Greetings, welcome to "Dale's Tales" for September, 2022.
CLUB COMMISSION UPDATE.
Last month in Dale's Tales I touched on the upcoming introduction of the
new program for affiliated Radio Clubs.
Here are the key details and a link to the ARRL Club Benefits web page.
One of the important benefits of being an ARRL Affiliated Club is a commission for recruiting new ARRL members and securing timely ARRL member renewals. The commission structure has been updated and the process has changed to make it more lucrative and easier for the clubs.
The ARRL Affiliated Club Commission Program allows ARRL Affiliated Clubs to earn a commission on new and renewing regular memberships. Each new ARRL member earns the club a $15.00 commission. New members are defined as never having been a member or a returning member that has not been a member for two years. Each renewal now earns the club a $5.00 commission. There is no limit to the amount a club can earn in this program.
All membership dues are sent to ARRL to be processed and the club receives a commission payment directly from ARRL. No more complicated adjusting funds around credit cards, checks and cash. ARRL does all the processing. As a result, your club could earn money while promoting the many benefits and programs of ARRL to ensure that amateur radio is protected and continues to be strong. Visit https://www.arrl.org/affiliated-club-benefits for details.
THE LEAGUE'S 2021 ANNUAL REPORT was released on August 24 and can be downloaded from https://www.arrl.org/annual-reports Here you canreview the activities of our organization including our Post-COVID reopening of Headquarters, our extensive Scholarship awards, emergency Communications involvement and our fiscal year-end financial statement.
A couple of items I call to your attention, on page 9, the introduction of the Emergency Communications and Field Services Committee, (EC-FSC) which I currently chair and Scott N8SY serves as secretary, and the profile of Josh Johnston KE5MHV our ARRL Director of Emergency Communications. Further along on page 14, there is a review of the activities of our Volunteer Monitor program and on page 16 a profile of Steve Goodgame K5ATA who now heads our Education and Learning Department.
We do have the continuing need to increase our membership
and recent visits to hamfests have resulted in a number of new members joining
as well as several renewals. With the
new club incentive program in place, we do encourage everyone to consider
joining and renewing through their local clubs.
Most importantly, your membership is needed to allow ARRL to continue to
advocate for Amateur Radio at all levels.
The cost is comparable to an evening out, or a few cups of coffee. The benefits to all are huge. During recent "Death by PowerPoint"
presentations about ARRL I did for some local radio clubs, I included a listing
of WIIFM?
(What's in it for me?) The list exceeded 73 items, service, programs, events, contests, awards and miscellany all to the benefit of our members. And, I am sure I missed a few.
Amateur Radio and ARRL need you - get signed up.
SCOTT'S STUFF: Comments from your ARRL Vice Director Scott, N8SY.
Are you ready for some football??? September brings a plethora of football games back. High School (my favorite), college and of course pro. The match ups this year in all 3 categories is looking like it will be a very good year for "real" football. Hang on to your hats and let’s get rolling. Oh, now is probably a good time to remind everyone to be extra careful when driving and to heed those flashing red lights on the school buses. Give them plenty of room to get the kids on and off, as well as crossing the streets.
Shifting gears... I’ve got several new items to tell you about from our EC&FS Committee. First is the remake of the Club Commission program. Many of you complained that a $2 commission for taking an ARRL membership renewal just wasn’t worth it. How’s about $5.00 per renewal, will that get your attention? The $15.00 reward for a new ARRL Membership will still remain as well. So, now I hope you’ll see how our Committee has started to impact YOU and your CLUB.
We’ve also heard from some of you that you would really like to see what other Sections and Divisions around the country are doing. Well my friend, you now can. Yes, another action from the EC&FS Committee was to get those emails opened to you, and you now have the access. You can select any Section or Division and see their newsletters. Here’s a link to that as well... http://www.arrl.org/section-division-email-log
The EC&FS Committee also felt that it was time that we recognize our veterans when they have become a "Silent Key." Many of our members have, in addition to service as Amateur Radio Operators, also rendered service to the Nation in their professional lives. The ARRL will soon begin recognizing those deceased veteran members by the addition of an appropriate symbol following their published name as a Silent Key.
