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ARRL In Action: What Have We Been Up To Lately?

By Dave Hassler, K7CCC
Assistant News Editor
April 1, 2003

This feature is a monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the month of March.

The ARRL Executive Committee met March 15 in Irving, Texas to discuss items in an upcoming FCC notice of proposed rulemaking. The EC also discussed amateur high-speed multimedia on 2.4 GHz and the pending reintroduction to the US Congress of the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act. The committee also agreed to a plan of work for 2003 that includes completing a review of the League's standing committees.

The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003--an ARRL initiative--was introduced in both chambers of Congress. Idaho Sen Michael Crapo introduced the Senate version of the bill, S 537, on March 6; Florida Rep Michael Bilirakis introduced the latest House version of the bill, HR 713, on February 12. The measures have been introduced twice before in Congress.

John Hennessee assisted amateurs with covenant problems in Arizona, South and North Carolina, Maryland and Washington, and he helped hams with local zoning antenna restrictions in California and Tennessee. Hennessee, ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist, also assisted several hams wishing to operate in the Caribbean while on vacation.

The Question Pool Committee of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators released a new draft syllabus for the General class license exam. The syllabus of sub-elements will be used to develop a new General question pool, effective July 1, 2004. ARRL VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, said comments and questions on the syllabus should be made to qpc@arrl.org.

The DXCC Branch posted the updated DXCC 2002 Annual List to the Web as a PDF file and approved the TT8ZZ operation in Chad for credit. The DXCC staff sliced almost six weeks off the current processing time for DXCC cards this month, processing twice as many cards as those coming in. For 2003 through March 23, the Branch took in 113,251 cards while returning 182,458.

C-CE Coordinator Howard Robins, W1HSR, reported that the new ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) course, "VHF/UHF: Beyond the Repeater," is flying through beta testing. Reviews of the course--which covers every operating mode except FM phone via repeater--have been very positive. Initial registration is scheduled for May 19.

ARRL Media Relations Manager Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY, talked with a reporter with the Royal Tribune in Berkley, Michigan and did a follow-up interview with the Indianapolis Star for a story about ham radio operators talking to shuttle and ISS astronauts. Hagy fielded numerous media inquiries on whether ham radio has any involvement with the war in Iraq. She also posted the first issue of a new monthly PR newsletter called "Contact!" to the ARRL Public Relations Web page.

The Contest Branch completed data entry for the January VHF Sweepstakes and assorted problem logs for the 10 Meter, RTTY, January VHF Sweepstakes, and DX CW contests. The Branch answered member queries regarding the new Field Day category of operating from Emergency Operations Centers and also posted the results of the November CW Sweepstakes to the Web.

ARRL Education Project Coordinator Jerry Hill, KH6HU, reviewed 14 applications from schools wishing to be a part of the ARRL Education and Technology Program; the Executive Committee accepted 10 schools. Jerry exhibited Amateur Radio at the International Technical Education Association's national conference March 13-15 in Nashville, Tennessee. He was also at the National Science Teachers Association conference in Philadelphia March 27-30 with Education and Technology Program teacher Jim Kuhl, N2STK, of Central Square (NY) Middle School.

Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, received and graded four Official Observer exams; two candidates passed and the others will re-test. Skolaut handled reports of malicious interference on 14.247 MHz and reviewed an intruder report about a signal on 3.797 MHz, with a possible source identified.

ARRL Field and Public Service Team Leader Steve Ewald, WV1X, posted Public Service Commendation Certificates and Emergency Commendation Certificates to the Section Manager Web pages to allow easy downloading. Ewald was on hand for the Nebraska State Convention March 21, where he presented a forum on writing successful emergency operating plans.

ARRL presented two special awards March 14 at the Connecticut Science Fair at Quinnipiac University in Hamden. ARRL Lab Technician Al Alvareztorres, AA1DO, and Account Manager Joe Bottiglieri, AA1GW, presented $50 and a copy of Now You're Talking! to three middle schoolers for projects involving resistance of materials and electrical conductivity.

Jill R. Crevoisier is the new Administrative Assistant in the ARRL's Washington, DC office. Jill's position was previously held by Ana Campa.

The Amateur Radio Crossword Puzzler, authored by QST Contributing Editor H. Ward Silver, N0AX, made its debut on the ARRLWeb this month.

Wayne Mills, N7NG, ARRL Membership Services Manager, attended the Roanoke Division Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 7 with ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG. Miller also was at the Atlantic Division Convention in Timonium, Maryland March 29 and 30.

Through March 23, the ARRL QSL Service shipped out 335,250 cards to foreign destinations this year.

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