Dale's Tales for February 2018

Greetings everyone, welcome to "Dale's Tales" for February 2018.

And here we are half way through winter and having more fun than should be allowed.  I read about a

host of winter ham radio activities like "Freeze Your (insert whatever here) Off, NVIS antenna contests, dog sled races, half marathons, Winter Field Days and a host of others.  We are a hardy bunch of fun lovers, and these activities certainly eliminate the boredom.

It's not like it all has to be outdoors, the well attended cold weather hamfests attest to that and with Kosovo contacts now qualifying for DXCC, spending some time in front of the radio is not too bad.  The scores are adding up for ARRL's International Grid Chase (see https://igc.arrl.org/index.php)and the ship Betanzos is approaching the shore of Bouvet and 3Y0Z will soon be on the air.  This is a welcome relief from the relatively poor band conditions and lack of any truly challenging operating activity over the past few months.

For those who have expressed an interest and concern about certain reported plans by the ARRL board, I am pleased to report that common sense prevailed at the meeting.  Several of the motions were not submitted for action, some were referred to committee and/or legal counsel for evaluation and some were completely withdrawn following Board discussion. 

Further, the ARRL Policy on Board Governance and Conduct of Members of the Board of Directors and Vice Directors was referred for complete review and certain clauses in that were unclear in their meaning were immediately removed.  Those removals included the sentence in Section 6C regarding the non-disclosure of the votes of individual members and the entirety of Section 8 covering support of Board Decisions.

In a separate action, the Board removed a limitation on the Ethics and Elections Committee regarding the public release of information relating to an individual's eligibility for election.  In future elections, this information will be released unless the candidate specifically requests otherwise.

The complete ARRL Board meeting minutes are due to be submitted to the Board members for approval and then released to the membership within the next few days. 

TOM'S COMMENTS:  Comments from our Vice Director Tom Delaney W8WTD

We’re well past New Year’s Day, but January is typically a time when people make “resolutions” to do or not do things in the coming year.

I’ve always resisted “resolutions” as such, but I do like to look ahead at trends and where things are going.

As for amateur radio, I see challenges ahead, but good signs as well.

The biggest challenge is to keep ham radio relevant for new people.

I’m actively working on this, through my participation in some of the ARRL committees I serve on, thinking about new ways of licensing, and new ways of educating prospective hams in the hobby.  And, the good signs here are that so many of you in the Division are out there with license classes every few months.  Many of you are Volunteer Examiners. And many of you are working not just with “generic” licensing classes, but those targeted at groups like Scouts, STEM classes, etc.

There’s also the personal challenge for each ham operator, of “keeping up.”  What new formal training will you do this year?  Or what new mode will you try?  Keep up your skills and learn new ones! And how can you offer what you have learned, last year, or over the last fifty, to help new people understand radio?

And how can we strengthen our clubs in a time when people don’t want to join anything, and don’t want to volunteer for anything inside a club they do belong to?  Throughout the Great Lakes Division, we see examples of clubs that are thriving, and then some that aren’t doing so well.  Trying to understand what works to get people interested in a challenge for all of us.

Despite the challenges, we’re making progress.  There are new modes, new things to enjoy, new people to meet.  I hope all of us stay positive, and keep enjoying this great hobby.

--73, Tom W8WTD Vice Director, Great Lakes Division

STATE CONVENTIONS:  In even numbered years, the Great Lakes Division's three Sections host their individual State Conventions.  If your local hamfest is interested in serving as the host for your State Convention in 2018, your club should contact your Section Manager and request to serve as the sponsor.  State Conventions normally encompass special forums, can request guest forum speakers from ARRL and often hold recognition Banquets and special programs.   Having a convention also

means additional attendance beyond that normally expected at a regular hamfest.

HAMFESTING:  Here is the current Great Lakes Division ARRL Sanctioned Hamfest Schedule covering the next couple of months.  These swaps have received their sanctioning approval from ARRL HQ at the time of this publication.  We have approximately 65 ARRL hamfests each year in the Division.  I do encourage each Hamfest Chair to register early for ARRL Sanctioning.  Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your date is set. 

2/3/18                  HARA Hamfest                  Negaunee, MI

2/10/18                Cherryland Hamfest           Traverse City, MI

2/18/18                InterCity Hamfest               Mansfield, OH

2/18/18                Livonia Hamfest                 Livonia, MI

3/3/18                  Cave City Hamfest             Cave City, KY

3/4/18                  NOARS Hamfest                Elyria, OH           

3/17/18                Crossroads Hamfest            Kalamazoo, MI

3/17/18                MOVARC Hamfest             Gallipolis, OH

3/18/18                Toledo Mobile R.A.           Perrysburg, OH

4/7/18                  Lincoln Trail                       Elizabethtown, KY

4/14/18                Cuyahoga Falls                   Cuyahoga Falls, OH

4/21/18                Portsmouth                         Portsmouth, OH

4/29/18                GMARC Hamfest              Madison Hgts, MI

4/29/18                Athens Hamfest                 Athens, OH

              

Be sure to check your Section's news pages for the latest local happenings, club and net information.

