RF EXPOSURE. There have been a lot of questions regarding the FCC decision to eliminate the exemption Amateur Radio has enjoyed for many years related to RF exposure. ARRL has drafted a series of Questions and answers to address our mutual concerns. You will find information
posted on our Great Lakes Division web page along with a simple calculator that can be used to determine if your station is in compliance with the long standing regulations.
http://www.arrl-greatlakes.org/rf_exposure.html Updates will appear on the Web Page as we anticipate further clarifications from the FCC.
A REMINDER ABOUT THIS YEAR'S DAYTON HAMVENTION: From Michael Kalter, W8CI AND the Dayton Amateur Radio Assn. "With no in-person Hamvention this year, due to continuing Corona virus restrictions, we have been developing several activities to keep Hams busy and engaged in the hobby. We have a two day prize total of $15,000." Hamvention will be "Virtual" this year.
On Thursday May 20, 2021 the Virtual Contest University will be held starting at 9 AM EDT 1300Z. This will be a free event! Friday May 21 Starting at 11 AM EDT 1500Z the 2021 Virtual Hamvention Forums begin.
Saturday May 22 you may participate in the Hamvention QSO Party 8 AM to 8 PM EDST (1200 May 22 to 0000 May 23 UTC) W8BI, the club call of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association, will be a bonus station scored at 10 points per band and mode. To stay up with details, check https://hamvention.org/
ARRL GREAT LAKES CONVENTION: With sincere regrets, it was announced that due to the complications of Covid-19 and the resulting unknowns related to venue planning, the decision has been made to cancel the scheduled DX Engineering Hamfest and the associated Great Lakes Division Convention planned for the weekend of August 7.
ARRL HQ JOB OPENINGS: I might be remiss if I did not mention this, but there are several job postings for ARRL Headquarters staff and these are real opportunities for those who might be interested in serving the ham radio community. http://www.arrl.org/employment-opportunities
SCOTT'S STUFF: Comments from your ARRL Vice Director Scott, N8SY.
Normally by this time in the season I’m usually scrambling around getting things ready for another great Dayton Hamvention, but unfortunately, it’s not to be this year.
I’ve been working really hard on a couple of projects that are showing some great results. The Field Organization Working Group that I’m on has put out a questionnaire that we sent to all 71 of the Section Managers asking what they feel is needed to do their job better. We’ve had some very interesting responses and are reviewing and working on finding solutions to those responses.
The PR Committee that I’m also on is conducting some Zoom presentations for PIC’s and PIO’s all over the country to help teach them “best practices” for contacting and communicating with the media about Amateur Radio with a special emphasis being placed on Field Day.
I have a special announcement for all the clubs in the Great Lakes Division. We will be recognizing the “Best” newsletter in the Division. Just to remind all of you about how the newsletters are judged, here are the rules. You can also find these and all the awards possible to be presented posted on the Great Lakes Division website < http://arrl-greatlakes.org/awards_criteria.html >
JOSEPH J. PHILLIPS, K8QOE, NEWSLETTER AWARD
This award will be given to the highest scoring newsletter submitted in Great Lakes Division competition to the newsletter review committee.
Each newsletter for the contest will have been declared newsletter-of-the-year for the Section it represents during the present year; however, when the timing of the Division Convention occurs too early in the year to permit selection of a newsletter for the year, winners for the previous year may be submitted.
An eligible newsletter must be regularly published at least four (4) times per year and be a recognized Amateur Radio organization within their state.
Electronic (or Web based) produced newsletters may also enter. However, they must represent their printed newsletter in all formats. This is to ensure uniformity.
Non-amateurs, in the Public Relations industry will do the judging.
Electronic (or Web based) produced newsletters may also enter. However, they must represent their printed newsletter in all formats. This is to ensure uniformity.
Non-amateurs, in the Public Relations industry will do the judging.
They will judge on following criteria:
Style (15%): This means newsletter design of all pages.
Content (35%): This is the amount of useful information contained within the newsletter.
Service to members (35%): This is the amount of information using individual member’s names.
Clarity of presentation (15%): This is the readability of the newsletter including accuracy of spelling and grammar.
*********************************
Service to members (35%): This is the amount of information using individual member’s names.
Clarity of presentation (15%): This is the readability of the newsletter including accuracy of spelling and grammar.
*********************************
The best newsletter from each of the 3 Sections (Michigan, Kentucky and Ohio) have been chosen by their respective Section Leaderships to compete for this very prestigious award.
We want every club in the Great Lakes Division to be able to participate. So, if you are producing a newsletter, be sure to send a copy of it to your Section Manager. He’ll take it from there.
That is going to do it from here this month. So, “GOTA” and have FUN!!!
--73, Scott Yonally N8SY, Vice Director, Great Lakes Division
HAMFESTING: Here is the current listing of Great Lakes Division ARRL Sanctioned hamfests for 2021. Please note that all are subject to change, so please stay current by checking the sponsoring club's web page before making your travel arrangements.
We work together with the HQ staff to verify all new date selections in the hope of mitigating date conflicts. Many swap dates have changed from the regular hamfest calendar and as hard as we all work to avoid it, there are now several hamfests which fall on the same weekends.
The numbers are growing, as more clubs are making their best efforts to return their hamfests to the calendar. It should also be noted that there may be some hamfests that have not applied to be ARRL Sanctioned.
As we have no way to accurately track that activity, we only list those that have been approved as ARRL Hamfests.
For the latest detail on regional hamfests, check the ARRL web page at:
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar.
