Greetings, welcome to "Dale's Tales" for April, 2023.
The sudden and tragic loss of Michigan Section Manager
Les Butler W8MSP stunned us all and now our thoughts go out to Karen KB8AKC in
this very trying time. Les was a
familiar visitor at Michigan hamfests and meetings, both as Section Manager and
as a very active QSL Card Checker.
His enthusiasm, smile and eagerness to assist and promote amateur radio and ARRL will leave a huge void in our lives.
W8MSP - SK
Stepping in and offering to serve as Section Manager is Larry Camp WB8R who held the Michigan SM post only a few years ago. Larry has been officially appointed by ARRL Field Services Manager Mike Walters W8ZY to serve Les' unexpired term.
Upcoming ARISS Space Station contacts include a scheduled event in Grand Rapids, MI at the West Michigan Aviation Academy. These dates are always tentative as they are dependent upon activities taking place upon the International Space Station, but we have been advised that the planned date currently falls between April 17 and 22. A total of 9 of the submitted proposals during the recent proposal window have been accepted to move forward in the processes of planning to host a scheduled amateur radio contact with crew on the ISS and the West Michigan Aviation Academy was among those selected for this year's January to June time period. The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) activities and raise their awareness of space communications, radio communications, space exploration, and related areas of study and career possibilities.
As your ARRL Director, I have been privileged to attend four of these events and I must report that watching the faces of the students and the other attendees when the contact with the Station is established is truly over-the-top exciting and amazing. The room goes from dead silence and apprehension to hushed thrills and near bedlam when the ISS answers. "Hushed" because everyone is asked to be a quiet as possible during the contact. Ten to 14 students are selected to speak with the Astronaut and ask challenging questions about the ISS, space and the space program.
These ISS Contacts are made possible through outstanding efforts by local radio clubs. Cooperating clubs install antennas, tracking rotators, transceivers, back-up equipment and ties into auditorium PA equipment to make the contacts so effective.
ARRL Members take note, Headquarters will be conducting a
membership survey the entire month of May to determine your input about how our
membership can be bundled. Rising costs
in every category of our operation (and life) affect how we continue to support
our members.
Interestingly, we have some options for how we can support membership with digital, vs printed publications as they are included as part of membership. Your direct input regarding some of these options is needed and valued in this survey, look for the survey to appear on the arrl.org web page in early May.
SCOTT'S STUFF:
Comments from your ARRL Vice-Director Scott, N8SY
First let me say that March 8th was a very sad day for all of us here in the Great Lakes Division with the loss of Les Butler, W8MSP the Michigan Section Manager. He was a friend to everyone that he met. His smile and great love for people and ham radio will always be in our hearts and minds. Rest in Peace my good friend.Well, it’s April 1st so, let the jokes begin!!! Mother Nature looks like she’s the first in line with this strangely odd weather pattern that seems to keep repeating itself over and over this year. And of course, Spring has sprung for sure and so have a bunch of hamfests.
I’ve had the privilege of attending quite a few of them lately and there’s a full calendar of them looking ahead! It’s great getting back out and being able to talk to everyone once again. I’m so looking forward to May and better weather. And, speaking of May, that really signals the beginning of lots of warmer weather coming and of course, the Dayton Hamvention. Have you gotten your tickets and rooms reserved for Hamvention yet? You know it’s only 49 days away, so you’d better get on the stick quickly, as room reservations are going fast! Oh, if you haven’t noticed this yet, the Hamvention is also going to be the ARRL Great Lakes Division Convention this year as well!!! With our Division Convention comes the tradition of awarding some very special folks for their contributions over the years. Now, before anyone can receive these awards, we will need your nominations for them. Please, take a look at the details for all of these special awards and complete the nomination form to nominate a deserving person. Go to: http://arrl-greatlakes.org/awards_criteria.html for all the award details and nominations form.
Keeping with the Convention theme just a bit more... The Great Lakes Division will once again have a booth at Hamvention inside the ARRL area, just like last year. We are asking everyone to bring a QSL Card with them to post on the Division’s Brag Board. We were overwhelmed last year with the amount of great QSL Cards that we got. This year we are making sure that you know well in advance so that we can have even more cards on display. And, we WILL have a much larger Brag Board to display all the great cards we get! Be sure to stop by... and don’t forget to bring your QSL card with you to post!
