This feature is a quick monthly update of some of the things ARRL is doing on behalf of its members. This installment covers the end of April and the month of May.

• ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, hosted officers from the Radio Society of Great Britain April 29 and 30 to discuss World Radiocommunication Conference preparations IARU matters, Broadband over Power Line and Great Britain's new Novice-like Foundation License.

• Logbook of the World made its public beta test debut on May 15. In its first week of operation, the secure electronic QSO confirmation system for contests saw 3 million contacts uploaded to the database, with nearly 1000 digital users verified. Full rollout of the program is expected later this year.

• Howard Robins, W1HSR, ARRL's Certification and Continuing Education Coordinator, announced the opening of a brand new course on May 19, VHF/UHF: Life Beyond the Local Repeater. Work continues on an "Antennas 101" course and a class in RF propagation.

• ARRL Lab Supervisor Ed Hare, W1RFI, and ARRL Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, outlined proper operating procedure for the five soon-to-open amateur channels on 60 meters.

• ARRL HQ Field and Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, noted that a recorded second harmonic from a VOA transmitter in the Philippines has been corrected by VOA staff. Skolaut took more reports of unlicensed operation on 10 meters and an encrypted voice signal on 40 meters. He added that ongoing interference cases on the 75- and 20-meter bands continue to be investigated.

• The DXCC Branch went through 153 DXCC award applications at Dayton, representing 16,024 QSOs. The Branch maintained the total processing time at less than two months.

• ARRL RFI Engineer Mike Gruber, W1MG, helped 76 members with RFI problems and wrote two letters to utility companies regarding interference issues.

• A total of 561 Dayton attendees took advantage of the opportunity to join the League, renew a lapsed membership or extend a current membership. A number of League section managers, directors, officers and staff represented ARRL at the largest ham gathering in North America.

• Through May 18, the ARRL QSL Service had shipped out 623,125 cards to foreign destinations this year.

• A new edition of the Amateur Radio Today 6-minute video now features open captioning (subtitles), available on CD, VHS tape or as a 70 MB download. The CD presentation went out to all 535 members of the US Congress with a letter seeking additional cosponsors for The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003.

• ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist John Hennessee, N1KB, assisted amateurs with covenant problems in Virginia, Indiana, Texas and Pennsylvania; he helped hams with local zoning antenna restrictions in Connecticut, Maryland, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California.

• The League has updated the ARRL Library Book Set to reflect new and current editions of ARRL's top publications. The sets are intended for purchase by clubs and individuals at a special rate to donate to libraries and schools.

• Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has proclaimed June 23-30 "Amateur Radio Week" in his state, said Arkansas Section Public Information Coordinator Bob Ideker, WB5VUH. The proclamation notes amateurs' emergency skills and dedication to the people of Arkansas.

• Wayne Mills, N7NG, ARRL Membership Services Manager, attended the Colorado Section Convention May 29 through June 2. Mills and Assistant to the CEO Dave Patton, NT1N, were HQ representatives at the International DX Convention May 1 through 5 in Visalia, California.

• ARRL Emergency Communication Course Grants Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, represented the League at the Midwest Division Convention May 10, the National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters conference May 14, logged considerable hours at the ARRL Q&A booth at Dayton, and he represented ARRL HQ at both the Rocky Mountain Division Convention and EMCOMMWEST.

• The Contest Branch reviewed the results of the 2002 10 Meter Contest and the 2003 RTTY Roundup, and prepared to ship 2003 DX Contest pins. DXCC Branch Supervisor Bill Moore, NC1L, was in Birmingham Alabama for a DX forum and at Hamvention to check cards for DXCC and other awards.

• ARRL Media Relations Manager Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY, talked with a Fairfield (CT) Minuteman reporter about local emergency communication course graduates. Hagy worked with the ham publisher of Boomer Cafe, an on-line magazine, interested in the League's youth programs.

• After campaigns championed by ARRL volunteers in Tennessee and Indiana, Amateur Radio antenna bills were signed into law in both states. Their successful passage brings to 19 the number of states that have adopted amateur antenna laws based on the limited federal preemption known as PRB-1.

• ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, attended the annual conference of the Southeastern VHF Society and encouraged hams to continue to occupy the microwave bands. Imlay said amateurs were being asked to share their VHF and UHF bands with more and higher-powered unlicensed Part 15 devices, and he pledged the League's aggressive defense against these intruders.

• ARRL staff member and antenna expert Dean Straw, N6BV, testified on behalf of California Assembly measure AB 1228, which cleared a state senate committee. The bill's wording mirrors PRB-1.

• In conjunction with the ARRL Colorado Section and Rocky Mountain Division convention May 30 through June 1 in Estes Park, Colorado, Gov Bill Owens has proclaimed June 1 through 7 as "Amateur Radio Week" in the State of Colorado.

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