2021 Great Lakes Div. ARRL Sanctioned Hamfest calendar:
05/15/2021 - GMARC Trunkfest, Shelby Twp, MI
05/20-22/2021 - Dayton Hamvention Virtual Sessions on-line
06/5/2021 - Fulton County, Wauseon, OH
06/5/2021 - IRA Hamfest, Hudsonville, MI
06/6/2021 - Chelsea Hamfest, Chelsea, MI
06/12/2021 - Luce Co Yooper Hamfest, Newberry, MI
06/19/2021 - GMARC Trunkfest, Shelby Twp, MI
06/20/2021 - Monroe Hamfest, Monroe, MI
07/10/2021 - Mansfield Mid Summer Trunkfest, Mansfield, OH
07/10/2021 - Cave City Hamfest - Cave City, KY
07/17/2021 - GMARC Trunkfest, Shelby Twp, MI
07/17/2021 - NOARS Fest, Elyria, OH
07/18/2021 - Van Wert Hamfest, Van Wert, OH
08/7/2021 - Columbus Hamfest, Columbus, OH
08/14/2021 - Central Kentucky Hamfest, Lexington, KY
08/21/2021 - GMARC Trunkfest, Shelby Twp, MI
08/28/2021 - Cincinnati Hamfest, Cincinnati, OH
09/11/2021 - Greater Louisville, Shepherdsville, KY
09/11/2021 - GRAHamfest, Grand Rapids, MI
09/18/2021 - Cadillac Hamfest, Cadillac, MI
09/18/2021 - Richmond Hamfest, Richmond, KY
09/18/2021 - GMARC Trunkfest, Shelby Twp, MI
09/18/2021 - CMARC Hamfest, Okemos, MI
09/19/2021 - Adrian Hamfest, Adrian, MI
09/26/2021 - Cleveland Hamfest, Berea, OH
10/25/2021 - USECA Hamfest, Madison Hgts, MI
12/4/2021 - Fulton Co Winterfest, Delta, OH
12/5/2021 - L'anse Creuse Swap, Madison Hgts, MI
Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your date is set. If you club plans to request ARRL Hamfest Sanctioning, they should do so well in advance of the planned Hamfest date, as this allows adequate time for QST Listings. QST announcements require a 3 month lead time.
If a swap is cancelled or the date is going to change, please notify ARRL HQ.
73, Stay safe.
Light up those bands!
Dale Williams WA8EFK
Director - Great Lakes Division
wa8efk@arrl.org
We want every club in the Great Lakes Division to be able to participate. So, if you are producing a newsletter, be sure to send a copy of it to your Section Manager. He’ll take it from there.
That is going to do it from here this month. So, “GOTA” and have FUN!!!
--73, Scott Yonally N8SY, Vice Director, Great Lakes Division
HAMFESTING: Here is the current listing of Great Lakes Division ARRL Sanctioned hamfests for 2021. Please note that all are subject to change, so please stay current by checking the sponsoring club's web page before making your travel arrangements.
We work together with the HQ staff to verify all new date selections in the hope of mitigating date conflicts. Many swap dates have changed from the regular hamfest calendar and as hard as we all work to avoid it, there are now several hamfests which fall on the same weekends.
The numbers are growing, as more clubs are making their best efforts to return their hamfests to the calendar. It should also be noted that there may be some hamfests that have not applied to be ARRL Sanctioned.
As we have no way to accurately track that activity, we only list those that have been approved as ARRL Hamfests.
For the latest detail on regional hamfests, check the ARRL web page at:
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar.
2021 Great Lakes Div. ARRL Sanctioned Hamfest calendar:
05/15/2021 - GMARC Trunkfest, Shelby Twp, MI
05/20-22/2021 - Dayton Hamvention Virtual Sessions on-line
06/5/2021 - Fulton County, Wauseon, OH
06/5/2021 - IRA Hamfest, Hudsonville, MI
06/6/2021 - Chelsea Hamfest, Chelsea, MI
06/12/2021 - Luce Co Yooper Hamfest, Newberry, MI
06/19/2021 - GMARC Trunkfest, Shelby Twp, MI
06/20/2021 - Monroe Hamfest, Monroe, MI
07/10/2021 - Mansfield Mid Summer Trunkfest, Mansfield, OH
07/10/2021 - Cave City Hamfest - Cave City, KY
07/17/2021 - GMARC Trunkfest, Shelby Twp, MI
07/17/2021 - NOARS Fest, Elyria, OH
07/18/2021 - Van Wert Hamfest, Van Wert, OH
08/7/2021 - Columbus Hamfest, Columbus, OH
08/14/2021 - Central Kentucky Hamfest, Lexington, KY
08/21/2021 - GMARC Trunkfest, Shelby Twp, MI
08/28/2021 - Cincinnati Hamfest, Cincinnati, OH
09/11/2021 - Greater Louisville, Shepherdsville, KY
09/11/2021 - GRAHamfest, Grand Rapids, MI
09/18/2021 - Cadillac Hamfest, Cadillac, MI
09/18/2021 - Richmond Hamfest, Richmond, KY
09/18/2021 - GMARC Trunkfest, Shelby Twp, MI
09/18/2021 - CMARC Hamfest, Okemos, MI
09/19/2021 - Adrian Hamfest, Adrian, MI
09/26/2021 - Cleveland Hamfest, Berea, OH
10/25/2021 - USECA Hamfest, Madison Hgts, MI
12/4/2021 - Fulton Co Winterfest, Delta, OH
12/5/2021 - L'anse Creuse Swap, Madison Hgts, MI
Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your date is set. If you club plans to request ARRL Hamfest Sanctioning, they should do so well in advance of the planned Hamfest date, as this allows adequate time for QST Listings. QST announcements require a 3 month lead time.
If a swap is cancelled or the date is going to change, please notify ARRL HQ.
73, Stay safe.
Light up those bands!
Dale Williams WA8EFK
Director - Great Lakes Division
wa8efk@arrl.org
