SMV, submitted nominating petitions to run for the next term of office as Section Manager of their respective sections. They submitted their petitions in advance of the Friday, March 4, receipt deadline. Now that the deadline for this particular election cycle (with new terms starting July 1) has passed, there will be one balloted election this spring. In Nevada, incumbent Section Manager Joe Giraudo, N7JEH, and JD Weiss, NK7W (of Reno) will be running for the new term office. The following Section Managers have previously submitted petitions, and they are not facing opposition: Rich Krohn, N2SMV (Northern New Jersey); Jim Cross, WI3N (Maryland/DC); Al Shuman, K1AKS (New Hampshire); Dan Pruitt, AE6SX (San Joaquin Valley); Mel Parkes, NM7P (Utah); Bob Beaudet, W1YRC (Rhode Island). In West Texas, no nominating petitions arrived. Therefore, the position will be re-solicited starting in July QST. Incumbent West Section Manager John Dyer, AE5B, has announced that he is not running for another new term of office. One radio amateur from Nevada and one from Sacramento Valley completed certification to become an Official Observers this past week. After receiving a report of jamming and interference on 75 meters, Chuck Skolaut alerted regional Official Observers to monitor and check it out. More follow up information regarding business use of a repeater was sent to the FCC. A report of unidentified carriers on 40 meters was later thought to be WSPR. Intruder reports this week included Voice of Korea on 3560 kHz and an over the horizon radar on 10126 kHz believed to be originating in Cyprus. Questions dealt with this week included repeater coordination, station carrying ISS transmissions, operating overseas, Hamsphere (an internet based ham radio software program), and interference on 60 meters. Sincerely Compiled by, Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ Assistant to the CEO Staff Absentee List All Staff 4/22 Holiday Margie Bourgoin 3/28-4/1 Vacation Scott Gee 3/30-4/1 Vacation Mike Gruber 4/29 Vacation `` 5/31-6/3 Vacation Dan Henderson 4/25-4/29 Vacation Mary Hobart 3/28-3/30 Vacation Joel Kleinman 3/10-3/11 Vacation `` 3/31 Vacation Zack Lau 6/16-6/17 Vacation John Proctor 6/22-7/8 Vacation Sharon Taratula 3/18 Vacation Hamfest/Member Contact/ARRL Representative/Meetings Dan Henderson 3/9-3/14 North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, NC Dave Sumner 3/11 House Telecom Subcommittee staff, Washington, DC Mary Hobart 3/11-3/13 North Carolina Section Convention, Concord, NC Diane Petrilli 3/14-3/16 ASAE Training, Colorado Springs, CO Steve Ewald 3/18-3/20 Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, NE Bob Inderbitzen 3/31-4/2 AES Superfest, Milwaukee, WI Mary Hobart 4/14-4/17 International DX Convention, Visalia, CA Allen Pitts 4/15-4/18 Communications Academy, Seattle, WA Dan Henderson 4/22-4/24 Louisiana State Convention, Monroe, LA Margie Bourgoin 5/18-5/23 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH/Vacation Mike Gruber 5/19-5/20 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Mary Hobart 5/18-5/22 Dayton Hamvention, Dayton, OH Mike Gruber 6/9-6/10 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX Mary Hobart 6/9-6/12 ARRL National Convention, Plano, TX