One of the major functions of the EC&FS Committee is Emergency Communications, specifically ARES. So, for the folks more involved with that field I want to let you know that we have also updated the ARES Plan that was originally introduced to all of us back in 2019. Here’s a link to the updated plan... http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ARES%20Plan%20Revision%207122b.pdf
Shifting gears again...
QST is now offering a column for radio clubs.
Clubs are the backbone of the amateur radio community. Whether you are a part of a special interest or general club, its members are the community that you serve. In the same way that every ham is different, each club is also different. Not every club will offer the same programs and projects to their member community.
QST’s newest column, "Club Station," is a space
for clubs to share their practical ideas about what has helped lead them to
their success.
If your club has developed a creative way to get around common challenges, the ARRL wants to hear from you! They have published author guidelines that are geared toward "Club Station." Want more information on how to submit an article? Go to: https://www.arrl.org/qst-club-station-guidelines-and-profile-form All clubs are welcome to participate. Also, have you noticed in the ARRL ARES E-Newsletter that they are now publishing news from many of the Section Emergency Coordinators from around the country? Got an interesting ARES news story? Send it to: Rick Palm, K1CE at k1ce@arrl.net
OK, shifting down to come into the pit... Is your ARES group getting ready for S.E.T.? The Simulated Emergency Test (S.E.T.) is October 1-2 and next to Field Day, one of the busiest times for ham radio! Is your ARES group or club already in the planning stage yet? If not, it should be, like Field Day, S.E.T. demonstrates to our served agencies what amateur radio is really all about, communications.
That is going to do it from here this month. Stay safe and "Catch Me On The Air, at a meeting or hamfest!!!"
73,
Scott Yonally N8SY
Vice Director
Great Lakes Division
HAMFEST LISTING:
Here is the current listing of Great Lakes Division ARRL Sanctioned hamfests through October 2022. 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.
Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your date is set.
Please feel free to reproduce and publish in your local Club Newsletter with credit to the source.
ARRL Sanctioned Hamfests through October 2022:
09/10/22 - GRAHamfest, Grand Rapids, MI
09/10/22 - CMARC Hamfest, Okemos, MI
09/10/22 - Greater Louisville Hamfest, Shepherdsville, KY
09/10/22 - Ashtabula Hamfest, Pierpont, OH
09/11/22 - Findlay Hamfest, Findlay, OH
09/17/22 - Richmond Hamfest, Richmond, KY
09/17/22 - Mound ARA, Miamisburg, OH
09/17/22 - GMARC Trunk Swap, Shelby Twp, MI
09/18/22 - Adrian Hamfest, Adrian, MI
09/24/22 - KY4ARC Hamfest, Paintsville, KY
09/25/22 - Cleveland Hamfest, Berea, OH
10/01/22 - Gaylord, Gaylord, MI
10/08/22 - Central Kentucky, Lexington, KY
10/15/22 - Muskegon Color Tour, Muskegon, MI
10/16/22 - Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, MI
10/22/22 - HARA, Negaunee, MI
10/30/22 - Massillon, Massillon, OH
If your ARRL Affiliated club plans to request Hamfest Sanctioning, you should make that request well in advance of the scheduled Hamfest date, as this allows adequate time for QST Listings. QST announcements require a 3 month lead time. To be fair to our Division's clubs, the Great Lakes Division policy is to offer a club ARRL Sanctioning for a limit of two hamfests/swaps in any given calendar year, and they must be four months apart. If your swap is cancelled or the date is going to change, please notify ARRL HQ.
For the latest detail on regional hamfests, check the
ARRL web page at:
http://www.arrl.org/hamfests-and-conventions-calendar
73,
Dale Williams WA8EFK
Director
Great Lakes Division
wa8efk@arrl.org
