Dale's Tales for May

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

HAMVENTION:  This year's Hamvention® will host the ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention.  This affords the opportunity to include some extra activities from ARRL and the Headquarters staff.  The new location in Xenia, OH is well equipped for hosting the world's largest ham radio event and the venue has offered some expanded areas this year.  Scott Yonally N8SY and his team from the Ohio Section will be greeting visitors the ARRL Field Organization booth at ARRL EXPO and we encourage everyone to stop by to meet and exchange thoughts and greetings.  The ARRL EXPO is in building 2, the "TESLA" Building.

Other ARRL EXPO activities will include Radiosport/DXCC, IARU, Public Service, Meet the Authors, Collegiate, Learning and Development/ARRL Foundation plus the ARRL Store.

ARES NEWS:  Of special note, this year's ARRL Member Forum at the Hamvention will include an overview of the planned upgrades to the nationwide ARES program.  This forum offers an excellent opportunity for ARRL to introduce the changes proposed for ARES for the 21st Century.

We'll present the recommended ARES Strategic Plan, the background and how it was developed, the peer review procedures involved and the multi-stage approval process.  Most importantly, we will highlight what the changes will mean to every ARES participant and our served partner agencies plus the benefits the program will offer for those participating.  The ARRL Forum will be in Forum Room 3 beginning at noon on Saturday.

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

Good news for amateur radio from two clubs in my local area.  The Highland County (Ohio) club  recently graduated more than 30 new hams from their classes in March.

The OH-KY-IN group in Cincinnati is finishing up a five-week course with almost 25 prospective hams in that group. 

And while I try to keep up with what other classes and activities go on throughout the Division, it’s impossible to know what every local club is doing.  But I’m sure many of you are out there teaching and promoting ham radio.   Whether you had two or thirty new hams this month, keep up the good work!

One of the continuing themes of the Board’s Entry Level Licensing committee was on-going education.  Too many people take that first step, and stall.  They don’t go further.  Here’s one thing that those two clubs are doing to offer that next step.  The Highland county group is offering an “Elmer’s night” for its recent graduates.  They’ll meet to offer information on first rigs, antennas, and all sorts of advice.  They’ll also offer the opportunity to get on the air and make that first contact for those who have not yet done so.

For several years now, the OH-KY-IN group has taken a different approach.  They run the “Newcomers and Elmers Net” on their repeater each week.  It’s worth quoting these two sentences from their website:  Our goal is not only to help you learn, but also to give you real-world experience talking on your radio.  Each week, there will be a topic for discussion, but ALL questions are welcome whatever the area of the radio hobby.  If we do not know the answer right away, we will find out!

Two great efforts at follow-up for new hams, which we can all learn from.  Not every new ham is going to attend that session, and not every new ham is going to get on the air so they can learn from the net.  But the opportunity is there, for those who take it.

And if we think about it a little bit, there are probably other efforts we can all make to invite the new people to better participation in our great hobby.  What are your thoughts?  If you’ve got an idea, whether it’s something you’re doing, or just something you’d like to see happen, let me know.   Let’s share some of the ideas and get more of our new hams on the air.

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

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. 

5/5/18                Cadillac Hamfest                 Cadillac, MI

5/18 to 5/20       Dayton Hamvention            Xenia, OH

6/2/18                IRA Hamfest                       Hudsonville, MI

6/2/18                Fulton County Hamfest       Tedrow, OH

6/2/18                Princeton Hamfest               Princeton, KY

6/3/18                Chelsea Hamfest                  Chelsea, MI

6/16/18              Midland Hamfest                 Midland, MI

6/17/18              Monroe Hamfest                  Monroe, MI

7/8/18                20/9 Radio Club                   Austintown, OH

7/21/18              GARS Hamfest                    Germantown, OH

7/21/18              Gladwin Hamfest                 Gladwin, MI

7/21/18              NOARS Fest                        Elyria, OH

7/22/18              Van Wert                              Van Wert, OH

7/28/18              Big Sandy Hamfest              Louisa, KY

7/28/18              CMARC Hamfest                 Lansing, MI

7/29/18              Portage Hamfest                   Ravenna, OH     

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

73, Let's light up the bands,

Dale Williams WA8EFK

Director

Great Lakes Division