73,

Dale Williams WA8EFK

Director

Great Lakes Division

Jim Weaver K8JE SK

With a heavy heart, we must report that Jim Weaver, K8JE, former Great Lakes Division Director, died January 14th. 

He had been ill for some time, but was able to attend the Great Lakes Division Convention this past October, where he was presented with the George S. Wilson III W4OYI Lifetime Achievement Award.  The criteria says in part “The Wilson recipient is an all-around Amateur whose lifetime activities, attitudes, and achievements might serve as an example to others.  Emphasis is placed on service to others rather than self, diversity of Amateur Radio interests and Activities, evidence of continuing self-challenge via Amateur Radio, and outstanding contributions to Amateur Radio.”  Jim was a Life Member of ARRL.

Jim served as Director of the Great Lakes Division from 2002 until 2014.

During that time, he chaired the Legislative Action Committee starting in 2007, and served on the CEO Selection Criteria Committee in 2013 & 2014.

He served as a Public Information Officer starting in 1996, was an Official Observer, an Official Emergency Station, an Official Relay Station, and was also a Volunteer Examiner.

Jim was active in Disaster Communications, and worked closely with the Red Cross in Cincinnati.  A long-time member of the Queen City Emergency Net, he was Communications Manager for the club in 1968, and then served as President in 1976.  He was also active in many other clubs in the Cincinnati area. 

During the 1960s and 1970s, for most of ten years, he wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper, the Cincinnati Enquirer, titled “Ham Call.”  Week after week, he found stories about ham radio that would interest the public at large.  Just recently, QST re-published an article he co-authored for that magazine back in 1976, about the ham response to the Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire in Northern Kentucky.

At this time, no information about funeral arrangements is available.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

ARRL Great Lakes Division

Director: Dale R Williams, WA8EFK

wa8efk@arrl.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Dale's Tales for January

Greetings everyone, welcome to "Dale's Tales" for January 2018.

Here is the Great Lakes Division RECAP OF 2017:

From the OHIO SECTION:

January started getting all of our 1,700 Ohio ARES members to complete the four ICS courses (IS 100, 200, 700 and 800). As an incentive, we include Statewide credentialing through the Ohio Department of Homeland Security and free statewide liability insurance coverage through Ohio Responds. Our end of year numbers show 620 ARES members completed, with a total training of 5,732 courses taken thus far.

March, ARES Operators were called to staff several Emergency Operations Centers during a communications failure in northeastern Ohio when the 911 / MARCS system went down. ARES filled the gap with DMR and analog communications to the needed emergency centers.

August, we had an EF-1 tornado in Trumbull County, and major flooding in Findlay that resulted in a lot of property damage to homes and businesses in both areas. Our ARES groups were activated to help with communications and relief efforts. Hurricane Harvey hit Texas and a few of Ohio’s ARES folks were tapped to go and help with the communications and relief efforts.

In September, we had several of Ohio ARES folks sent to assist with communications and relieve efforts in Florida and Puerto Rico.

November, Ohio had an outbreak of 17 tornadoes with 12 of our counties being affected. They ranged from EF-0 to EF-2 in size. Many houses and outbuildings were destroyed. Our ARES groups were activated in numerous counties around the state to help with communications and relief efforts.

December 12th, our Southwestern Ohio ARES group in Cincinnati was called upon to help with communications during a million-dollar update to the City of Cincinnati’s 911 system. Our ARES teams were ready and on station when the cutover to the new system came on board. It was a smooth transition, and luckily everything went as planned with no hiccups. 

From the KENTUCKY SECTION:

Executed a smooth transition between outgoing SM Alan Morgan, KY1O and the incoming Section Manager Steve Morgan W4NHO.

The Kentucky Section had representation by the KY SM at 7 of 12 Hamfests in KY, with plans in place to attend more in 2018.

The Kentucky Section initiated a monthly news column which includes the recognition of the ARRL Affiliated Club of the Month. KY will continue to build our Winlink network in Region 1 & Region 2.

The expanding DMR Network now covers KY from Owensboro to Paintsville and Northern KY to Bowling Green. We now have 30 to 40 checks-in on our weekly net.

Had excellent representation for the Western KY Eclipse with Frankfort and statewide communications in August.

The KY Section will continue to rebuild our relationship with Frankfort Emergency Management Authority and with the incoming new management of Barry Sanford.  Cecil Dennis is serving as liaison for Auxcom.

Working with SEC to refill existing vacancies of selected EC, DEC and ASEC across the Section, while working toward developing a KY State Convention or KY ARES Conference. 

From the MICHIGAN SECTION:

In Michigan, we have followed through with our pledge as part of PA 556 (PRB-1 language codified into state law early in 2015) to form an Antenna Advisory group made up of representatives from the Michigan Municipal League, the Michigan Township Association, a representative from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) and ARRL representatives. The first meeting of this group was held in May 2017 at the Michigan State Police Headquarters in Dimondale, MI with said representatives in attendance.

The Michigan Section presented the first annual Great Lakes HamCon at Michigan International Speedway in early October. This event was made possible by 21 Michigan Amateur Radio Clubs banding together to make it happen. Attendance was 11-1200 and the 2018 event is on the drawing board, scheduled for October 6 & 7, 2018.