Shifting gears... I want to congratulate my old friend, Larry Camp, WB8R for being willing to step back into the arena by once again taking on the role of Section Manager for the Michigan Section. Yes, Larry has agreed to complete Les’ term that ends at the end of this year. Who knows, he may even be coerced into sticking around and run for a term or two of his own!
Shifting Gears again... World Amateur Radio Day is coming up on Tuesday, April 18th. Is your club doing any kind of special event or operating that day? If not, it’s not too late to put something together and have a blast doing it. Remember, World Amateur Radio Day is to celebrate all the contributions that amateurs have made to their communities and citizens around the world.
Field Day is fast approaching (June 24/25). Is your club making plans to have Field Day this year? If they are, don’t let them forget to get signed up on the Field Day locator
Hey, if you can, meet with your local government officials and ask them for a Proclamation for Amateur Radio that weekend. Most local governments will be happy to do this and don’t forget to invite the news media to be there as well. Great PR for everyone, and you get extra points for your efforts too! Amateur radio groups are encouraged to share a copy of their proclamations with ARRL via email at: pr@arrl.org ARRL will often share these proclamations to advance legislative efforts, creating additional support of awareness for amateur radio among lawmakers.
Shifting gears... Have you found time to get on the air and work any of the stations for the Volunteers On The Air (VOTA) Contest? It’s been a blast the few times that I’ve had a chance to get on and just working a few here and there.
Shifting gears to come into the pits... Hey club leaders, are your meetings been hybrid (ie... Zoom, Teams, Go-To-Meeting) as well as in-person? Doing a hybrid meeting does take a little extra effort on the clubs’ part, but for those who don’t travel well at night, or just can’t make the meeting because of distance, this is really a great thing for them. Like I said, it’s a little more work for whomever sets the equipment up, but it means so much to those who just could not attend the meeting any other way. It also opens the door for acquiring new members too. Yes, I have been told by a few club leaders that they have seen an uptick in membership from people outside of their area/state since starting their hybrid meetings. Having hybrid meetings also opens doors for a whole new world of programs and guest speakers for your club as well! You might consider one of the great recorded webinars that are listed in the ARRL Learning Center or even a live presentation from a guest that’s hundreds or thousands of miles away.
Hybrid meetings doesn’t mean that you don’t show up in person when you can. It’s more for those who just can’t attend but would really like to. There are many great recorded webinars out there from folks all over the world that are informative and fun. Most of these webinars are around 30 minutes or so, which is just the right amount of time.
Remember the posterior rule... The brain can only absorb with what the butt can withstand!
Whelp, that’s going to do it from here this month. Stay safe and "Catch Me On The Air"!!!
73,
Scott Yonally, N8SY
Vice Director
Great Lakes Division
HAMFEST LISTING:
Here is the current listing of Great Lakes Division ARRL
Sanctioned hamfests and Special Events through June of 2023.
04/15/23 - Cuyahoga Falls, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
4/22/23 - Tusco, Dover, OH
04/22/23 - St Joseph, Centreville, MI
04/30/23 - Athens, Athens, OH
05/6/23 - Wexaukee ARC Swap, Cadillac, MI
05/7/23 - Lucas County ARES Trunk Swap, Toledo, OH
05/13-17/23 - RV Radio Network Spring Rally (SP Event),
Millersburg, OH
05/18-21/23 - ARCI Four Days in May, Fairborn, OH
05/19-21/23 - Dayton Hamvention, Xenia, OH
05/27/23 - Scioto Valley, Piketon, OH
06/3/23 - Fulton County, Wauseon, OH
06/3/23 - IRA, Hudsonville, MI
06/10/23 - Luce County, Newberry, MI
06/17/23 - Midland Hamfest, Midland, MI
06/18/23 - Monroe Hamfest, Monroe, MI
Please post this listing in your club's newsletter and announce the swaps on your local nets. Talk them up. Let's fully support all of our hamfests in every way possible. It means success for everyone.
Be sure to invite your ARRL Officials as soon as your date is set.
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