Michigan, with assistance from DHS/OEC held its first AUXCOMM training session and updated a database of actual deliverable capabilities as requested by FEMA. MI Critical Incident Management System training session was held that focused solely on the needs of amateur radio operators

The MI State Emergency Operations Center was activated for four statewide exercises and over two dozen ARES members assisted public safety officials monitoring infrastructure around the Mackinaw Bridge during the annual bridge walk. During flooding in central Michigan, ARES members assisted local emergency management with damage assessment, inundation prediction and reporting.

MI ARES is working on preparing input to the Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP), a forward-looking document that will drive investment over the next 3-5 years. ARES has been working with the state planner on better incorporating amateur radio into the state's emergency communications plan.

Michigan's SEC John McDonough WB8RCR has been appointed interim chair of the FEMA Region V Auxcomm committee.

AS YOUR GREAT LAKES DIVISION DIRECTOR I am honored to continue to serve the hams of the Great Lakes Division, I must take this moment to thank Larry Camp WB8R who has chosen to retire from the Michigan Section Manager Position after service for 6 years.  His accomplishments are recognized by all as he has served his Section well.  Jim Kvochik K8KJ assumes the position as MI SM today, Jan. 1, and will serve on an interim basis until a special election is held later in the year. 

My thanks go to all of our Section Managers for the outstanding jobs they have been doing.  Sometimes the job can be tough, sometimes difficult decisions must be made, but by and large the hams in the Great Lakes Division have the best interests of Amateur Radio at heart and are very supportive of all of the groups that comprise the ARRL Field Organization.  This whole organization works because of our volunteers. We are all doing this for the love of ham radio, and as we move into 2018, we can expect more opportunities and exciting new ventures to come before us.   Thank you all.

TOM'S COMMENTS:  Comments from our Vice Director Tom Delaney W8WTD

The end of the year can provide an opportunity to look back, as well as forward.  Lots of people will be making “New Year’s resolutions” to do something or not do something in the coming year.  I’ve never found that very helpful.  Instead, I like to focus on the continuity of efforts to reach a goal.  So, today, I want to look at 2017 and remember some of the events while also looking ahead.

Hamvention was held in Xenia this past year.  Congratulations to the planners who had little to go on and who had to re-invent everything. Yes, there were a few hitches, but overall, Hamvention was as successful as most of the past 50-some iterations.  And from the reports of the new building and other changes, it sounds like Hamvention will once again be the place to be in mid-May.

And a promising start was made for the first-ever GL Hamcon in Michigan. There’s room for improvement, but the number of pleased “customers” and the large facility should help it become a great venue in the years to come.

Then there are the efforts throughout the US, and within the Division, to educate, train, and motivate new hams.  I’m pleased that I’ve been able to make some contributions through the committees I serve on, but the more important work is being done by every ham who conducts a class, serves as a VE for exams, and in particular, serves as a mentor for new people coming into the hobby.  In various forums conducted at hamfests, I’ve been very happy to see how many of you agree with the ARRL efforts to grow ham radio, both by improving the educational materials, and focusing on potential changes in the licensing system that we might request.

That’s where the real work will be for next year.  Let’s look at our efforts of 2017, and try to move them forward even more in 2018.

73, Tom W8WTD Vice Director, Great Lakes Division

STATE CONVENTIONS:  In even numbered years, the Great Lakes Division's three Sections host their individual State Conventions.  If your local hamfest is interested in serving as the host for your State Convention in 2018, your club should contact your Section Manager and request to serve as the sponsor.  State Conventions normally encompass special forums, can request guest forum speakers from ARRL and often hold recognition Banquets and special programs.   Having a convention also

means additional attendance beyond that normally expected at a regular hamfest.

HAMFESTING:  We have approximately 65 ARRL hamfests each year in the Division.  I do encourage each Hamfest Chair to register early for ARRL Sanctioning.  Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your date is set.  Here is the current Great Lakes Division ARRL Sanctioned Hamfest Schedule covering the next couple of months.  These swaps have received their sanctioning approval from ARRL HQ at the time of this publication. 

1/14/18      SCARF Hamfest               Nelsonville, OH

1/28/18      Hazel Park Hamfest          Madison Heights, MI

1/28/18      Tusco Hamfest                  Strasburg, OH

2/3/18        HARA Hamfest                Negaunee, MI

2/10/18      Cherryland Hamfest         Traverse City, MI

2/18/18      InterCity Hamfest             Mansfield, OH

2/18/18      Livonia Hamfest               Livonia, MI

3/3/18        Cave City Hamfest           Cave City, KY

3/4/18        NOARS Hamfest              Elyria, OH           

3/17/18      Crossroads Hamfest          Kalamazoo, MI

3/17/18      MOVARC Hamfest           Gallipolis, OH

3/18/18      Toledo Mobile R.A.          Perrysburg, OH

              

Be sure to check your Section's news pages for the latest local happenings, club and net information.

73,

Dale Williams WA8EFK

Director

Great Lakes Division